Guide to Bacalar, Mexico
Guide to Bacalar, Mexico!
Looking for a beautiful and chill place to visit! Bacalar is just that! It takes a little time to learn about all the interesting things to do in Bacalar. So, I am going to share my guide to Bacalar, Mexico with you. Let’s go!
Table of Contents
Where is Bacalar?
Bacalar is in the south on Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo.
Bacalar is 3 hours from Tulum, 5 hours from Cancun, and 1 hour from Chetumal.
Bacalar is located near the bottom of Mexico on a map and is all along a beautiful lagoon!
Want to take that trip? I’m also a travel advisor! Reach out & let’s make it happen!
What is it like in Bacalar?
Bacalar is a Pueblo Magico! If you don’t know what that is, it means magical town in English.
It is a government initiative in Mexico. These towns have something unique and interesting to offer. They often cater to tourism and safety and have lots of interesting and fun places to visit and experience. Bacalar is no exception! It’s full of beauty and fun!
To learn about other beautiful Pueblos Magicos in Mexico, check out this guide!
Bacalar is famous for its lagoon! It translates to the 7 Color Lagoon, in Spanish it’s called ‘Laguna de los 7 Colores’. The majority of the activities and attraction in Bacalar are surrounding the water and the beautiful lagoon.
How to get to Bacalar
To get to Bacalar you can come from Chetumal or Tulum and some other destinations too.
You could also take a bus from the ADO bus station to Bacalar. Although it is not a very long bus ride, here are some tips for Long Bus Trips in Mexico.
The Mayan Train is one of the latest developments in south Mexico. Bacalar has a Mayan train station. So, this is the latest addition for the ways to get to Bacalar.
If you would like to see what the Mayan train is like and see my experiences on the Mayan train check out Cancun to Valladolid on the Mayan Train. Be sure to watch the YouTube video of a tour of the Mayan train so you know what to expect.
Here is the bus station in Bacalar. You can buy tickets in advance here or online. There are washrooms and limited seating. It’s located on the main street coming into town called Calle 19 Libramiento.
TIP: You can buy your ticket at the station days in advance of the day of. I recommend going early as the lines can move very slowly at times.
OR... go to the ADO website and buy it online. Sometimes there are discounts when you book online.
Also, you can see where the empty seats are and book your seat. These bus rides all have assigned seating!
Getting around Bacalar
In Bacalar, you can take a taxi to get around.
Although, I find Bacalar to be a very walkable town. I hardly ever took a taxi.
There are a lot of taxis, so it’s not too hard to flag one down if you do need one.
There are also bicycle rentals if you prefer too.
Restaurants
Bacalar is a real foodie place!
You can get lots of different cuisines in Bacalar. There are a lot of Italian and Mexican restaurants. There are also Argentinian, seafood, steak restaurants, Japanese, plant-based food restaurant, pizzerias, and a lot more!
I will name a few restaurants here that I feel are definitely worth dining at!
Mr. Taco! Yes, Mr. Taco, it has a very fun and colourful decor and a laid-back vibe with basic Mexican food like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. It’s simple Mexican food with a great vibe and good drinks! If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal that won’t empty your wallet, Mr. Taco is a great option with a super fun vibe!
There are some great Italian restaurants such as La Trattoria Del ’46 and Pizzeria Bertilla which are both right by the main Zocalo downtown. They both have indoor open air and outdoor dining.
La Playita was one of my favourite places because of the whole vibe and atmosphere!
They have such a nice chill atmosphere and great food and drinks too. I recommend getting a seat right in front of the lagoon.
Cenotes
There are some cenotes in and arond Bacalar.
If you’re not sure what a cenote is, it’s a natural type of sink hole that happens in the earth when limestones and rock collapse or break. The cenotes are usually filled with fresh water, not salt water.
Cenotes usually have colder water in them.
Each cenote is different. Some are quite big, some are like underwater caves. Others have bars and restaurants and lounge chairs all around the cenote, while others do not have anything like that.
A side not about visiting a cenote, you should not wear any sun screen as it can harm the ecosystem of the cenote.
These are the cenotes in and around Bacalar.
The Cenote Negro you can only access by water. So you can sign up for a tour that will take you there by boat.
There are some tours and options by boat through the ‘Canal De Los Piratas’.
There is also Cenote Azul and Cenote Cocalitos Beach Resort.
The Lagoon
The lagoon is the true highlight of this magical town!
There are some great restaurants with beautiful views along the lagoon.
There are also tons of piers that you can walk down. There are quite a few where you can jump off them into the water
There are so many ways to enjoy the lagoon.
