Blissful Bacalar: 11 things to do in Bacalar, Mexico
Let’s discover the best things to do in Bacalar, Mexico – from floating in the iconic turquoise waters to climbing Mayan pyramids – it has it all! Our weekend trip to Bacalar was one of my favorite memories from our trip around the Yucatán Peninsula.
We drove to Bacalar by our rental car during our four-week stay in Tulum so we had the freedom to plan our own itinerary and include all the must-visit spots in Bacalar like its’ famous Lagoon of Seven Colors as well as popular places around it.
In this post, you will find all the best things to do in Bacalar with descriptions, photos, and locations on Google Maps. This relaxed and charming Pueblo Mágico town quickly became one of our favorite places we visited in the Yucatán Peninsula! Enjoy!
Tip! Did you know that Wednesdays are special days off in Bacalar? No boat tours happen on Wednesdays to give the lagoon and ecosystem a break!
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1. Watch the sunrise over the Bacalar lagoon!
We actually arrived at Bacalar in the evening so we got to enjoy a short walk around the town in the evening and pretty soon went to bed just to wake up again early the next day for one of the bucket list things to do in Bacalar – watch the sunrise!
Bacalar town sits on the shores of a massive Bacalar lagoon – it almost feels like the sea! And the lagoon sits East of Bacalar town meaning – you get a great sunrise view over the lagoon!
It is not so simple to access the lagoon as it is blocked by many businesses. It would be nicer if you stayed in a waterfront hotel and had private access to the lagoon but there are a couple of public spots you can go to if you don’t have private access.
We went to watch a strange smokey sunrise (I guess it was from the dust in the air!) to one of the public decks – Muelle 18 – that stretches into the lagoon. It was one of the most magical moments of our trip!
Location: Muelle 18
2. Go for a swim in the Lagoon of Seven Colors!
Let’s continue with one of the main things you actually came here – Bacalar’s pride and joy, the Lagoon of Seven Colors! It is said that the lagoon boasts seven different shades of blue – might be true but I didn’t count.
So how to swim here? It is actually not that easy – access to the lagoon is mostly blocked by many businesses in Bacalar such as hotels, and beach clubs. The best option is to stay at a lagoon-front hotel like Casita Maya Bacalar.
But there are a couple of spots reserved for public access.
There are two wooden piers stretching into the lagoon that you can access for free. You can then leave your things at the end of them and jump into the water. Those are Muelle 16 and Muelle 18 each located at the end of corresponding Bacalar streets.
However, there is another cool spot to go for a swim for free – Balneario Municipal El Aserradero. It has a large T-shaped pier stretching into the water with plenty of space to leave your things (see photo above). It gets crowded during the day!
You can also pay a small fee (~5 USD) and go to Balneario Ejidal Mágico Bacalar. They have all the facilities you need for a perfect beach day by the lagoon. Plus you can also rent a palapa and kayaks.
Location: Muelle 16 – Muelle 18 – Balneario Municipal El Aserradero – Balneario Ejidal Mágico Bacalar
3. Take a photo at the Bacalar letters!
Located in the central park of Bacalar – Zócalo – is a must-visit place in this magical town – Bacalar letters. Just like in any city, town, or village around the Yucatán Peninsula, you can find a photo-perfect sign with colorful letters of the name of that place.
While you’re there don’t forget to stop by and take a photo – the sign boasts an incredible backdrop of the gorgeous Lagoon of Seven Colors. Right next to it, you will find another cool place to visit here – Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar.
After walking around downtown and looking for cool street art murals we accidentally stumbled upon another colorful photo spot of beautiful Bacalar letters painted on the wall.
You can find the painted Bacalar sign on the wall on Avenida 1 just a few meters from the central park. Now, these street art murals don’t survive long so I hope they update this painting from time to time!
Location: Bacalar letters
4. Have a scenic lunch at a waterside restaurant!
One of my favorite memories from our Bacalar trip will always be having lunch at the scenic and relaxing waterfront restaurant – La Playita. It really made me feel like I was on holiday just relaxing without a single care in the world. (Ok, almost!)
