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Bacalar

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Overview

Bacalar is a lakeside community in Quintana Roo, Mexico. This area, anchored by the stunningly azure blue Lake Bacalar, has a Yucatan small-village feel and is absent of busloads of tourists.

Wikivoyage guide · 15 sections

▸Introduction192 chars

Bacalar is a lakeside community in Quintana Roo, Mexico. This area, anchored by the stunningly azure blue Lake Bacalar, has a Yucatan small-village feel and is absent of busloads of tourists.

▸By car291 chars

Highway 307 has two lanes on each side for traffic. There are no tolls to pay. The exit for the city of Bacalar is on the left. The scenery is through the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve for part of the trip. The driving time from Cancún is 5 hours; from Tulum, 2½ hours. Well worth the drive.

▸By bus538 chars

There are first and second class buses from the ADO bus stations of Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Valladolid, Mérida and Chetumal. The 1 ADO bus station of Bacalar is 1 km outside the center in the north west on the Highway 307.

From Tulum it's

• M$250 (Feb 2022) with second-class Mayab bus,

• M$286 (Feb 2022) with Autobuses Unidos (AU) and

• M$324 (Feb 2022) with ADO.

You find the schedules of ADO and AU in the ADO app or website. The schedules of Mayab you see on the LCD monitor of an employee inside a Terminal ticket booth.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage Wikipedia

Media

From Wikipedia673 words

Introduction

Town in Quintana Roo, Mexico For other uses, see Bacalar (disambiguation). You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Spanish.  (April 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at [[:es:Bacalar]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|es|Bacalar}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Bacalar" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) City and municipality in Quintana Roo, MexicoBacalarCity and municipalityLeft to right: San Felipe de Bacalar Fort · Kiosk · Natural cenote · San Joaquín parish · Monumental letters · View of Laguna de los Siete ColoresBacalar in Quintana RooShow map of Quintana RooBacalar (Mexico)Show map of MexicoCoordinates: 18°40′37″N 88°23′43″W / 18.67694°N 88.39528°W / 18.67694; -88.39528Country MexicoStateQuintana RooMunicipalityBacalarPopulation (2020) • Total12,572 Aerial photograph of Bacalar Lagoon, next to vacation homes Tropical jungle near Bacalar Bacalar (Spanish: [bakaˈlaɾ] ⓘ) is the municipal seat and largest city in Bacalar Municipality (until 2011 a part of Othón P. Blanco Municipality) in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Chetumal. In the 2010 census the city had a population of 11,084. At that time it was still part of Othón P. Blanco, and was its second-largest city (locality), after Chetumal.

More in sights0

▸See1,712 chars

The water of Lake Bacalar is among the most pale and gemlike blue that could possibly exist. The main attraction of traveling to this area is the lake, whose beauty could easily induce one to sit and read for a few days without regret. The lake is somewhat shallow at the shores, except where there are sinkholes commonly known as cenotes. It is well seen by kayak or sailboat. The sand when disturbed smells strongly of minerals or sulfur, though sitting by the lake or even being on the water certainly carried no odor whatsoever.

Be aware that the lake is closed for activities on Wednesdays

1 Fortress de San Felipe Bacalar (Fuerte San Felipe) (in the center of town). Represents one of the bastions used by the Maya before they were overrun by the Spanish, it has a small but modern museum inside, if you are in town it's worthwhile visiting.

Bacalar has many cenotes, among which:

2 Blue Cenote (Cenote Azul) (South of the village center near the national road). Very wide and deep cenote that drops almost immediately to 90 m (300 ft) deep with very good facilities. M$ 25. (updated Dec 2020)

3 Cenote of the Witch (Cenote de la Bruja, Cenote Negro). Dark coloured cenote with depths that range from 2 m (6.6 ft) to 90 m (300 ft). (updated Dec 2020)

4 Los Rapidos, Carretera Xulha, ☏ +52 983 112 1268. Daily 10:00 - 18:00. Los Rapidos Bacalar is known for its stunning electric blue water near the Lagoon of Seven Colors. It is home to some of the oldest living lifeforms on our planet – stromatolites. There is also a natural lazy river with a current flowing into the Bacalar Lagoon that visitors can enjoy. Be aware that it's a tourist trap, with mediocre food and service. M$250. (updated Jul 2025)

▸Do1,290 chars

On the Lake Bacalar you can do a 2 hour boat tour seeing five sights for M$250 (Feb 2022). Tour operators are available at the lake in the city center. Choose one with an English audio guide like the operator The GAIA Experience. They have a daily departure at 3pm when the sun is less strong. Use suncream anyway. Other available activities are a sailboat tour, kayak rental for M$150/M$250 (single/double, Feb 2022) per hour and standup paddleboarding.

Ramón Aguayo is the certified scuba instructor in town, if you´d like to get certified. Ask for him at the front desk of Villas Bakalar or at the Chinese house on the costera. Sailing boat rentals or instructor, as well as boat excursions are also available.

To learn more about Bacalar and what to do, where to buy stuff, where to eat, where to stay, what is going on around town and what has been happening, as well as articles about the fort and danzon, visit the Bacalar Mosaico Facebook.

On Sunday night, there may be music and dancing in the city square.

