Have you ever heard of Bacalar, Mexico? No? Well, that’s okay. It’s not like it’s one of the most beautiful and breathtaking destinations in the world or anything (it is!). Bacalar, located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, is a destination that is often overlooked by travelers. With its crystal-clear lagoon, surrounded by lush vegetation and historic sites, Bacalar offers a unique travel experience. Skip the tourist crowds around Cancun and Tulum, and visit a quieter but just as exciting destination.
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How to get to Bacalar
Palenque to Bacalar
Palenque to Bacalar is a long drive, but riding with ADO was very comfortable. I bought bus tickets using the ADO app for about 800 pesos. There was only one bus that went from Palenque to Bacalar and it arrives at Bacalar around 4 in the morning. I had to make sure to book a hostel that has 24 hour reception so I can at least have somewhere to nap before I officially check in.
The bus left from the Palenque ADO station located here. Along the way, there were 4 stops and a few checkpoints. During the checkpoints, a police officer would get on our bus and ask to see our IDs. I had left my passport in my bigger backpack which was stored underneath the bus and I was only carrying my state ID, so I was a bit nervous. Luckily they didn’t pay much attention to me, I guess because I was sitting with a bunch of other foreigners. (Next time I made sure to always carry my passport with me in my hand bag).
These checkpoints are mostly to find anyone that crossing through Mexico illegally, mostly from other Central American countries. On my bus, at one checkpoint they pulled off two men that were sitting in the back of the bus. I’m not sure what their story was or why they got pulled off, but everything was done very calmly and they did not get back on the bus.
Nine hours later, the bus dropped us off at the Bacalar ADO station located here. From there, I took a taxi with 2 other people who were going to the same hostel as me for 20 pesos per person. I probably could’ve just walked 15 minutes but at 4am in an unknown city, I decided it was safer to take a taxi.
Where to stay in Bacalar
There are quite a few hostels and hotels to stay at in Bacalar. I would say the two most popular hostels are Che Hostel and the Yak Lake House. They were both pretty expensive for hostels in Mexico at around $25-30 USD per night, sometimes even more. I stayed at Che for 3 nights and was lucky enough to find a deal on booking.com for $15 USD per night. I highly recommend checking between Hostelworld, booking.com and the Che website for the best deal.
Che is hostel chain that is in most of the major travel destinations in Yucatan and Quintana Roo. It was an incredibly social hostel, with events going on almost every night. With the social events at Che and the social events at the Yak House, there was always something to do every night in Bacalar. I will also mention that Yak House is the only hostel in the area that has access to the lagoon. Otherwise, you may have to pay to get into a beach club or use the free public access to get to the lagoon.
The rooms at Che were only accessible with a code. The rooms had a bathroom and the beds had privacy curtains. The lockers were nice and big to keep both of my backpacks. The bed was very comfortable and they would clean the rooms on a daily basis. The shared bathrooms were right down the hall and there were plenty of stalls, showers, and sinks to use.
The hostel has a large fully equipped kitchen. There is also a pool and a few lounge areas scattered around. The decor of the hostel made me think I was on the reality TV show Love Island. The neon light sign, blow up pool floaties, and bean bags everywhere surely gave this vibe. Overall, a great experience staying at Che hostel.
What to do in Bacalar
Bacalar can seem like an isolated town surrounded by beautiful blue lagoons and nature. The town itself is very walkable and won’t take you long to figure out where everything is. The majority of your time will be spent doing water activities in and around the lagoon, so be prepared to live in your bathing suit for the next few days.
Enjoy a swim in the Bacalar lagoon
The Bacalar lagoon is so blue and beautiful it almost looks unreal. So I was very excited to go for a swim in these waters. My only issue was I didn’t know where I could access the lagoon. I quickly found out that the only two ways are going through a beach club which will have some sort of fee, or using the public access docks, which are very small.
I went to La Playita, a restaurant nearby, for lunch. Because I paid for lunch I was able to access the lagoon through the restaurant. However, lunch was not the regular cheap Mexico prices. I guess because I was now in Quintana Roo, closer to the popular touristy cities, the prices were higher. Actually, the prices for everything from here till the end of my trip were much higher than I previously experienced on my trip across Mexico. I think it’s safe to say that Quintana Roo, and perhaps the Yucatan Peninsula, may be one of the more expensive areas of Mexico. Although for a traveler from the US, it will still seem cheap.
On another day I went to find the free public access dock and found it here. It’s just a dock sandwiched between a few other docks. It does get fairly crowded some days so leaving your bag unattended is risky. Nonetheless, the lagoon is very beautiful and relaxing to swim in.
