SherryStay Destination Guide
Bacalar
The Lagoon of Seven Colors — Mexico's freshwater Maldives.
About Bacalar
Just north of the Belize border, far from the resorts of Cancún, Bacalar wraps a small colonial town around one astonishing thing: a 60-kilometre freshwater lagoon that shades from clear turquoise to deep indigo over a white limestone bed — the Laguna de los Siete Colores, the "Lagoon of Seven Colors." Because it is a lagoon and not the sea, the water stays glassy and the sargassum that plagues the Caribbean beaches never arrives. Days here are spent on the water — sailing, kayaking or floating the Pirate Canal — and dropping into deep cenotes like the indigo Cenote Azul. Along the shore grow stromatolites, living reefs among the oldest life forms on earth, so the rules are strict: no sunscreen in the lagoon, and no boats at all on Wednesdays, when the water rests. A laid-back Pueblo Mágico now reachable by the new Maya Train, Bacalar is the slow, soulful antidote to the Riviera Maya.
Stay on the Costera lakefront road to wake up over the water, and plan boat tours for any day but Wednesday — the lagoon "rests" and no watercraft are allowed.
Best For
Where to Stay
Bacalar town (Pueblo Mágico)
Historic core — the fort, plaza, cenotes, budget-to-mid stays
Costera (lakefront)
Waterfront boutique hotels with private docks and lagoon swimming
Xul-Ha (south)
Quiet, off-grid, nature-immersed, car needed
Money-Saving Tips
- 1Carry pesos — small hotels and tours are often cash-preferred and ATMs are limited.
- 2No sargassum ever (it's a freshwater lagoon) — a free upgrade over the Riviera Maya beaches.
Getting Around
- 1Nearest airport is Chetumal (CTM), ~40 min; Tulum ~3h and Cancún ~4–5h.
- 2The Maya Train now stops at Bacalar — scenic, but check the limited southern-leg schedule.
- 3Bring a rash guard: sunscreen (even biodegradable) is banned in the lagoon to protect the stromatolites.
Most Common Mistake
Treating Bacalar as a day trip from Cancún/Tulum (it's 4–5h each way), or booking a boat tour on a Wednesday, when the lagoon is closed to boats.
3–4 nights
- • Mahahual (Caribbean beach, ~1.5–2h)
- • Chetumal (~40 min)
- • Tulum (~3h)
Bacalar at a glance
- Bacalar is in Mexico.
- Sherry suggests 3–4 nights in Bacalar.
- The nearest airport to Bacalar is Chetumal (CTM), about 40 minutes away. Tulum is roughly 3 hours and Cancun 4 to 5 hours.
- The Maya Train now stops at Bacalar, which is scenic, though the southern-leg schedule is limited and worth checking before you rely on it.
Common questions
- Can you visit Bacalar as a day trip from Cancun or Tulum?
- No, and treating it as one is the common mistake. Bacalar is 4 to 5 hours each way from Cancun.
- Is there sargassum at Bacalar?
- Never. Bacalar is a freshwater lagoon, which is a free upgrade over the Riviera Maya beaches.
- Can you wear sunscreen in the Bacalar lagoon?
- No. Sunscreen, even biodegradable, is banned in the lagoon to protect the stromatolites, so bring a rash guard instead.
- Is there a day when Bacalar boat tours do not run?
- Wednesday, when the lagoon is closed to boats. Carry pesos too, since small hotels and tours in Bacalar are often cash-preferred.
Where to stay in Bacalar
Looking for hotels in Bacalar? It helps to decide on an area first — our guide to where to stay in Bacalar sets out which neighbourhoods suit which kind of trip.
Around Hakuna the options include Hakuna Matata Cabaña 5, Hakuna Matata Cabaña 8, Hakuna Matata Cabaña 3 and Hakuna Matata Cabaña 4.
Around Casa the options include Hotel Casa Lima Bacalar, Casa Bizu and Casa Bizu.
Elsewhere in the city you will also find Hotelito Caribe, Siete Azules del Cielo, Toto Blue Hotel Boutique, Szapot, Hotel Naomi, XO Frente Laguna Bacalar -Gratis Kayyaks, Posada Guadalupe, La Kinta Hotel, Sendero Hotel Bacalar - Free Bikes, Hostal & Suites Pata de Perro, Asilé Hotel Boutique, Otoch Pixan, Un Toque de Brazil, Bacalar, Hotel Catedral, Hacienda Bambú, Toh Bacalar and Hotel Seyba Bakalar.