1 Club Náutico Bacalar, Avenida 5, ☏ +52 983 141 3428, clubnauticobacalar@gmail.com. Non-profit association for sailing lovers that holds sailing tours and sailing lessons for tourists. Uses the north-side of the lagoon that is practically empty. MXN800. (updated Dec 2023)

▸Buy892 chars

The ATMs in Bacalar have low withdrawal fees. In the center are:

1 Banco del Bienestar ATM. near the hospital for just M$12 (Feb 2022)

2 Banco Azteca ATM. on Avenue 7 / Calle 18 (updated Feb 2022)

3 Banco Azteca ATM. at the Park Zócalo right next to the Palacio Municipal (updated Feb 2022)

However, the ATMs in the city center may frequently be out of service. There are many other ATMs in the Palacio Municipal, but they have exhorbitant withdrawal fees (e.g., HSBC M$81.2, BBVA M$174) (Dec 2023)

And on the Highway 307 around the ADO bus station are:

4 Santander ATM. inside the Oxxo (updated Feb 2022)

5 Santander ATM. at the Super Willys (updated Feb 2022)

For buying groceries there many minimarkets around. A bigger variety have Super Willys, La Bodega Favorita and Dunosusa supermarkets. At least the latter accepts credit cards.

You get meat for cooking in Dunosusa and maxicarne.

▸Mid-range1,181 chars

Los Aluxes (on the costera). Daily 13:00-21:00, holidays 11:00-21:00. Good view of the lagoon and excellent food. Has a good price.

2 La Playita, Av. 1 765 (Costera, C. 26 Esq), ☏ +52 983 834 3068. Daily 12:00 - 23:00. Traditional regional Mexican cuisine served in a waterfront patio restaurant. Good food with a number of innovative dishes and big, well-made cocktails. (updated Nov 2024)

3 El Manati Bacalar, C. 22 116, entre 5 y 7, Centro, ☏ +52 983 127 7347. Traditional regional Mexican cuisine with a smattering of international dishes to appeal to tourists. The dining room is clean and contemporary and filled with local artworks that are offered for sale. Outdoor garden patio is lushly landscaped and a pleasant place for lunch. Breakfast includes excellent coffee, chilaquiles, and more. (updated Nov 2024)

4 Chiltepín Marisquillos Sede Bacalar, Av. Costero 583, ☏ +52 983 167 0107. Daily 10:00 - 22:30. Lagoon-side dining with outdoor tables available. and an infinity pool. Fresh-caught seafood dominates the menu with house specialties like a marlin taco, grilled octopus, and a mixed shellfish ceviche. Huge cocktails. Off-street parking. M$300. (updated Jul 2025)

▸Sleep1,430 chars

There are many hotels along the Western coast of the lake.

1 Amigos Hotelito. is nice. (updated Nov 2023)

2 Villas Ecotucan. 5 km north of the town, a little oasis with lovely cabanas and a campground with beach and a lot of activities. MXN1400. (updated Nov 2023)

3 Las Villas Bakalar. Three blocks walking distance from the fort. The suites are comfortable, stylish and big and have air conditioning and internet. The pool is not enormous but has a nice view of the lagoon as well. MXN1800. (updated Nov 2023)

4 Hotel Aires Bacalar, Avenida 3 Esquina Calle 26, ☏ +52 983 834 2216. 12 suites with a private terrace, with a hammock, overlooking the lagoon or a beautiful tropical garden. MXN1800. (updated Nov 2023)

5 Our Habitas Bacalar. Upscale lagoon resort. MXN6000. (updated Nov 2023)

6 Rancho Encantado, MEX 307 KM 24, ☏ +52 998 884 2071. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Upscale boutique hotel on the lakeshore with a variety of uniquely furnished rooms. Spa on-site. Restaurant on-site. M$3000. (updated Apr 2024)

Casa Cactus Buenavista (in the village of Buenavista, about 30 km north of Bacalar town), casacactusbuenavista@gmail.com. Small owner-operated accommodation with private bungalows and fully equipped apartments set in a tropical garden with a large swimming pool. Breakfast and home-cooked dinners are available with advance notice, and private sailing tours can be arranged. Rooms from about MXN 2,000.

History

[edit] Fortress of San Felipe Bacalar Bacalar was a city of the Maya civilization in Pre-Columbian times, and was founded in 415 A.D. with the name of "Sian Ka'an Bakhalal". It was the first city in the region that the Spanish Conquistadores succeeded in taking and holding, in 1543 (during the 1543–1544 Pachecos entrada). In 1545 Gaspar Pacheco established the Spanish town here with the name Salamanca de Bacalar with the help of Juan de la Cámara. The southern half of what is now Quintana Roo was governed from Bacalar, answerable to the Captain General of Yucatán in Mérida. After pirates sacked the town in the 17th century, the Fortress de San Felipe Bacalar was completed in 1729, and may be visited today. In 1848 Bacalar had a population of about 5,000. In 1848, during the Caste War of Yucatán, rebellious Chan Santa Cruz Maya conquered the town. It was retaken by the Mexicans in 1902. Bacalar was named a "Pueblo Mágico" in 2006. Between 2005 and 2010 Russian Mennonites who speak German established a colony in Salamanca that had 967 inhabitants in 2010 and 1.175 in 2020. All inhabitants were Protestants and only one of those aged 15 and over was illiterate.