We finally and unexpectedly found our paradise. We arrived in Bacalar without particularly high expectations, but the famous Lagoon of Seven Colors quickly convinced us to stay three days longer than planned.

In this Bacalar travel guide, you’ll find the best things to do, where to stay, accommodation prices, food, transportation, travel tips and our personal experience discovering the lagoon.

Table of Contents

• First Impressions
• Where is Bacalar?
• Why Visit Bacalar?
• 10 Best Things to Do in Bacalar
• Where to Stay in Bacalar
• Accommodation Prices
• Eat and Drink in Bacalar
• Transportation & How to Get There
• Travel Tips for Bacalar
• Final Thoughts – Is Bacalar Worth Visiting?
• Save This Guide for Later
• Our Diary

First Impressions

Bacalar was a surprise for us.

After travelling through Puerto Escondido, Holbox and Tulum, we weren’t expecting much more than another Mexican beach destination. Instead, we found something completely different: a peaceful lagoon with incredibly clear water in shades ranging from almost white to deep blue.

The water is also warm and shallow in many areas, making it possible to spend hours in the lagoon without feeling cold.

Where is Bacalar?

Bacalar is located in the state of Quintana Roo in southern Mexico, close to the border with Belize.

It sits directly on the shores of the famous Bacalar Lagoon and is considerably further south than Tulum. From Tulum, Bacalar is roughly a three-and-a-half-hour drive depending on traffic and transport.

The town is relatively small, and most of the centre can easily be explored on foot.

Why Visit Bacalar?

The main reason to visit Bacalar is, of course, the lagoon. If you are around and have time, you must see and have this experience. The colors are incredible and you will not want to get out if this water or stop staring at it.

The Lagoon of Seven Colors gets its name from the different shades of blue created by variations in depth, the white limestone bottom and the light. On a sunny day, the effect is particularly impressive.

The town itself is small and relaxed. There is a central square with restaurants, cafés and shops, but the atmosphere in the evening is quiet compared with Tulum.

For us, it was exactly the kind of place we hadn’t realised we were looking for.

If you’re looking for a place where you can slow down for a few days, Bacalar is particularly appealing.

10 Best Things to Do in Bacalar

1. Swim in the Lagoon of Seven Colors

The obvious highlight is the lagoon itself.

The water can change from almost white and turquoise in shallow areas to deeper shades of blue further out. The contrast is especially impressive when the sun is shining.

There are several public access points and private lakefront properties where you can get into the water. But you could start here.

The water is generally warm enough that you can stay in for a long time, which makes Bacalar ideal for relaxed swimming days.

2. Take a Boat Tour

A boat tour is one of the easiest ways to see more of the lagoon.

You can explore areas that aren’t as easily accessible from the shore and stop for swimming along the way.

There are different options, from larger group boats to smaller sailing boats and private tours.

3. Go Kayaking or Paddleboarding

Because parts of the lagoon are shallow and calm, kayaking and paddleboarding are popular ways to explore the water.

It’s also a good alternative if you don’t want to spend a few hours on a boat tour.

Going out early in the morning can be particularly peaceful when the lagoon is calm.

4. Visit Los Rápidos

At Los Rápidos, the lagoon narrows into a river and the water current allows you to float downstream. From the local restaurant you will find a small path along the river going from North to South. Just follow the path and enter the water at the end of it.

The setting combines clear blue water, white limestone and lush vegetation. Please avoid touching or stepping on any of it.

The attraction is around a 15-minute taxi ride from Bacalar, although the exact travel time depends on where you’re staying.

Current visitor information reports an entrance fee of around MX$200 per person, although prices can change.

5. Watch the Sunrise

Bacalar is well positioned for watching the sunrise over the lagoon.

If you have accommodation near the water, getting up early doesn’t require much planning—you can simply walk down to the lagoon and watch the colours change as the sun comes up. This spot is a very good choice.

It’s one of those activities that costs nothing but can become one of the nicest memories of your stay.

6. Spend Time at a Lakefront Beach Club

Bacalar has several lakefront restaurants and beach clubs where you can spend several hours swimming, eating and relaxing.

Some have access to the lagoon, loungers and other facilities.

This is a good option if you want a more comfortable day by the water rather than simply finding a public access point. We enjoyed very much our time at Los Axules Bacalar.

7. Explore the Bacalar Centre

Bacalar’s centre is small and easy to explore.

The main square and surrounding streets have restaurants, cafés, small shops and places to sit down for a drink.

It isn’t a destination where you need a packed sightseeing itinerary. Part of the attraction is simply enjoying the slower pace.