I also went to the Cocalitos Beach club which I’ll talk about below.
Cocalitos Beach club
Cocalitos beach club is about a 10 minute drive from Che hostel. The best way to get there is by taxi which cost me roughly 100 pesos one way. I got to Cocalitos right when they opened and was the second person in. It cost 50 pesos to get in, but if you want a table or rent other beach items it will be extra.
Cocalitos is a nice place for some Instagram photos with the swings, the hammocks, and the blue water. I saw some small fish in the water which are harmless, but I did also see one large fish that I mistook for a shark. It probably wasn’t a shark and was most likely harmless, but I am one to be dramatic.
There is a small restaurant on the property, but the food wasn’t that great. There are also bathrooms and showers but they did not look clean at all.
Overall, Cocalitos is a nice place to hang out for the beach access. The swings make a perfect photo op that many were taking advantage of, so it does get a bit crowded later in the day. However, for 50 pesos it was an inexpensive way to spend the day on the lagoon.
Boat tour
I went for a walk on my first day in Bacalar and was caught by a woman advertising boat tour around the Bacalar lagoon. Knowing that I had limited beach access to the lagoon, I figured this would be a great opportunity to see all the sights around the lagoon. And the best part was, the boat tour was only 300 pesos ($15 USD)!!!
The boat tour picked me up from our hostel and took me to the boat. From there I saw Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda, and Cenote Cocalitos. However, I wasn’t able to get to the Cocalitos beach club because it was blocked off. Then we stopped at Canal de Los Piratas before getting dropped off at the public access dock.
Overall, the whole tour was about 2 and a half hours long. It was a great way to see the Bacalar lagoon and swim in some places I otherwise didn’t know how to access. There are several people advertising these kinds of tours in the center of Bacalar so it shouldn’t be too hard to find something like this.
Los Rapidos
This is the one thing you HAVE to do if you visit Bacalar. Los Rapidos is a narrow portion of the Bacalar lagoon that has a current strong enough to carry you downstream. It was a really cool experience and I almost can’t wait to go back here.
Los Rapidos, also known as the Rapids of Bacalar, are home to stromatolites. Stromatolites are essentially layered sediment in salty lagoons or bay that have cyanobacteria growing over it binding each layer and building mounds in the water over the years. It’s pretty cool to see once you recognize it, especially while floating down a lazy river such as Los Rapidos.
How to get to Los Rapidos
I took a taxi from my hostel to Los Rapidos with a few friends. The taxi ride was about 200 pesos one way. Make sure to get the taxi drivers number so you can call them to pick you up again.
Entry to Los Rapidos
The entry fee into the facility is 150 pesos. You will get a wristband that is good for the whole day. If you are bringing in your own food there is an additional fee. The lockers are 100 pesos and they were big enough for 4 of us to fit our shoes and small bags.
What to do at Los Rapidos
The best thing to do at Los Rapidos is float in the lazy river and relax. The facility provides life jackets which you can use as comfortable seats if you’re a good swimmer. Walk the boardwalk to the edge of the river, jump in and relax. The current of the river will take you to the end where you will see a sign basically telling you if you drift too far your on your own. From there you can walk back and repeat! It’s so much fun and really nice to be floating down the river with no effort. Just be careful not to hit or walk on any of the stromatolites.
You can also rent a kayak and do the same thing with the kayak. Although, I didn’t see anyone using a kayak while I was there. (Renting kayaks will be much more than the 150 entry fee).
There is also a restaurant for lunch and drinks.
Where to Next?
Visiting Bacalar was like spending a few days in paradise. Surrounded by turquoise blue waters of the Bacalar lagoon and wonderful sunshine, it is an underrated city to visit in Mexico. And one I’m super happy to have gone to. The past 2 months I had been travelling solo across Mexico. Now, I was about to be joined by a few of my closest friends from home! My next stop takes me to Tulum, a popular party and tourist destination, surrounded by cenotes and a magnificent Mayan ruins!
Balacar looks like a beautiful place to visit and spend some time relaxing. Your post was really comprehensive and shared a ton of great information. I feel better equipped to explore Balacar the next time I visit Mexico
Balacar looks like a beautiful place to visit and spend some time relaxing. Your post was really comprehensive and shared a ton of great information. I feel better equipped to explore Balacar the next time I visit Mexico
Your trip looks amazing! I love the swings in the water. They looks so relaxing!
Thanks for some great information. Swings, hammocks and turquoise water, sounds like a dream destination. Would surely love to visit someday.
Bacalar looks like a wonderful place to stay at. Would love to flote down Los Rapidos.
I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great posts.
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