La Playita restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in Bacalar and the perfect place to go for lunch or dinner. We arrived early right after it opened so we had many empty tables around us and didn’t even need a reservation.
With tables outside under the cover of a massive tree and water washing along the shore this laid-back restaurant felt like such an oasis! It was warm but the tree leaves were shielding us from the sun and we got a light breeze from the lagoon.
My favorite place tho was the wooden pier stretching into the lagoon where you can take photos or just stroll along after a hearty meal. I walked there and back while waiting for our orders.
For food we opted for guacamole to share, then tacos for me, and pizza-style flatbread for my husband but the star of the show was strawberry lemonade. Overall it was a pleasant experience.
Tip! Another famous place with stunning lagoon views (but not waterfront) is Mango and Chile – a scenic vegan lunch and dinner restaurant with a terrace overlooking the whole lagoon.
Location: La Playita – Mango and Chile
5. Go on a boat trip to the Channel of the Pirates!
One of the most popular things to do in Bacalar is a boat trip in the Lagoon of Seven Colors with a stop at the famous Channel of the Pirates.
Known for its shallow turquoise waters, the well-known channel connects the Bacalar Lagoon with another lagoon connected to the Hondo River. According to a legend the Mayans built this channel to facilitate trade between the South and North.
However, during the colonial era, this channel became a frequent route for pirates to attack locals in Bacalar – thus the name! Interestingly, the sand and mud in the channel are rich in sulfur and minerals and are beneficial for your skin! Natural SPA!
To get to the famous Channel of the Pirates you need to go on a Bacalar boat trip. Usually, these tours last from 2 to 3 hours and take you along all the most notable spots in the lagoon – a cenote, the Island of the Birds, and the Channel of the Pirates.
Tip! Did you know that Wednesdays are special days off in Bacalar? No boat tours happen on Wednesdays to give the lagoon and ecosystem a break!
Location: Canal de los Piratas – Bacalar boat trip
6. Explore the old fort – Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar!
Fort of San Felipe de Bacalar is one of the oldest structures in the town and tells a part of the history of Bacalar. It was built in the first half of the 18th century by the Spanish conquistadors in order to defend Bacalar from the English and other pirates.
Although during the wars the fort was practically destroyed, at the end of the 20th century it was restored and now is accessible to the public. Today the fort houses a small Piracy Museum with different artifacts.
The fort is also regarded as one of the best places to overlook the lagoon. Its walls serve as a great observation platform of the Lagoon of Seven Colors. There is also a tower but it was not accessible when we visited.
As you walk around the fort you will notice multiple cannons – 11 are left of the original 34 that the fort had. And those iguanas – they are everywhere!
For the entrance, we paid a little over 100 pesos as foreigners. The fort is not big so it was a little steep for a place like that but overall if you have some spare time I do recommend checking it out. Especially the museum!
It took less than 30 minutes to explore everything here and most of it we spent by taking photos everywhere, haha! The museum and the views of the lagoon were the best part of this whole visit.
Location: Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar
7. Enjoy floating with the current at Los Rapidos!
Floating down the river at Los Rapidos has to be one of the most unique things to do in Bacalar, Mexico. Los Rapidos is a narrow channel between two lagoons which creates a slow but steady stream of gorgeous turquoise water in the channel.
So what can you do here? There is kind of a beach club or a restaurant next to the currents where you can go and relax in the hammocks, float down the river, and have a meal. When we visited, the entrance was 200 pesos per person.
Los Rapidos is a 15-minute drive from Bacalar so you can go there by your rental car as we did or take a taxi. Then you pay the entrance fee, take a life jacket (optional!), and then walk upstream by a wooden pathway along the river.
As you arrive at the end of the pathway, you can then enter the water, swim to the current, and then just float down with the stream. It is a gentle current and very easy to navigate. After a couple of hundred meters, you will again reach the restaurant.
Floating down with the current here was one of my favorite things to do in Bacalar. Right as you pass the restaurant building you can exit the water and then simply repeat the whole thing again. It was super fun!
The restaurant also offers meals but there is an extra fee for sitting at restaurant tables. We did not eat there as we knew it would be overpriced however the swimming part was an excellent way to spend our morning!
