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There’s something undeniably captivating about Bacalar. This Pueblo Magico is home to the lagoon of seven colors, the second-largest lake in Mexico. It’s a quiet town in the state of Quintana Roo. In our article, we’ll cover all the best things to do in Bacalar, if you’re looking for some amazing views and chill-out vibes.

This little town on the eastern coast of Mexico is a place to discover soon. Located not too far from Tulum, the crowds haven’t made their way here just yet… but don’t sleep too long on this amazing town, because we have a feeling it will grow in popularity in the coming years.

This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. For more information, please see our disclaimer here. We take all the efforts necessary to ensure the information included in this post is accurate, correct and current, sometimes, things just change! Travel information like opening hours, business operations and prices may change. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated, please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers. Cheers!

What you need to know about Bacalar town

Bacalar is a small town, one of 132 Pubelo Magicos in Mexico, located in Quintana Roo Mexico. Pueblo Magicos, are beautiful towns in Mexico that have been awarded this title because they have maintained their original architecture, traditions, history and culture over a long period of time. They may also have great relevance to the country’s history. So we understand why Bacalar was given this prestigious title.

Bacalar town is located about 40 minutes from Chetumal, 2.5 hours from Tulum and not too far from the border of Belize. This little town is famous for its Laguna de los Siete Colores (Lagoon of Seven Colors), which is the second-largest lake in Mexico. It’s the main reason people come to Bacalar, and we don’t blame them!

Bacalar is a small enough town, so it’s easy to walk around pretty much anywhere. We love to walk, so even in the heat, we were ok making long treks. If you’re not a fan of that, taxis are available. But if you stay in the main part of town, you won’t need them.

The top 11 things to do in Bacalar

Ok, we love doing this type of lists of things to do in cities, but we always caution you. You don’t need to do everything on this list. You can pick and choose whatever feels best to you and whatever you’re in the mood to do.

Bacalar is a chill, laid-back town, so don’t hesitate to take time to lounge around, have some slow days and just enjoy the beautiful scenery. No matter what you do in Bacalar, we’re convinced you will have a great time!

So here are your options of the best things to do in Bacalar:

1. Enjoy the Bacalar lagoon

We mentioned it before, but this town’s main claim to fame is the lagoon. Nicknamed the Laguna de los Siete Colores or Lagoon of Seven Colors, this lake is massive and beautiful, with varying shades of blues, greens and turquoise.

The lagoon actually gets its name from the seven cenotes that are distributed along its shoreline. And considering the 43 kilometers of shoreline the Bacalar lagoon has, this is where you’ll probably end up spending most of your days. The lagoon is where most of the activities in Bacalar take place.

So take your time and enjoy this beauty! You can swim, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and dive in the waters of the Bacalar Lagoon. There’s so much to do just with this huge body of water.

2. Walk around Bacalar town

The town of Bacalar is not very big. It’s perfectly walkable. In fact, getting from one side of town to the next will take you about 20-30 minutes, depending on your speed.

In the center of town, you’ll find Parque Central. It’s Bacalar town’s main plaza. When we visited in February 2022, it was being renovated. But the restaurants and shops around the plaza were open, and perfect for exploring.

There’s not a ton to see around town, but you do get a sense of the laid-back vibes of Bacalar. You’ll see the same locals walking around the same streets, greeting you with a friendly nod or Hola as they pass you. Although Bacalar is not an island, it totally has island vibes!

3. Go on a sunset sailing trip, on of the best activities on the Bacalar Lagoon

W said it, most of the things to do in Bacalar involve the lagoon. It’s so beautiful that you just can’t escape it! This is why you should book a sunset sailing cruise around the lagoon.

The lagoon is always beautiful, but there’s something about being on the waters at sunset that makes it so much more magical. Tours vary, but most last between 3 to 6 hours. They include food and drinks. Plus, you get to stop in many different locations in the lagoon and enjoy every bit of it.

Most tours end at Pirate’s canal – they dock at the old restaurant-turned art installation, where you can watch the sky turn all shades of red and orange, and the lagoon changes its hues too. We highly recommend going on a sailboat tour, either at sunset or during the day. Just make sure you wear reef-safe sunscreen or stay in the shade because the sun can be brutal out there.

4. Go diving in Cenote Azul

Cenote Azul is this incredibly beautiful deep cenote located near the lagoon. Its deep dark blue color is spectacular, but don’t be fooled, because it’s a great place for snorkeling and diving. You’ll be surrounded by a ton of fish.

