The Ultimate Guide to Bacalar, Mexico
A shot from Cenote Cocalito, my favorite cenote in Bacalar.
Nestled in the southeastern part of Mexico's Riviera Maya, Bacalar offers a picturesque getaway. Its crowning jewel is the stunning Bacalar Lagoon, known as the "Lake of Seven Colors" due to its beautiful gradient of teal to deep navy blue waters. This hidden gem beckons travelers seeking tranquility, natural beauty, and a further escape from the more touristy cities of the Yucatan.
I’d recommend Bacalar to anyone looking for serene nature or a quick peaceful escape from Cancun or Tulum. If you’re looking for cities in the Yucatan to go clubbing or partying, Cancun or Tulum would be a better bet.
Similarly to Tulum, Bacalar is one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos, which is a list of cities that are historically or environmentally significant. All of these cities exude a sense of “magic” in order to make the cut for this list!
In this blog post, we'll summarize the process of getting to Bacalar from Tulum, recommend places to stay and eat, tell you more about the activities that Bacalar has to offer, and run through some generic tips for a visit to Bacalar.
Navigate:
General Tips
Getting to Bacalar
Where to Stay in Bacalar
Top 3 Activities in Bacalar
Where to Eat
General Tips:
Always carry cash! Many places in Bacalar from restaurants to cenotes will only take cash. I’d highly recommend exchanging USD for pesos ahead of time so you don’t waste too much time trying to exchange while on vacation!
Don’t drink the tap water! The tap water in the Yucatan peninsula (and the rest of Mexico) is not safe to drink for anyone, including the locals. Drinking the tap water will more than likely make you violently sick and lead to vomiting (or as some like to call it, the “Curse of Montezuma”). Buy a water bottle towards the beginning of your trip! You’ll likely need it pretty quickly due to the hot climate of the area. Restaurants will never serve you tap water, since like I said, nobody out there drinks it.
Rinse off before you explore any cenotes! The Yucatan peninsula (Cancun, Tulum, Bacalar, etc.) is famous for its density of cenotes, which by definition are natural pits or sinkholes that expose fresh groundwater. Oftentimes, these cenotes have delicate ecosystems, which can be wrecked by the presence of other chemicals in the water. In order to help preserve these cenotes for generations to come, please rinse off before entering a cenote. Oils, lotion, and especially sun lotion are incredibly dangerous for these beautiful natural features.
Getting to Bacalar:
Renting a Car
To embark on your Bacalar adventure, renting a car in Cancun or Tulum is an excellent option. Like any of the Yucatan’s prettiest towns, there’s no way to get a commercial flight directly into Bacalar. Plus, renting a car will provide you with the flexibility to explore at your own pace.
My honest recommendation is that you include Bacalar as a part of a trip to Tulum since Tulum is the closest tourist-frequented city to Bacalar itself. To me, exploring Bacalar can be done over one or two days to satisfaction, so you’ll want to bookend it with time in a different city.
Renting a car in Cancun or Tulum can be as cheap as $25/day. The trip from Cancun is around 4 hours while the trip from Tulum is shorter at around 2.5 hours.
I haven’t experienced needing an International Driver’s Permit in order to rent a car in Mexico (a U.S.-issued Driver’s License has been just fine), but if you ever need one, you can read about getting one here.
Alternative Option: the ADO Bus
If you aren’t planning on leaving your hotel that much while staying in Bacalar (we love a good hotel-focused stay), there is the option to take the ADO bus down to Bacalar. While this option is cheaper than a car rental, there are pros and cons. Obviously, you can save some coin by picking this option, but if you plan on leaving your hotel at any point, it’s not super worth the savings.
The ADO bus is Mexico’s public bus system, so you’ll likely be joined on your trip by some locals. If your route is busy enough, you may have to stand and hold onto straphangers or rails and stand during the duration of your trip. This may prove especially difficult if you plan on bringing any luggage outside of a backpack.
For a single person, a two-way ADO bus trip from Cancun will run you around 500-1000 pesos ($30-60) and take a little over 5 hours.
For a single person, a two-way ADO bus trip from Tulum will run you around 600-750 pesos ($35-62) and take a little over 3 hours.
Book your ADO bus tickets here.