Did you know? Los Rapidos are known for stromatolites which are layered rock formations you can see on both sides of the river that consist of microorganisms – living fossils regarded as Earth’s oldest living organisms! Do not touch them!
Location: Los Rapidos
8. Hunt down the best tacos in Bacalar!
For me, one of the mandatory things to do wherever I travel around the Yucatan Peninsula is hunting down the best tacos. I have to highlight one special place in Bacalar – La Cabañita Grill & Cantina, a charming restaurant serving delicious food!
In my books, this was the best place to eat in Bacalar! I got juicy and tasty tacos in colorful tortillas while my husband opted for bone marrow. Oh, and the second photo was a compliment – bread, tortillas, and salsas – beautifully presented!
Another great place we went to was Rustic Cocina Mexicana. I had arrachera tacos while my husband had a large quesadilla. Although they are located inside the city, they have a nice fenced-off garden area for tables.
And finally, I got tacos at La Playita beachfront restaurant which I already mentioned. Although the food is good, La Playita gets really crowded for dinner and you may not be able to get a seat without a reservation so take that in mind!
Location: La Cabañita Grill & Cantina – Rustic Cocina Mexicana – La Playita
9. Explore street art around downtown Bacalar!
Wherever we traveled around the Yucatan peninsula I was always surprised how colorful they live here – either houses were painted in different colors or there were lots of beautiful street art murals.
While walking around downtown in Bacalar I also noticed many street art murals. If you happen to find yourself with a bit of free time to spare, I recommend making a short loop around the central park to check out some of those artworks.
We found some street art next to Mango and Chile restaurant – it had the whole wall covered with paintings plus there was an Instagrammable photo sign and the lagoon as a beautiful backdrop. Do stop by if you are nearby!
Then we found a couple of beautiful paintings in the corner of the central plaza – Zócalo. Look for the corner of Calle 22 and Avenida 5 where we found multiple street art murals.
Then we also found some next to the square that hosts Mercado Chíinil K’iin – a plaza that is quite empty during the day but turns into a large busy ‘beehive’ at night when it fills with vendors of handicrafts, corn, marquesitas, souvenirs, and more!
We also saw some of the street art murals on Avenida 7 – we walked there many times as our hotel was located on this street. If you happen to stay in downtown then you will definitely notice some murals when walking around!
Location: Zócalo – Mercado Chíinil K’iin – Mango and Chile
10. Grab a marquesita at Bacalar’s Zócalo!
After a day full of adventures, swimming, and good food we decided to explore the central square of Bacalar – Zócalo. One of the best things to do in Bacalar’s main park is to eat marquesitas, a sweet Mexican street food that originated in Yucatán.
Numerous marquesita stands line the park and most of the marquesita stands appear in the evening however there was one during the day, too. Just walk around the park and you will definitely see multiple food stands offering this delicious treat.
We got ours in the Northwest corner of the park and, let me tell you, this was the best marquesita I ever had in the Yucatán Peninsula. And I have had loads and loads of them in basically every city we visited!
The aroma of freshly made marquesitas fills the whole park and it will be quite irresistible so definitely go up there and grab one warm marquesita to celebrate a successful trip to this magical town!
Tip! Next to the central park, you can find a smaller square hosting Mercado Chíinil K’iin. It is also full of street food stands including many marquesita vendors!
Location: Zócalo – Mercado Chíinil K’iin
11. Go on a trip to Mayan ruins near Bacalar!
Exploring fascinating Mayan ruins near Bacalar was one of my favorite memories from our trip! I have visited more than 20 archaeological zones around the Yucatan Peninsula and some of these ruins near Bacalar were amongst my all-time favorites!
1. Chacchoben Archaeological Zone
Located just a 30-minute drive from Bacalar and a 2h 20min drive from Tulum is one of my all-time favorite archaeological zones in the Yucatan Peninsula – Chacchoben Archaeological Zone!
Chacchoben Archaeological Zone is a hidden gem in the Yucatan Peninsula as it is situated off the main tourist hotspots. And it somehow makes it extra unique! We visited Chacchoben during our weekend trip from Tulum to Bacalar.
