Welcome to one of the most beautiful places in Mexico--Lake Bacalar! Bacalar is a pueblo magico situated in the state of Quintana Roo just north of the Belize border. What makes the Bacalar Lagoon so magical is that this lake has been deemed the “Lagoon of 7 Colors”. It is called the Lagoon of 7 Colors not because there are 7 different colors, but rather because there are 7 (at least!) different shades of blue represented in the water! This lake has white sand at the bottom and is a freshwater lake fed from the underground rivers that run throughout the state of Quintana Roo and Yucatán!
HOW TO GET THERE
The bus line ADO has routes from Playa del Carmen, which is how we got to Bacalar Lagoon. There is also an airport “Chetumal Airport” that is only about 30 minutes south of Bacalar, so flying directly in is another great option.
WHAT TO DO
♦ Visit the FREE municipal piers at the Bacalar Lagoon that are located on Calle 16, 18, and 20 along Avenida 1. Calle 16 was our favorite. These are brand new wooden piers with a few benches and beautiful shaded views of the lake.
♦ Take a boat tour of Bacalar Lagoon to see the 7 colored lagoon up close and personal. We would recommend AmirAdventours-a bit pricey but well worth it. Here is a link to their site: https://www.amiradventours.com
♦ Visit La Playita Beach Club. This is a great place to grab a drink and relax in the nice shade. Address: Av. Costera Esq. Calle 26, Bacalar, Q.R., Mexico
♦ Take a stroll in the centuries old Fort of San Felipe. Hint: We chose not to do this because it was too expensive for us. But we did walk around the grounds...for free :) Address: Av 3, Centro, 77930 Bacalar, Q.R., Mexico
♦ Wake up early to witness one of the most breathtaking sunrises you will ever see! These are great from any of the free municipal piers.
♦ Visit the "Balneario Ejidal Magico Bacalar". The cost of entry is $30 pesos per person and this is a GREAT spot to swim in the Bacalar Lagoon. The water is beautiful and shallow enough to play around in. There is a restaurant on site here however, you can pack and bring in your own snacks/drinks. Address: Av 1 & Calle 28, Centro, 77930 Bacalar, Q.R., Mexico
We did not visit any of the paid beach clubs on this trip. There were so many free options as well as the inexpensive municipal park that we never even had time to pay for a beach club. If you are planning to visit Bacalar on a budget like us, we highly recommend the 3 different free access points as some of the top things to do in Bacalar!
WHERE TO STAY
We would recommend staying right in downtown Bacalar, near the Zócalo. This is a super small town and there is not much going on, but the main plaza is situated in a great spot in town and everything is within walking distance from this point. We stayed at Casa Lima Bacalar. The hotel was okay—not bad but not great. BUT—there was air conditioner :)
WHERE TO EAT
♦ La Playita--Undoubtedly the best food was at “La Playita”. This place is very popular across the internet and TripAdvisor, and for a good reason. The breakfast was a bit expensive but SO delicious. Address: Av. Costera Esq. Calle 26, Bacalar, Q.R., Mexico
♦ Navieros Bacalar--Another great option is “Navieros Bacalar”. This is right near one of the free piers and offers great, inexpensive seafood/chicken options in a taco stand type environment (AKA swimsuits are appropriate attire here!) Address: Calle 16 con, Costera, Bacalar, Q.R., Mexico
♦ Mango y Chile--We had a great vegetarian burger at “Mango y Chile”, however this was expensive. It seems the overall vibe of Bacalar is a bit pricier, more expensive hippie places. But this place is right next to the square and has a great view of the lake near the fort. Address: Av.3 Fuerte San Felipe, entre calle 22 y calle 24, Centro, 77930 Bacalar, Q.R., Mexico
♦ Porque No--We spent only about four days in Bacalar and I couldn’t resist getting the pizza TWICE at a place right on the square called “Porque No”. According to Google, this place may be called Pues Si, but clearly written on the building is “Porque No” and yes, it is attached to a little minisuper tienda. Above all, the pizza is wonderful, cheesy, and brilliant.
Whatever you decide to do during your time at the beautiful Bacalar Lagoon, one thing is certain: your time will be truly unforgettable. The brilliant blue water is magical and refreshing. Enjoy and have a cold one for us! Have any other questions? Feel free to email us at kinetickennons@gmail.com and we will be happy to help!
Until next time, Have Less. Do More. Be More.