8. Visit the Bacalar Fort

The Fort of San Felipe sits close to the central square and provides some historical context for the area.

The fort was built to defend the region against pirates and is now a small museum.

It’s an easy addition to a walk through the centre.

9. Relax by the Lagoon

Sometimes the best thing to do in Bacalar is nothing at all.

Find a quiet spot by the water, swim, read a book or simply sit and watch the different shades of blue.

Compared with the more developed beach destinations, Bacalar makes it particularly easy to slow down.

A bit further outside of the center is Cocalitos. The water there looks really amazing. Unfortunately it was closed when we visited, but if it is open, do not miss it.

10. Use Bacalar as a Base for Further Travel

Bacalar is also useful as a stop on a longer Mexico and Central America itinerary.

From here, you can continue towards Belize or travel further south through Mexico.

We originally considered travelling from Bacalar to Guatemala through Belize or Chiapas before eventually deciding to fly to Guatemala City.

Where to Stay in Bacalar

Bacalar is small enough that you can stay relatively close to the centre and still walk almost everywhere.

If your main reason for visiting is the lagoon, however, staying close to the water is particularly convenient.

There are hotels, guesthouses, hostels, apartments and Airbnb properties throughout the town, as well as more upscale accommodation directly on the lagoon.

If you don’t have a car or motorbike, staying within walking distance of the centre is useful because Bacalar doesn’t have a conventional public transport system.

We stayed around six blocks from the centre, behind the Ecopark. It was around a ten-minute walk, so we could easily reach the restaurants and shops while still being close enough to the lagoon.

Accommodation Prices

Bacalar has accommodation for different budgets, although lakefront properties can become considerably more expensive.

As a broad current guide:

• Budget: around US$30–60 per night for hostels, simple rooms and basic guesthouses
• Mid-range: around US$60–120 per night for comfortable hotels, apartments and boutique stays
• Lakefront/boutique: around US$120–250+ per night
• Luxury: US$250+ per night for high-end properties directly on the lagoon

Current hotel listings show an average of around US$80 per night for 3-star accommodation and around US$172 for 4-star accommodation, although prices vary significantly depending on dates, location and season.

Search hotels in Bacalar

For a short stay, being within walking distance of the lagoon and centre can be more useful than choosing a property far outside town simply because it has a lower price.

If you’re planning a proper relaxing beach-and-lagoon holiday, however, paying extra for a lakefront property could be worthwhile.

Eat and Drink in Bacalar

One thing that surprised us was how consistently good the food was. We didn’t have a single meal that disappointed us.

Bacalar has plenty of cafés and restaurants, from casual Mexican food to vegetarian and vegan options and more international dishes.

Some of our favourites were:

Madre Masa

Madre Masa is a bakery and restaurant specializing in Mexican-inspired food, bread, breakfast and brunch.

It’s a good option for breakfast or a slower morning meal, with vegetarian and vegan choices available. Current listings describe it as a Mexican bakery and restaurant using seasonal ingredients.

El Manatí

El Manatí is another popular breakfast and brunch option in Bacalar, combining a restaurant with a shop and art gallery.

The menu includes Mexican, international and fusion food, with vegetarian and vegan options. Current listings show breakfast dishes from around MX$45, although prices can change.

Maya Cabaña

Maya Cabaña is a good casual option if you’re looking for a burrito or an easy meal.

Enamora

Enamora is another place to consider for brunch, especially if you’re looking for something a little more relaxed.

Rustic Cocina Mexicana

For dinner, Rustic Cocina Mexicana offers a more traditional Mexican option.

La Piña

La Piña was our favourite.

We went there for lunch and really enjoyed the food. If you’re only going to choose a few restaurants in Bacalar, this is one we’d put on our list.

Other Places to Try

If you want more options, you can also look at:

• Agni – vegan fusion
• Ajal
• Pizzeria Bertilla
• La Playita

Bacalar’s restaurant scene continues to change, so it’s worth checking current opening times before heading somewhere.

Taste of Bacalar – restaurant directory

Transportation & How to Get There

Getting Around Bacalar

Bacalar is small and very walkable.

There isn’t a conventional public transport system within the town, so if you don’t have a car or motorbike, your main options are walking, cycling and taxis.

Bicycle rental is a popular choice and can be useful for reaching places outside the immediate centre. Prices vary, but we noted around MX$150 per day at the time of our trip.

For destinations such as Los Rápidos, Cocalitos or other places outside the centre, taking a taxi is usually easier.

Getting to Bacalar

Bacalar can be reached by bus from other destinations in Quintana Roo and the Yucatán.