Chacchoben signifies ‘the place of red corn’ and first was settled by the Mayans around 200 BC but most of the structures here date back to the 7th-8th centuries. The site proudly boasts three large pyramids and many impressive temples.
Chacchoben once was the largest Mayan city in the area known as the ‘Region of the Lakes’. When we visited it was completely empty apart from archaeologists still working on restoration. But it gets plenty of visitors when the cruise ships arrive.
Entrance to the site was 80 pesos per person and we also had to pay some for parking (no idea if that was official – better just give some 50 pesos to be safe, haha!). We were also offered a guide but we managed with a map and the Internet.
As you walk in the Mayan site you will soon stumble upon the first large pyramid. However, it is a place full of secrets. You have to follow paths through the deep jungle and climb up a staircase to discover the real gems – two more massive pyramids.
You can’t climb any of the pyramids. Some archaeologists and workers were still doing restoration and maintenance when we visited. If you drive from Tulum, don’t access the site from Chacchoben village – there was a collapsed bridge with a horrible detour.
Location: Chacchoben Archaeological Zone
2. Dzibanché Archaeological Zone
Dzibanché Archaeological Zone located a 1h 20min drive West of Bacalar is an absolute hidden gem to discover in the Yucatan Peninsula. The hidden Mayan site features multiple large temples and pyramids and you can climb them!
Dzibanché Archaeological Zone is one of the few larger Mayan ruins where you are still allowed to climb the pyramids – not all of them but we got to climb two massive ones and get fantastic views over the treeline of the surrounding jungle!
Most of the pyramids and structures in this Mayan site were built between the 4th and 10th centuries. The thing with temples and pyramids is that the Mayans often used to build the next structure on the base of the previous one.
As a result, most of the structures feature elements, details, and characteristics from different centuries and periods in the history of the ancient Maya civilization.
Entrance to the archaeological site is cheap – it was 50 pesos when we visited charged by a couple of local people a couple of kilometers before the ruins. No idea if that was official but we just wanted to see the ruins.
After you pay for the entrance you still have to drive a couple of kilometers on a horrendous road full of potholes. You can only get there by a rental car or you can join a guided tour from Bacalar. The ruins are fantastic and a rare sight for sure!
Tip! When wandering around the archaeological zone look at the trees! We saw lots of monkeys dancing and playing in the trees!
Location: Dzibanché Archaeological Zone – Guided tour to Mayan ruins
3. Kohunlich Archaeological Zone
Kohunlich Archaeological Zone is another popular Mayan site near Bacalar, Mexico. There are no large pyramids or temples in this archaeological site and, although beautiful, it was less impressive than Dzibanché and Chacchoben sites.
We visited Kohunlich Archaeological Zone during our stay in Bacalar. Getting there is a bit tricky – you either need a rental car, hire a taxi, or go on a guided tour from Bacalar to get there. Roads were full of massive potholes when we visited.
The archaeological site is known for its large Sun God masks – figureheads seen at one of the temples. You can climb some of the structures, including the largest structure here – the Temple of the Masks – but not all of them.
Kohunlich Archaeological Zone displays some architectural features that come from a specific Peten region in modern-day Guatemala indicating some kind of strong relationship between them.
Another notable thing is that the large masks of the Sun God have also been found in a couple of archaeological zones in Belize which also indicates a connection between these Mayan cities.
Most of the structures in the Kohunlich Archaeological Zone date back to the period between the 3rd and 7th centuries but the site was settled even before that. Overall I liked it but wasn’t overly impressed by this site.
Location: Kohunlich Archaeological Zone
Happy exploring!
We went on a weekend trip from Tulum to Bacalar to explore what this charming town had to offer – from hidden Mayan ruins deep into the jungle to bright turquoise waters in the famous Lagoon of Seven Colors, we left truly impressed by this place!
Besides our stay in Bacalar, we also spent a couple of months traveling around the Yucatán Peninsula, including the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, and exploring everything this beautiful peninsula had to offer.
From white-sand beaches to dark underground cenotes, and ancient pyramids – there’s just so much to see! I hope you enjoy your time there as much as we did and I hope you get some travel inspiration from this blog post for your travels! Happy travels!
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