Bacalar Mexico: Maldives Or Mosquito Paradise? 2024

Bacalar is a tiny town with a magical lagoon ✨ surrounded by sinkholes known as cenotes. It also sports cozy cafes ☕️, lazy water-front hotels and elegant restaurants that would make foodies 🌮 & remote workers happy campers.

If you're traveling around Yucatan & Belize right now, you're probably asking yourself - is Bacalar worth visiting? In short, 100% yes... This local guide includes:

• 😎 Free Things To Do
• 💰 Paid Things To Do
• 😋 Where To Eat
• 🚖 How To Get There

A Local Guide To Bacalar

In this guide, you can expect recommendations from a local and while I'm not Mexican, I stayed with a local friend that helped me experience the town the same way they would.

And while I try to be unbiased as possible, I do gravitate towards non-touristy activites that are accessible to all types of travelers.

All my suggestions are focused around supporting ethical, locally-owned and eco-conscious providers wherever possible.

With all that said, let's jump in. 👇

Bacalar In A Nutshell

Mosquitos In Bacalar

While I would much rather talk about the 7 brilliant tones of the lagoon, there is a major issue in Bacalar. You guessed it, Mosquitos 🦟. These guys are huge, aggressive and everywhere.

Some of the higher-end accommodations and restaurants do burn some sort of copal to keep them away which helps a lot. But while you're outside those safe zones, you're constantly attacked.

I would recommend buying a natural repellent sold in some of the small eco shops in town which works relatively well.

Oh, and you're safe from mosquitos while you're in the water or by the docks when there's nice breeze. So that's good some good news.

What Is Bacalar Known For

Free Things To Do In Bacalar

1. Visit Cenote Azul

Visit this cenote through the secret entrance in front of Amainah Hotel. Alternatively, you can go through the formal entrance and pay 35 MXN pesos fee. Only locals come through this backdoor entry so follow the signs, be respectful and keep it clean.

• 📍 Location: Cenote Azul
• 💰 Cost: Free
• ⏰ Hours: Always Open

2. Explore The Central Park

Town squares are some of the most lively areas in Mexico and Bacalar's central park is filled with food vendors from all over Mexico. At night, artists sell their handmade crafts. You can find them scattered throughout the park.

My friend took me walking at night all around the park and it kinda became a daily ritual after the first day.

• 📍 Location: Central Park
• 💰 Cost: Free
• ⏰ Hours: Always Open

Paid Things To Do In Bacalar

3. Swim At Bacalar Eco Park

Swimming for free at Bacalar is surpisingly difficult with all the restaurants and beach clubs paywalling it. This Eco Park is a short but lush boardwalk trail to walk through. Be sure to take bug repellent and something to protect against the sun because there's little to no shade here.

• 📍 Location: Bacalar Eco Park
• 💰 Cost: 20 MXN Pesos
• ⏰ Hours: 9AM–6:30PM

4. Kayak To Canal De Los Piratas

• 📍 Location: Canal De Los Piratas
• 💰 Cost: 500 MXN Pesos (Kayak Rental 3hrs)

5. Float Down Los Rapidos

• 📍 Location: Float Down Los Rapidos
• 💰 Cost: 500 MXN Pesos (Kayak Rental 3hrs)

6. Sail On A Boat Tour

• 📍 Location: Bacalar Lagoon
• 💰 Cost: 450 MXN Pesos (Shared), 3500 MXN Pesos (Private)

7. Visit Fuerte De San Felipe

• 📍 Location: Fuerte De San Felipe
• 💰 Cost: 110 MXN Pesos

Where To Eat In Bacalar

Bacalar has tons of street food at the central park, coffee shops and restaurants with dishes that some even claim are michelin star worthy.

For snacks, try local ice cream, popsicles, boiled corn on a stick (elotes) and a ton of goodies at bakeries.

1. Tamales Lataba - budget street food, vegan option
2. La Casa de Lauu - mid range restaurant, vegetarian option
3. Nixtamal - for a luxury dinner night, vegetarian option
4. Madre Masa - decent cafe, relatively cheap, no internet
5. Mr. Taco - relatively expensive, vegetarian option
6. Marquesita Stalls - local snack, relatively expensive

Night Life In Bacalar

1. La Catrina - salsa and dance
2. El Galeón - bar and cultural center
3. Yak Lake House - special events
4. Xolo Bar - billiards and drinks

Facts About Bacalar

1. 🌈 7 brilliant tones is the signature mark of Bacalar's lagoon seen clearly when the sun shines.
2. 🕳️ The lagoon was also formed by 7 sink holes (cenotes) that surround it.
3. 🌊 Bacalar has the second largest lagoon at 43km long (27 miles) in the Yucatan region.
4. 📜 Stromatolites are the oldest living beings at 3.5 million years old and found at Bacalar lagoon.

Getting To Bacalar

Bacalar To Belize

Here's a step by step for the border crossing:

1. ⁠From Bacalar, take a colectivo from this location which is in front of the Bacalar ADO Bus Terminal to Chetumal. $2.50 USD50 MXN Pesos
2. Ensure you take the van and not the small taxis since the vans drop you off closer to your final destination in Chetumal.
3. The bus should drop you off close to the Old ADO Bus Terminal which is a 15-minute walk away from Mercado Nuevo.
4. From Mercado Nuevo, take a Belize Bus to Belize City or one of the local Belize towns in before that. $7.00 USD
5. Prepare to pay the Mexico Tourism Tax (DNI). Your flight ticket breakdown should include this fee which you can show to the immigration official. 45.00 USD

Belize To Bacalar

Here's a step by step for the border crossing:

1. From the Novelo's Bus Station in Belize City, take the local bus all the way to Corozal (Border Town). $6.00 USD
2. From Corozal, go to this Belize Border Bus Stop (under a tree) where you can take combis to the old border (Belize Side) which you can walk across. $1.50 USD
3. Prepare to pay the Belize Exit Tax. $20.00 USD
4. From the Old Border in Belize, walk across the Old Border (Mexico) to this Santa Elena Bus Stop and wait for a colectivo labeled Santa Elena Chetumal. This will drop you off on the street in front of Plaza Las Americas. $1.00 USD20 MXN Pesos
5. From Plaza Las Americas, walk over to the Chetumal-Bacalar Colectivo Bus Stop and wait for a white/yellow taxi that takes you to the Bacalar ADO Bus Terminal. $2.50 USD50 MXN Pesos

Recommended Youtube Videos

• Bacalar Vlog by Hola Adventures
• Bacalar Vlog by Mateo y Lisana