Town centre
Budget, foodAround the square and the fort, near the lagoon.
Town guide
Things to do in Bacalar
A small town on the Lagoon of Seven Colours: shallow water in every shade of blue, sunrise kayaking and paddleboarding, ancient stromatolites, cenotes, and a slow pace far from the Riviera Maya crowds.
31
Hostels in the city
8.6
Average, from 8,128 reviews
7
Shades of blue
2–3
Days
The Lagoon of Seven Colours
Bacalar is a small town in southern Quintana Roo, about 40 minutes from Chetumal and the Belize border. It sits on a freshwater lagoon over 40 kilometres long, whose white limestone bed turns the water from pale turquoise to deep blue, hence its name.
The lagoon is the reason to come: kayaking and paddleboarding at sunrise, boat trips to the Canal de los Piratas and Cenote Negro, and swimming off wooden docks. Along the shore are stromatolites, some of the oldest forms of life on earth, which are fragile and must not be touched.
The town has a fort, a small square and a relaxed backpacker scene. It now has a Tren Maya station. Give Bacalar two or three days.
Where to base yourself
Stay in the town centre near the lagoon for hostels and food, or on the shore south of town for quieter places with docks.
Lagoon shore south
Quiet, docksPlaces with their own docks south of town.
Lagoon shore north
QuietSmall hotels north of town.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 6 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Bacalar
Kayak or paddleboard on the lagoon at sunrise, when the water is calmest. Take a boat tour to the Canal de los Piratas, the Isla de los Pájaros, Cenote Negro and Cenote Esmeralda.
Swim at Cenote Azul, a deep cenote just south of town, and float down the shallow channel at Los Rápidos.
Visit the Fuerte de San Felipe, a fort built against pirates, now a small museum, and watch the sunset from a dock.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Some public docks (balnearios) in town are free or charge very little. Sunset from the shore costs nothing.
Walking the town and the square is free.
Boat tours, kayaks and private docks charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Tacos and cochinita pibil cost €1 to €3 around the square. Lakeside restaurants serve fish and cocktails.
The square has evening food stalls with marquesitas and esquites.
A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in sit-down restaurants; check the bill first, as some add a service charge (propina).
Nightlife
Going out
Bacalar is quiet at night: hostel bars, a few mezcal bars and live music around the square.
Sunset drinks on a dock are the main event.
A beer costs €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around
ADO buses link Bacalar with Tulum (about 2.5 to 3 hours), Playa del Carmen, Cancún, Chetumal and Mérida. The Tren Maya stops at Bacalar.
The nearest airport is at Chetumal, about 40 minutes away. Rent a bike or use a taxi for the lagoon shore.
Buses from Chetumal cross into Belize.
Costs
What Bacalar costs
Hostel beds start at around €12 to €20 a night. Tacos cost €1 to €3.
A shared boat tour costs about €20 to €30, kayak rental about €8 to €15, and Cenote Azul a few euros.
Pay in pesos. ATMs are limited, so bring cash.
Safety
Safety and scams
Bacalar is relaxed for visitors. Do not stand on or touch the stromatolites, and use only biodegradable sunscreen or none in the lagoon.
Watch for petty theft from docks and hostels.
Do not drink the tap water; use bottled or filtered water, which most hostels provide. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Ruins, the coast and Belize.
Cenote Azul
A deep cenote.
Los Rápidos
A channel to float down.
Mahahual
Costa Maya beach town.
Chetumal
The state capital and the Maya museum.
Belize
Cross to Corozal.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Holidays and the season.
December to April
High season
Bacalar
Clearest water.
1 to 2 November
Day of the Dead
Bacalar
Altars and Hanal Pixán.
March or April
Holy Week
Bacalar
Busy with Mexican visitors.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Bacalar, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Casa Mexico Lindo - Boutique Hostel
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Viajero Bacalar Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
The Yak Lake House - Front Lagoon
Dorms from €17 a night
See dates and book
CHE Bacalar Hostel & Bar
Dorms from €8 a night
See dates and book
Yaxche Centro Hostel y Camping
Dorms from €9 a night
See dates and book
Casa Yunuem
Dorms from €15 a night
See dates and book
When to go
November to April is dry and sunny, with the clearest water. May to October is hot, with afternoon storms; hurricane season runs from June to November. Heavy rain can cloud the lagoon.
Jan
Dry, clear
Feb
Dry
Mar
Spring break
Apr
Easter
May
Hot
Jun
Storms
Jul
Summer holidays
Aug
Hot
Sep
Peak hurricane risk
Oct
Rain
Nov
Drying
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Bacalar prices.
Treat these as a guide. Boat tours cost extra.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Bacalar questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Bacalar worth it?
Yes, for the lagoon and a slower pace.
How do I get to Bacalar?
By ADO bus or Tren Maya from Tulum, Cancún or Mérida, or fly to Chetumal.
What are stromatolites?
Ancient living structures in the lagoon; do not touch or stand on them.
Can I swim in the lagoon?
Yes, from public and private docks.
Is Bacalar safe?
It is relaxed; watch your things.
How many days do I need?
Two to three.
When is the best time to visit?
November to April.
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