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Mexican Caribbean
Bacalar

Bacalar

Float - Relax - Repeat

Bacalar

The Pueblo Mágico of the Lagoon of Seven Colors.

Bacalar is a Pueblo Mágico half an hour from Chetumal, on the shore of the Lagoon of Seven Colors, a freshwater lagoon whose shades of blue change with depth and light.

Around it are cenotes, the Pirates' Canal with its stromatolites, the San Felipe Fort turned museum and, an hour away or less, Chacchoben, Dzibanché and Kohunlich.

Right now
26°Cloudy
Best for
Sailing, swimming and resting
When to come
All year round; the most pleasant weather from November to May
Stromatolites
In the Pirates' Canal and Cocalitos

Getting here

Airport

Facade of Chetumal International Airport, with its colored lattice screen

Airport

Chetumal International Airport

Chetumal International Airport is the closest airport, allowing you to make the most of your time in this Magical Town. Located in the state capital, just 38 km (23 miles) from the lagoon.

Please note that after landing in Chetumal, you will need to take an intercity transfer of approximately 40 minutes to reach Bacalar. Some transportation options include:

  • Private Shuttle Services: You can book an exclusive vehicle to pick you up at the arrivals gate and drop you at your accommodation.
  • Highway Connection: For a more budget-friendly route, you must first head to the Chetumal shuttle hub to board frequent northbound passenger vans.
  • Car Rentals: An excellent alternative for those who want total freedom to explore the area between the capital and the Magic Town.

Maya Train

The Maya Train's Bacalar station, its name above the latticework facade

Maya Train

Bacalar station

The modern gateway to Southern Quintana Roo, perfect for those seeking comfort and scenic jungle views. This is the most efficient option if you're coming from other destinations.

  • Station Location: Situated on the outskirts of town, approximately 15 minutes from the lagoon area.
  • Reaching the Heart of Bacalar: Upon arrival, a ground transfer is required. You will find official transport units and shuttle services synchronized with train arrivals to take you directly to the hotel zone or San Felipe Fort.

Bus

ADO and regional buses at the platforms of the Bacalar bus terminal

Bus

Bacalar bus terminal

The most popular alternative for travelers traversing the Mexican Caribbean from end to end. The main passenger terminal is located on the federal highway, serving as the destination's central connectivity hub. However, to access the lagoon area, you have the following options:

  • On Foot: From the drop-off point, the historic center is a 10 to 12-minute walk, ideal if you are traveling with light luggage.
  • Local Transport: At the deboarding area, community transport units are always available for the short trip (less than 5 minutes) to the water's edge.

Bacalar in motion

The lagoon

Explore the lagoon by kayak, sailboat or pontoon

The lagoon is explored by kayak, sailboat, paddleboard or pontoon, and from its wooden docks; in the morning the water is stiller and the color shifts with the light. At the Rapids, which join it to the Xul-Há lagoon and the Hondo River, the current does the work.

Wooden swings over the Seven Colors Lagoon in Bacalar

Cenotes and canals

Cenote Azul, Cocalitos and the Pirates' Canal

Inside the lagoon are the Negro and Esmeralda cenotes, Cocalitos and Isla de los Pájaros, with herons, parrots and hawks; outside, Cenote Azul, open and deep. The Pirates' Canal, the Estero de Chac, joins the lagoon to the Hondo River, and its shores are home to stromatolites, among the oldest life forms on the planet.

Turquoise canal between mangroves in Bacalar

Maya heritage

Chacchoben, Dzibanché and Kohunlich, an hour or less away

Chacchoben, Dzibanché, Kohunlich and Ichkabal are an hour away or less: archaeological sites wrapped in jungle, with pyramids that rise above the canopy.

Aerial view of a Maya archaeological site surrounded by jungle

The town

The square, the fort and the cabins over the lagoon

On the main square, by the fort, the San Joaquín church and the Bacalar letters, are the seafood restaurants, taquerías and craft stalls in ziricote and mahogany; the town is covered on foot or by bike. To stay, small hotels downtown and cabins and palafitos over the lagoon, some with a spa on the water.

Plate of contemporary cooking served at a restaurant in Bacalar

History

San Felipe Fort and the dyewood pirates

The Maya called this place Bakhalal, "place of reeds"; the Spanish founded the town in the 16th century and, against English, French and Dutch pirates after dyewood, raised the San Felipe Fort in the 18th. Today the fort houses the Piracy Museum, with weapons, maps and ship models, and looks over the lagoon.

Wall and cannon of the San Felipe Fort with the Bacalar lagoon behind
Aerial view of Cenote Azul beside the Bacalar lagoon
Discover the south

Discover the south

Discover experiences, accommodations, local cuisine, transportation, and everything you need to plan your journey through the southern Mexican Caribbean.

Explore the South

Bacalar gallery

Couple paddleboarding on the Seven Colors Lagoon
Bacalar's monumental letters facing the lagoon
Couple in a hammock set in the lagoon water
Historic cannon at the Fort of San Felipe in Bacalar
Palapas over the lagoon seen through the palms
Woman reading on a wooden dock facing the lagoon
Boat on the shore of the Seven Colors Lagoon

More about Bacalar

Aerial view of Laguna Bacalar in the southern Mexican Caribbean

June 16, 2026

Discover the Magic of the Southern Mexican Caribbean

Bacalar, Chetumal and Mahahual: a guide to the southern Mexican Caribbean, from the Lagoon of Seven Colors to the Mesoamerican Reef and Banco Chinchorro.

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Bacalar

September 29, 2024

Bacalar: A Fusion of Flavors Beyond the Lagoon

Discover the flavors and culinary scene of Bacalar: international fusion, modern seafood, artisanal bakeries and Yucatecan roots by the lagoon.

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Bacalar

September 29, 2024

The Lagoon of Seven Colors in Bacalar

Discover Bacalar's Lagoon of Seven Colors: crystal-clear water in every shade of blue, cenotes, the Pirates' Canal, kayaking and a slower pace.

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Bacalar

26°Cloudy
80%5 km/h
Climate month by month
  • Fri31°24°

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