The Cenote Azul in Bacalar is 655 feet in diameter and 300 feet deep. There is a viewing platform at the entrance, a few shops and bathrooms. Around the cenote, there are a few platforms where you can lounge, a restaurant, and some chairs. The Cenote Azul is nestled in a lush forest, making the setting even more beautiful.

The entrance fee is $25 pesos and you can stay there as long as the cenote is open.

If you want to check out the best cenotes in Quintana Roo, check out our full article about them here.

5. Hang out at Cenote Cocolitos in the Bacalar Lagoon

Another cenote to check out is Cocolitos. This cenote is quite different than the latter. It’s actually more of a beach club than a chill cenote like Azul.

Entrance here will set you back $50 pesos. At Cenote Cocolitos, you’ll find a restaurant, bathrooms, and a huge lawn to chill on. In the water, you have swings and hammocks, perfect to cool down on hot days. The food at the restaurant is ok. Not great, but not overpriced either.

What makes Cocolitos special is that you can find stromatolites there. These structures are sedimentary formations are full of microbes, microorganisms, and bacteria. They are huge living organisms and they’re super important to the ecosystem of the Lagoon in Bacalar. They’re also records of ancient life on Earth.

Bacalar eco travel tip: It’s important to stay away from the stromatolites in Bacalar, and anywhere. Make sure you don’t wear sunscreen (even reef-safe will harm them). Don’t climb on them, don’t touch them. The lagoon needs them to keep balanced.

Make sure you check out our full article about the best cenotes in Quintana Roo here.

6. Check out the street art, a laid-back activity in Bacalar

Bacalar has amazing street art sprinkled all over. As big fans of murals, we loved walking around town looking for the different street art all around.

We love that the murals feature the names of the artists. It’s a great way to give visibility to these amazing artists.

7. Go to Los Rapidos, the river part of the Lagoon in Bacalar

Full disclosure, we didn’t go to the river of Bacalar. We heard mixed reviews about it, and since we were in Bacalar with friends who had a baby, it wasn’t a great option for us.

Los Rapidos of Bacalar is a lazy river type of water stream. It’s said to be wonderful for snorkeling and lounging around. The Rapids of Bacalar are located on the Highway 307 between Bacalar town and Chetumal. You may need a car to get there, as taxis are hard to come by once you’re there and looking to get back to Bacalar.

Here, you can lounge around the river, snorkel, kayak or go with the flow of the river. It’s the perfect place to spend a morning.

Bacalar travel tip: If you can, try to head to Los Rapidos early in the day as we were told the afternoon gets very crowded and hot. Chairs and shade become scarce.

We were also told that it’s better to go to Laguna Bonanza, instead of Los Rapidos. The entrance is cheaper, there are more amenities and you can kayak to Los Rapidos from there.

8. Check out the Fort of San Felipe

Located right in the heart of the city, you’ll find the Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar or the Fort of San Felipe. This fort is impossible to miss as it’s located right by the central plaza and the famous Bacalar City letters.

This 17th-century fort was built to protect the city from English, French, Dutch and African pirates back in the day. In fact, the town of Bacalar was devastated in 1642 after the famous pirate Diego de Los Reyes raided it. After that incident, the Spanish crown began to build the Fortress of San Felipe to fend off future attacks. They completed the structure in 1733 and no other raids took place after its completion. It was used as military barracks when pirates were no longer a threat.

At Bacalar’s Fort of San Felipe, you can catch beautiful views of the lagoon, especially of PIrate’s Channel. You can also transport yourself to the olden days of pirates. There’s a great museum in the fortress that has some fascinating artifacts from those days, like pirate skeletons that were excavated in the area. The museum is open every day, from 9 am to 6 pm, except on Mondays. The entrance fee is about $40 pesos (or $2USD).

9. Lounge around the docks, one of the best free activities in Bacalar

Bacalar is known for its many docks along the shore of the lagoon. It’s the best way to jump in and take a dip in the blue waters of this impressive blue lake.

The docks are located all over the town. Most have been obstructed and taken over by hotels, beach clubs or water parks. However, you can still find some free docks (or muelles) that are freely accessible to everyone.

Our favorite dock to hang out on was the Balneario Ejidal Mágico Bacalar. For 20 pesos, you could get into this beach club-like place with a seafood restaurant, palapas and chairs to lounge on, and watersport activity rental. It had changing rooms, bathrooms, and a few shops selling all sorts of touristy things, clothes and water shoes. It opened from 6 am to 7 pm.

Often, we would come to catch the sunrise here, then go back out and have breakfast (they don’t have any vegan options at the restaurant, except for very salty guacamole and some french fries). We’d then come back and enjoy the sun and lagoon during the day, sipping on cheap beers from the restaurant.