If you’re travelling without a car, ADO and other long-distance buses are practical options. Just be prepared to be dropped at the main road from where you would have to walk a bit, organize a taxi or get picked up by your acommodation.

The town also works well as a stop between Tulum and destinations further south.

Getting to Los Rápidos

Los Rápidos is outside Bacalar and isn’t realistically walkable.

A taxi takes around 15 minutes depending on traffic and where you start. At the time of our visit, we paid around MX$200 each way, plus the entrance fee.

Current visitor information still reports an entrance fee around MX$200 per person, but check locally before visiting because prices can change.

Travel Tips for Bacalar

• Stay close to the lagoon. It makes enjoying the water much easier.
• The centre is walkable. You don’t necessarily need a car or scooter.
• Consider renting a bicycle. It’s a practical way to explore beyond the centre.
• Get up for sunrise. The lagoon is especially peaceful in the early morning.
• Check the weather. The colours of the lagoon are much more impressive in sunshine.
• Allow several days. Bacalar is more enjoyable when you don’t try to rush through it.
• Don’t overplan. Some of the best parts of Bacalar are simply swimming, floating and relaxing by the water.

Final Thoughts – Is Bacalar Worth Visiting?

For us, Bacalar was one of the biggest surprises of our Mexico trip.

We arrived without high expectations and ended up staying three days longer than planned.

The Lagoon of Seven Colors really does live up to its name when the sun is shining, and the warm, shallow water made it possible to spend hours swimming and relaxing.

If you’re travelling through Mexico and have the time, we would definitely leave room in your itinerary for Bacalar. For us, it became one of our favorite places in Mexico.

Save this Bacalar Travel Guide for later!

As one picture equals a thousand words, visit our Instagram for more images from Bacalar.

Our Diary

Arriving in Bacalar – We Found Our Unexpected Paradise

After all the waves and sargassum, we finally and unexpectedly found our paradise.

We arrived in Bacalar without particularly high expectations. But the moment we started seeing the colours of the Lagoon of Seven Colors, we realised that this place was different.

The water was genuinely impressive.

On a sunny day, you can see different shades of blue, especially in certain parts of the lagoon. The white sand and shallow water made it possible to enjoy proper beach days, and honestly, these were much better for us than the beach days we’d had in Puerto Escondido or Tulum.

We had originally planned to continue after a short stay, but Bacalar convinced us to stay three days longer.

Day 1 – Swimming in the Lagoon

On our first day, we went to the lagoon directly in front of our Airbnb.

At first, the water looked almost white. As it became deeper, the colour slowly changed into different shades of light blue.

The water was also warm enough that we could stay in for hours.

There wasn’t much we needed to do. We simply swam, relaxed and enjoyed the view.

And that was exactly what we had been looking for.

Day 2 – Bacalitos Sailing Trip

The next day we took a short sailing trip with @bacalitos.

It was a nice experience, although not something we’d describe as particularly extraordinary. We got to see different parts of the lagoon that we wouldn’t have reached from the shore and stopped to swim in equally beautiful water.

It was a relaxed way to spend a few hours on the lagoon.

In the evening, Bacalar was very quiet.

There is a small central square and a few surrounding streets with restaurants and shops, but the atmosphere was nothing like Tulum.

We also cooked in our apartment, which was another nice part of staying in Bacalar for several days.

Day 3 – Axúles Beach Club

The following day, we spent the day at Axules beach bar.

It was a great way to enjoy the lagoon without having to organise another boat trip. We took some nice photos, ate fresh fish and, of course, went swimming again.

By this point, we were completely sold on Bacalar.

Sunrise in Bacalar

One morning, we got up early to watch the sunrise.

Bacalar is perfectly positioned for it, and the lagoon was extremely calm.

It was already warm, even early in the morning, so after watching the sunrise we could simply start the day by the water.

It was one of those simple travel moments that ended up being much more memorable than expected.

Los Rápidos

Another day, we visited Los Rápidos.

This is where the lagoon becomes much narrower and turns into a river, creating a natural current that you can float along.

It’s around a 15-minute taxi ride from Bacalar.

We spent the day floating in the current and enjoying another completely different side of the lagoon.

Leaving Bacalar

Our original plan had been to continue from Bacalar towards Guatemala, either through Belize or through Chiapas.

After looking at the available options and comparing the cost, time and effort involved, we eventually decided that flying to Guatemala City made more sense for us.

So after our unexpected extra days in paradise, it was time to leave Mexico.

Next stop: Antigua, Guatemala.