Your Quick Reference Guide to Bacalar Mexico
Filling you in on the secrets of Bacalar
Bacalar is a town 5 hours south of Cancun right on the Mexican border. It is home to a freshwater, 35 mile long lake. Often called the “Lagoon of 7 Colors” due to all of its shades of blue, this lake is one of Mexico’s best kept secrets.
Being far enough from the tourist scene, Bacalar is mostly visited by Mexican vacationers and long-term travelers who have heard of Bacalar through the grapevine.
BACALAR TRAVEL VLOG
How to get there
We took the rental car that we had from Playa del Carmen and drove the 3 hours from Tulum to Bacalar. There are a few different ways to get to Bacalar.
Driving
Obviously if you’re from Chicago, driving the 50 hours to Bacalar probably isn’t worth the mileage. We recommend either flying into Cancun or into Belize. Cancun is a bit easier because it is a larger hub and then you’ll only have to deal with customs once. The drive is about the same either way.
buses
Once in Mexico, there are buses that run from Cancun (about 5 hours) or from Tulum (about 3 hours). The bus option is pretty popular and there are multiple buses that leave from either spot a day. The bus from Cancun costs anywhere between $18-26 USD and from Tulum between $10-$28 USD depending on which bus company you book through.
We recommend ADO busses which are some of the most trusted in Mexico.
Where to stay
You’ve made it to Bacalar! Now for the next step: finding accommodations.
We stayed in the coolest Airbnb. It’s fittingly named The World Famous Seashell House. There were paddle boards and kayaks that were included with the property and it wasn’t even a 5 minute walk to the access point of the lake. Bacalar was a special vacation for us so we decided to do it big but of course there are plenty of accommodations no matter what your budget is.
Budget Friendly Options
Casa Ariana Hotel- Right in downtown Bacalar with just a quick walk to the lake.
Bacalar Sunrise Villa- Great price for a place with a balcony overlooking the lake!
Moderate Options
Bacalar Private Suite- Kayaks, balconies, and RIGHT on the lake.
Villas Eco-Romanticas Kuuch Ka´anil- These villas are the reason Bacalar is sometimes referred to as the Maldives of Mexico.
Luxury Option: Seashell House. Self-explanatory.
Things to do in Bacalar
Okay, the most obvious thing to do in Bacalar is take in all the ins and outs of the beautiful freshwater lake. Go swimmings, kayaking, paddle boarding, all of it!
Go boating
There are plenty of companies out of Bacalar that will take you on a beautiful sailing trip on the lake. Day cruises will typically cost between $30-$50 USD which includes an open bar so… worth it.
los rapidos
One of the most popular places in Bacalar is Los Rapidos. Los Rapidos (The River Rapids) is a narrow area between two of the bodies of water that has created a strong current. Think of it as a not-so-lazy lazy river experience. What do you do here? Grab a beer and enjoy Mother Nature.
There are restaurants all along Los Rapidos for breaks. It was nice for us because this meant we could have a spot for our dog, Pepper, to hang out.
tip from tim and fin
Los Rapidos and Bacalar in general is full of stromatolites which are important fossils and shouldn’t be touched. There are plenty of signs around to remind you, but be aware!
Pirates channel
Bacalar is known for being a connection point for a lot of famous pirates. One particular area is most infamous for pirate traffic which is named Pirate Channel (hmm wonder why). It is the channel that connects the lagoon with Lake Bacalar. The color of the channel is unbelievably blue and because of the high amounts of minerals, it also doubles as a natural spa!
what we don’t recommend
There are cenotes around Bacalar, but what we experienced is that Bacalar is to be visited for the lake and you should save your cenote adventures for Tulum. The cenotes in Tulum are better in our opinion and the best way to spend your time in Bacalar is definitely enjoying the beauty of the lake.
Have fun but don’t ruin the secret
The best part of Bacalar is that it is such a hidden gem. It is free from the hustle and bustle of typical tourist traffic, but has enough to do to keep you entertained. While we definitely recommend visiting, do us a favor and keep it on the down-low.
Have the best time visiting the Maldives of Mexico in Bacalar!