10. Catch a sunrise on Bacalar Lake

Although you can get a really beautiful view of the sunset from the lagoon, the best place for sunrise is on the docks. Luckily, sunrise wasn’t too early when we were in Bacalar in February, so it was easy to get up and take it in. The sky would light up in beautiful hues of pink until it would turn bright orange.

The best places to catch the sunrise are on the free docks, however, they do end to get crowded.

If you would like a more private sunrise, we recommend going to the Balneario Ejidal Mágico Bacalar. As we mentioned, we would buy our entrance for $20 pesos at sunrise. We would then come back to enjoy the docks after having our breakfast elsewhere.

Do yourself a favor and try to catch at least one sunrise on Bacalar Lake. It’s a great way to start the day and it’s just a beautiful sight.

11. Explore the Mayan Ruins, perfect day trips from Bacalar

Full disclosure again, we didn’t have a chance to explore these ruins, as we were taking things slow in Bacalar. However, there are some amazing Mayan Ruins that you can explore if you didn’t get enough of the ones in Tulum and around the Yucatan peninsula. These ruins can be explored on a day trip from Bacalar.

Located about one hour away by car, you have the Mayan Ruins of Kohunlich. On this site, you’ll find pyramids, courtyards, plazas and palace platforms that date back to about 200 BC. The Ruins of Kohunlich are the only complex in the world where you can see large Mayan masks. Highlights also include the Temple of the 27 Steps and the Temple of Masks.

Another Mayan ruin to explore is Dzibanche. It’s one of the most important Mayan cities in the South. You’ll find these large ruins located in the jungle. You can see the carved hieroglyphs on the stairs, where you can “read” different stories.

Bacalar travel tip: It’s best to visit these two ruins on the same day trip. There are many tour operators that will tak you to both ruins, if you don’t want to rent a car and drive there yourself.

If you have the time, and a rental car, there’s also the ancient Mayan capital of Calakmul that you can visit in the state of Campeche. Calakmul is about a 2-hour drive from Bacalar, so it will be a full-day trip from the city.

Calakmul is listed as a world heritage site and is located in a lush jungle, a special nature reserve. It’s the perfect place for bird-watching as well as learning about Mayan culture. Although we didn’t visit Calakmul, it’s very high on our list, as Derek is a huge fan of these ruins. We’re especially excited to be able to climb up Estructure II, where you end up getting a view from above the tree line.

If you don’t have a rental car, you can visit Calakmul on an organized day trip. But you will need to get to Chetumal, as most tours leave from there.

Where to eat in Bacalar – The best restaurants in town

We had a wonderful time eating the food in Bacalar. There were so many amazing restaurants to choose from. And, best of all there were a ton of vegan-friendly restaurants to choose from, which made it even better!

El Manati, a unique vegan-friendly restaurant and artisan store

El Manati was such a great place to discover. It’s part restaurant, part museum, part local artisan shop. You can come here for a bit to eat, to work or just to admire the beautiful art and pieces they showcase.

We also loved that they had such a great mix of meals to choose from, from vegan to full carnivorous. We loved their coconut ceviche and their guacamole. Derek was a big fan of their BLT sandwich, and our friends really enjoyed the pozole.

Enamora, an amazing restaurant in Bacalar that gives back

This is another restaurant slash artist cooperative that we loved! Again, tons of vegan options, as well as carnivorous ones. Really, there’s something for everyone here, from breakfast to lunch and dinner! Plus, there’s a great artist cooperative that’s set up right next to the restaurant. And, they have live music most of the time – which creates such a vibe for when you’re hanging outside. We discovered so many great acts here!

In terms of meals, you can’t go wrong! In terms of vegan choices, the eggplant sandwich and the yaca pibil were great choices. Derek enjoyed the pulled pork but really loved the queso brie sandwiches.

But beyond the food we had at Enorma, it was their philosophy that won us over. On Wednesdays, they have a type of ‘Pay it forward’ night where you can donate whatever you want to pay for the meal of someone else. And you can give whatever you want as a tip to the employees. Someone else pays for your meal, and the whole thing just keeps going as a circular motion of love!

Mr. Tacos, delicious and cheap tacos in Bacalar

If you’re looking for cheap and delicious tacos, look no further. Mr. Tacos doesn’t look like much from the outside, but their tacos are insanely tasty and quite filling.

We had a bunch of different ones, and honestly, you can’t go wrong. Each one was great in its own rights. Just be careful when you ask for vegan tacos. Sometimes, they confuse vegan and vegetarian. Carine asked if one of the tacos was vegan, and was assured it was… it ended up having cheese stuffing. Make sure you outline that it shouldn’t have cheese, cream, or butter in it.

