By air
Chetumal (CTM), ~40 km
North America · Mexico
Bacalar, Mexico
The lagoon of seven colours
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — dry season
Don't miss
Bacalar Lagoon
The Cenote Azul
The San Felipe fort
The Pirates' Channel
Things to do
Kayaking and sailing the lagoon
Cenote swims
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Wasquewhat · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Swimwear
A quieter corner
The Los Rápidos channel
Questions travellers ask
Which months are best for Bacalar?
December to April, the dry season. Pack swimwear.
Which airport is near Bacalar?
Chetumal (CTM), about 40 km away.
What can I do in Bacalar?
Kayak and sail Bacalar Lagoon, go for a cenote swim, and see the Cenote Azul, the San Felipe fort and the Pirates' Channel.
What's a hidden gem in Bacalar?
The Los Rápidos channel. For a meal, look for seafood by the lagoon.
About Bacalar
- Lakeside
Where it is
Bacalar is a small town in the south of Quintana Roo, Mexico, on the western shore of Bacalar Lagoon, a long, narrow freshwater lake near the border with Belize, about 40 km north of Chetumal.
History
Known to the Maya as Bakhalal, the town was refounded by the Spanish in 1545 as Salamanca de Bacalar, and the Fort of San Felipe was built in the 18th century to defend it against pirates. During the Caste War of Yucatán it was held for decades by Maya rebels, and it was named a Pueblo Mágico in 2006.
People
Bacalar's people are a mix of Yucatec Maya families and newcomers from across Mexico, and Maya and Spanish are both heard. Fishing, farming and small-scale tourism support the town, and the lagoon is a favourite weekend spot for families from nearby Chetumal.
Known for
- The Lagoon of Seven Colours
- The Cenote Azul
- The Fort of San Felipe
- Kayaking, sailing and paddleboarding
- Stromatolites along the shore
Did you know?
The lagoon holds a large colony of stromatolites, rock-like mounds built up by microbes, a form of life among the oldest on Earth that survives in only a few places today.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.