You can go to the fort for a great view, sit at a lagoon-front restaurant, take a boat tour, swim, snorkel and so much more!
There are tons of piers and spots to enjoy the pier.
It’s so different than the ocean. The water is so still and calm. When I was at one lagoon-front restaurant, I saw a family of sea turtles among several kinds of fish.
Boat Cruises
There are many different tours that you can go on to go snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming, sightseeing, and more.
I recommend going down the ‘Canal De Los Piratas’ and checking out a cenote.
You will be bobbing on the beautiful colours of the lagoon and seeing fish and beautiful views.
You can take a boat cruise to get to the Cenote Negro which you cannot get to by land.
There are some boat cruises that includes drinks and swimming in the lagoon, while others include food and snorkelling.
There are also options to paddle board or kayak in the lagoon too.
The Zocalo
The Zocalo is the municipal square in the centre of the town, and it truly is the centre of the town.
There are vendors selling crepes, traditional drinks, and other street food. There are also vendors selling drinks, jewelry, t-shirts, and much more.
There are the famous letters of Bacalar to take photos with and a second level walk around deck.
The weekends are busy with markets and vendors in the Zocalo and at the paved court area across the road as shown above.
Sometimes there is a stage set up for performances such as traditional folkloric dancing and performances.
Across from the Zocalo is an area that has bank machines. That is the best place to take money from your account.
The Zocalo is lined with open-concept restaurants, some with roof-top patios. There are also shops, vendors, bistros, and some greenery.
There is also a huge fort that you can walk through that is right IN the Zocalo.
The Fort is called Fuerte de San Felipe and it is on the side that’s closest to the water, not that you would miss it.
There is a little kiosk where you can pay pesos to enter the fort when it’s open.
The hours are from 9:00 am to 7:00pm from Tuesdays to Sundays.
There are 3 different prices. 1 price for foreigners, kids and national adults.
You can go up to the second floor and get some great views of the lagoon.
There are different rooms and areas that you can venture into as well.
There is an indoor area with art, history and to get a close up look at some of the cannons.
You can get a guided tour or you can go on your own.
When I was there, I heard guided tours in both English and Spanish.
Besides the history and architecture of the building, another awesome reason to go into the fort is for the amazing views!
You can see the lagoon from a high view point.
Check out my YouTube video to see that beautiful lagoon!
Water Parks
There are several water parks in Bacalar.
Each one brings something different, but they all are beautiful!
They have a super relaxed, literally chilling in a hammock in the lagoon- relaxed!
There are some day resort-type parks and others that are like a bar/water park.
I went to Balneario Municipal El Aserradero in Bacalar.
I really enjoyed my time there.
There were hammocks and swings a tight rope to walk on in the water, a water slide and more.
There is a long pier that you can walk on and chill or jump off of into the water.
There are 2 restaurant/bars where you can order drinks and walk around with them.
It’s a nice place to chill and relax!
Check out my YouTube video of this park below.
Piers
There are so many piers throughout Bacalar to enjoy. Some are part of the property of a restaurant, hotel or bar, and others are public.
I will mention a few here that are worth checking out, but keep in mind that there are many others too!
The ‘Muelle Ecologia’ is a long boardwalk that goes into a huge square.
It costs 20 Pesos. There is a kiosk where you can pay. Cash only, so bring your Pesos.
As you walk around the dock you can go down the ladders and take a dip in the water and chill on the dock.
This pier is very interesting as you go around the big square, you pass beautiful blue water, go over a mini swamp area and walk along the tree tops and more!
There are signs around with warnings of crocodiles, so keep that in mind too…
Check out my YouTube video of my walk around this pier!
Tours in & around Bacalar
Are you looking to book some tours for you trip to Bacalar? You can check out your options, and even book, right here!
Where to Stay
There are many different unique and interesting hotels and hostels in Bacalar. You can get a quaint authentic posada, luxury hotel, hostel and beach resorts.
Interested in other Pueblo Magicos?
There are over 100 Pueblo Magicos in Mexico.
Each one is very unique and has something different to offer.
Here are some other magical towns that I recommend visiting and blogs that I have written about them.
15 Must-Try Unique Experiences in Sayulita!
Guide to Visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids
Guide to Visiting Bernal, Mexico
Best Things to do in Valladolid, Mexico!
And here is an overall guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico. Wishing you magical travels!
What do you want to do in Bacalar?
With so many great and chill things to do, what would you do in Bacalar?
If you want to book reach out and I can help you plan a wonderful trip to Bacalar and the beautiful 7 Coloured Lagoon!
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