Yerbabuena, a tasty breakfast spot

Yerbabuena is perfect for breakfast and brunch. They have a vast offering of sandwiches and their smoothies are great too. They have a few vegan options which have delicious beet hummus.

The place is small but cozy. And the service is fast. If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat in a chill atmosphere, this is the place for you.

Mango y Chile, one of the best vegan restaurants in Bacalar

We absolutely loved Mango y Chile. It has a beautiful patio you can sit on to enjoy your meal and the views of the lagoon and the Fort of San Felipe. Everything on their menu is vegan (although sometimes you can’t tell) and is decadent and delicious. From burgers and hot dogs to breakfast waffles, smoothies and milkshakes, they have something for everyone.

Everything on the menu here is delicious. However, be warned that the service is very slow. You can wait for your food for a while before it gets to you. So make sure you don’t head here on an empty stomach! Luckily, when the food does get to you, it’s amazing! So sit back, and enjoy your vegan meal and the view!

El Playita, a great spot for supper in Bacalar

El Playita is part beach club, part restaurant. You can hang out here during the day and lounge on their dock on the lagoon. But we recommend you come here for supper instead. With live music and little fairy lights all around the palapa, this is a perfect nighttime spot for a meal or drinks.

Another great thing about El Playita is its offering of vegan food. Although their menu is mainly for omnivores, they do have quite a few plant-based options and can turn some of their recipes into their vegan equivalent.

Where to stay in Bacalar

There are so many places to choose from in Bacalar and for such a wide budget range. You can find anything from high-end luxury hotels, to hostels with tents and Airbnbs too.

If you are spending a few nights in Bacalar, you want to stay near the center of town, and not too far up from the lagoon. You’ll be spending most of your days around those places, so don’t veer too far from these two places. The center of town is also where you’ll find most of the shops and restaurants, and the nightlife, if that’s what you’re into.

You’ll notice some of the luxury hotels are further away from town. You’ll probably want to have a car if you’re staying there, or you’ll have to cab in and out of town, or even walk (it will take you about 15-20 minutes or more, depending on where you stay. The streets aren’t always paved or well-lit at night, so take that into consideration when booking.

Here are a few options of places to stay in Bacalar:

• High-end: Beware as some of these are located outside the main part of town. Habitas Bacalar. Villa Marilu B&B. Casa Arabe. The Yak Lake house.
• Middle-end: Casa Chukum (our friends stayed here and their staff was so welcoming to us. The place is great and we would highly recommend this place to anyone coming to Bacalar). Hotel & Suites Oasis Bacalar. Blue Palm Bacalar. Hotel Makaabà eco-boutique.
• Budget-friendly: Guarumbo. Hotelito Kuyche. Casa CheJum Bacalar. Posada Casa Madrid.

You can also choose to stay in an Airbnb, like we did. As long-term and slow travelers, we often choose to stay in Airbnbs with kitchens. Dining out for 3 meals a day can get expensive and can also get tiring!

Booking.com

The best time to visit Bacalar

You don’t need to worry too much about the weather when you visit Bacalar. Truth is, it’s a great destination to visit pretty much any time of the year. However, if you don’t want to deal with too much heat or worry about rain, January and February are the best months to go. Not only will the weather be great, but you’ll also be in the shoulder season, which means less crowds and cheaper prices.

The summer months in Bacalar, from June to August, tend to be the hottest, going up to 33℃ (92℉). Although May is the hottest month of the year. Winter months, from December to February can see temperatures as low as 19℃ (66℉). March is the month with the least rainfall. October is the month with the most recorded rainfall.

While we were there in February, we needed a warm sweater in the early mornings or later in the evening. Daytime temperatures were nice and warm, but it did get quite windy on some days. In terms of rain, we didn’t see any while we were in Bacalar town, but that’s to be expected in the dry winter months.

How many days to spend in Bacalar

As we mentioned, there’s not a ton to do in Bacalar. Even if you decide to take it very chill and do everything on this list, you’ll be good with spending 4-5 days here. One of those days can be used to go on a day trip to visit the Mayan ruins around Bacalar.

Here is a quick itinerary of how you can spend your days in Bacalar Town:

• Day 1: Walk around town in the morning. Hang out on the docks in the afternoon.
• Day 2: Start off at Cenote Azul. Head to Cocolitos for lunch and hang out there in the afternoon.
• Day 3: Go to Los Rapidos to avoid the crowds. Head to the Fort of San Felipe. Sunset sailboat tour in the evening.
• Day 4: Sunrise mission on the docks. Check out the street art in town. Finish the day on the docks of La Playita
• Day 5: Day trip to the Mayan Ruins

See what you’re in the mood for and don’t be afraid to make this itinerary your own.