Where to Stay in Bacalar:
Bacalar offers a range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly hostels to luxury resorts. I’d strongly recommend you find accommodations that include optional kayak or canoe rentals since you’ll eventually want to explore the Bacalar lagoon during your stay (and this will save you the hassle of looking for and traveling to a rental service). Here are a few accommodation options from my research that include rental options:
$ - Mayanah Condohotel Bacalar (~$70/night) A stunning waterfront property featuring a sparkling infinity pool, soothing jacuzzi, on-site restaurant, and a wellness center with a variety of spa services.
$$ - Puerta del Cielo Hotel Origen (~$210/night) With its name translating to "Gateway to Heaven," this boutique hotel offers elegant rooms and breathtaking views. Amenities include outdoor tubs, a beach club, two pools, and a wellness center with spa treatments inspired by local traditions. The hotel's restaurant offers a gastronomic journey through Chiapas, showcasing authentic flavors and locally sourced ingredients in every dish.
$$$ - OurHabitas Bacalar (~$360/night) Nestled amidst lush tropical foliage and overlooking the pristine waters of the Bacalar Lagoon, this boutique luxury hotel features thoughtfully designed rooms that combine modern comfort with eco-friendly elements. This accommodation features a farm-to-table restaurant, transformative workshops and events, and unique wellness experiences. OurHabitas hotels use modular construction methods to reduce their environmental impact and further this initiative by donating proceeds to Cooperativo Ambio’s Scolel’te reforestation program and abstaining from single-use plastics on their premises.
Carbon-offset your entire stay by booking through Safara. Plus, save $50 on your first stay and 10% off future stays by using my link.
Top 3 Things to do in Bacalar
Canoe or Kayak on the Bacalar Lagoon
Part of why Bacalar is so famous is the Bacalar Lagoon, also known as the "Lake of Seven Colors". And again, it’s really the biggest draw to Bacalar since it’s just SO gorgeous. As I mentioned previously, I think the draw to canoe or kayak on the lagoon is almost irresistible. Luckily, all of the accommodations I listed above offer up canoe or kayak rentals, so you won’t have to worry about searching around for a rental. However, if you’re planning on doing Bacalar within one day and aren’t going to spend a night at a hotel, here’s how you can find a spot to rent a canoe or kayak.Explore Cenote Cocalito ($2/person)
Cenote Cocalito is easily one of my favorite cenotes of all time due to its unique density of stromatolites (a super-cool rock formation created by bacteria over millions of years). Be careful not to touch any of the “rocks” since disruptions to these fragile stromatolites can destroy them or prevent further growth. The waters of Cenote Cocalito are extremely pristine, probably the clearest waters I’ve ever experienced, mainly in part to the fact that the stromatolites help to filter the water of any particles (so again, I iterate, do NOT touch these formations).
The clear waters of Cenote Cocalito lend to some nice snorkeling if you want to bring your own snorkel. When we were there, we did notice some smaller fish. Cenote Cocalito features Instagram-iconic swings/hammocks in the water that you can relax in. There’s also a beach club, so you can theoretically eat and drink during your visit to this cenote. However, since Bacalar is still relatively new to tourism, parts of the beach club were still under construction when I visited and there was little to no service. However, the flipside to this is that every single time I’ve visited Cenote Cocalito, my group has had the ENTIRE place to ourselves. Entry to Cenote Cocalito is around 30-35 pesos depending on the time of year.Explore Cenote Azul ($1/person)
Cenote Azul’s claim to fame is it’s gorgeous DEEP blue color due to it’s incredible depth (it’s one of the deepest cenotes in all of the Yucatan). Visually, it seems set aside from the rest of the Bacalar Lagoon, but is connected deeper down where the eye can’t see. This blue color can be harder to appreciate from the surface, but would make for an incredible drone shot. In comparison to Cenote Cocalito I would say it’s less of a “must-see” since its depth makes it feel more like a really nice lake than the sort of cenotes that attract tourists. However, it features a more established restaurant, so if you’re less interested in the stromatolites than I was and looking for a more inclusive experience, it’s the better option and still absolutely gorgeous.
Similarly to Cenote Cocalito, this cenote features wooden swings, but these lay on the shore and are more of a photo opportunity than a place to relax. I wouldn’t recommend snorkeling here due to its lower visibility, but its a nice spot for a swim, and an even nicer spot for any experienced scuba divers looking to flex that muscle. I’ve also read that you can get a massage on the shore of this cenote. If you are looking to relax but are doing a day trip and don’t want to bother with a hotel’s wellness center, this could be your best bet! Entry to Cenote Azul is 25 pesos a person. You can rent a life jacket for 50 pesos and rent a kayak for 150 pesos.
Where to Eat:
Shrimp at La Playita – accompanied by 4 different sauces.
For Breakfast: Enamora Bacalar ($$)
This place was so lovely and served an outstanding breakfast. There’s really something for everyone on this menu! Our group got a few juices, coffees, an omlette, and huevos nordicos for a total of 625 pesos. Everything was absolutely delicious and I couldn’t recommend this spot enough!
As an added bonus, this spot accepts credit cards. It’s a great bet if you forgot to exchange for pesos!
For Lunch: La Playita ($$)
The food at La Playita was lovely, but the best part about La Playita is its ambiance. There are a few “areas” to this restaurants where you can be seated, including tabes right on the lagoon. There are some swing chairs and a dock for if you want to walk out and enjoy the natural ambiance of Bacalar.