How to get to Bacalar

There are many ways to get to Bacalar Town, depending on where you’re coming from. Here are the most popular routes to get to Bacalar.

Getting to Bacalar by plane – Flights to Bacalar

There are actually no flights that come in directly to Bacalar. Chetumal is the closest airport to Bacalar. It’s about a 45-minute drive from there. From there, depending on what your plans are, you can take a cab or rent a car to get to Bacalar. Our friends took a flight from the US to Chetumal, and a cab to Bacalar. They paid $25USD for the taxi ride. They said the road was fine and the drive was smooth.

Another option is to fly into Cancun and take a ADO bus from there to Chetumal or Tulum. From Chetumal, you can either take a cab or a collective. From Tulum, you’ll need to take another bus that goes to Bacalar. Either way, you need to make sure you have enough time between when you land and when the bus leaves.

Finally, you can also choose to fly into Mexico City and take a flight from there to Chetumal, as they have many departures a day.

Getting to Bacalar Lake by bus

There are many options to get to Bacalar by bus. This is the option we went with, both when coming to Bacalar and leaving the Pueblo Magico as well.

Bus from Tulum to Bacalar

We took a morning ADO bus from Tulum’s main bus station to Bacalar. The bus ride from Tulum to Bacalar will take close to 3 hours and will cost 350 pesos.

Many people choose to do day trips from Tulum to Bacalar. So if you’re looking to get there early, you may want to reserve your bus ticket ahead of time. Weekend getaways from Tulum and Playa del Carmen are also quite popular, so you may want to take a look at that to make sure you get there when you want. Luckily, there are frequent departures every day between Tulum and Bacalar.

Bus from Cancun to Bacalar

If you’re staying in Cancun and want to make the trek to Bacalar, there are busses that leave every hour from the Cancun terminal. You may want to catch an early departure as the bus ride from Cancun to Bacalar takes close to 6 hours.

The bus ride will cost you about $570 pesos.

Bus from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar

Another option is to take the bus from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar. The ride will take about 4 hours and will set you back $450 pesos. Make sure you head to the Playa Del Carmen Alterna bus station. The departures for Bacalar are from there, and not the touristic bus stop on Quinta avenida.

There are also bus departures from Merida, Chetumal and many other cities around Quintana Roo. However, the ones we listed above are the major cities to which you may have to connect. Make sure you check out the bus schedules on the ADO website and check availability to make sure you don’t get stuck.

Bacalar Travel Tip: There is a ADO bus station on the highway in Bacalar. It doesn’t actually look like a formal bus stop. When you are coming to Bacalar from Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Cancun, it will almost look like you are being dropped off on the side of the road. Don’t worry about it. This is normal!

A few extra travel tips for Bacalar

Here are a few extra travel tips to help you have the best time ever in Bacalar. Nothing major, but a few little things to keep in mind.

• Make sure you bring extra cash with you. Although most places accept credit cards, if you want to pay cash, there aren’t that many ATMs in town, and they often have long line-ups.
• Safety in Bacalar. We felt like Bacalar was very safe, both at night and during the day. However, it’s always good to exercise caution when you’re traveling. Be mindful of your belongings.
• Watch out for the stromatolites. These are fragile ecosystems, so it’s important to take care of them. Don’t touch them or climb on them. It’s also important to avoid wearing sunscreen when you’re swimming near them. Even mineral and reef-safe sunscreen can cause them damage.
• Avoid plastic as much as you can. Bacalar is such a small town with limited resources. Avoid single-use plastic and things with extra packaging as much as you can. Bring a reusable water bottle to get drinking water from refill stations at your hotel. If not, you can get a water purification bottle to turn tap water into potable water.

The 11 best activities in Bacalar

We absolutely loved our week in Bacalar. It was the perfect place to disconnect and spend time in the beauty of the lagoon. We hope this article will help you plan the best trip ever to this Pueblo Magico.

As a recap, here are the 11 best things to do in Bacalar:

1. Discover the lagoon
2. Walk around the town
3. Sunset sailing trip on the lagoon
4. Go diving in Cenote Azul
5. Hang out at Cenote Cocolitos
6. Check out the street art
7. Go to Los Rapidos
8. Check out the fort of San Filipe
9. Lounge on the docks (20 pesos place)
10. Catch sunrise at the lagoon
11. Explore the nearby Mayan ruins

Let us know in the comments if these tips were helpful to you. What are you most looking forward to? Do you have any other questions for us? We’re always here to help!

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