FAQs + Helpful issues to Know

March 6, 2023

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aerial photo of a huge lagoon with striking turquoise water and the shore covered in green tropical forest with several long wooden jetties reaching out into the lake - Bacalar travel guide Mexico

A journey information for visiting Bacalar Lagoon in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula – with a listing of FAQs.

Lake Bacalar – extra typically known as Bacalar Lagoon – is one among my favorite locations within the Yucatan Peninsula, together with the tranquil, vibrant city of the identical identify. In truth, that is one among my favorite spots in the entire of Mexico!

An enormous lake with unbelievably clear, turquoise waters, Bacalar nonetheless seems like a little bit of a “hidden gem”. It’s undoubtedly much more fashionable than it was the primary time I visited, however nonetheless has the sleepy, quiet vibes I fell in love with.

For those who’re planning a go to to Bacalar Lagoon, I’ve popped collectively a little bit of a journey information. I’ve tried to cowl as most of the fundamental FAQs in regards to the city and the lake as I can.

Hopefully, it will provide help to when planning your individual journey to the “Lake of Seven Colors”. For those who’ve bought a query I haven’t coated right here, please be happy to depart a remark on the finish. I’ll attempt to assist if I can!

Bacalar and Bacalar Lagoon Journey Information

Whereas I used to be penning this journey information, I had a have a look at all probably the most ceaselessly requested questions on Bacalar on Google. Surprisingly, lots of them hadn’t been answered all that properly!

So, I’ve gathered up the highest FAQ’s and popped all of them collectively under. Use the drop-down contents listing above if you wish to skip forward.

The place is Bacalar Mexico?

screenshot of google maps showing the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico with Bacalar highlighted

Bacalar Lagoon is an unlimited lake on the jap coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state. It’s about as far south as you possibly can go alongside the east coast of Mexico, proper by the border with Belize.

Bacalar is additionally the identify of a small city discovered alongside the southwestern fringe of the lake. The city sits on Freeway 307, which runs south from Cancun so far as the Belize border, a few 4-hour drive from Cancun Airport. The most important city within the space is the border city of Chetumal, which is about 30-40 minutes down the street from Bacalar.

The lake is roughly 42km lengthy and solely 2km throughout at its widest level, and is legendary for its ever-changing vivid blue colors, resulting in the nickname “Laguna de 7 Colores” (7 Colors Lake).

small white pontoon style boat with a red fabric roof floating on a lake with vivid cyan coloured water on a very sunny day with blue sky and fluffy white clouds overhead — *These vivid blue waters are purpose sufficient to journey to Bacalar!*

Is it a Lagoon or a Lake?

Many individuals appear to make use of the phrases lagoon and lake interchangeably when speaking about Bacalar. So is it a lagoon or a lake – and what’s the distinction?

Lagoons are our bodies of water which are separated from the ocean by a barrier island or reef, and often have brackish water (a mixture of salt and recent water).

Regardless of its proximity to the coast, Bacalar is, in reality, a freshwater lake fed by underwater cenotes.

FYI – I’ve seen a number of sources calling Bacalar the “second largest lake in Mexico”. That is unfaithful: the most important is Lake Chapala (1,100 km²) and the second largest is Cuitzeo Lake (452 km²) in Michoacan state.

Is Bacalar Value Visiting?

Let me prevent a while and offer you the brief reply first: sure, Bacalar is totally price visiting!

However if you need a extra thorough reply, learn on…

emily wearing a long red dress with her blonde hair loose standing on the grassy shore at the very edge fo a lake with clear shallow water turning to a viviv cyan in the distance. there is a single palm tree behind her on the shore and it is a very sunny day with blue sky and fluffy white clouds above. — *I like Bacalar a lot I’d fortunately spend a month there!*

Nicknamed the “lake of seven colors”, Bacalar Lagoon is an unlimited, lovely lake recognized for its many alternative shades of blue. Alongside the sting are some lovely swimming spots, with cyan water so vivid it nearly appears to be like photoshopped.

The city itself is an enthralling little place with vibrant avenue artwork, a historic fort, and chilled-out vibes.

For those who love nature, Bacalar is certainly price visiting. In addition to the attractive lake, there’s an enormous, dark-blue cenote to go to, and the realm is wealthy with wildlife. There’s additionally a really distinctive pure phenomenon: the stromatolites. These appear like rocks, however are literally prehistoric dwelling creatures. These are the oldest dwelling lifeforms on our planet, and are solely present in a handful of locations around the globe. It’s thanks to those water-purifying “beings “dwelling fossils” that Bacalar lake is so unbelievably clear.

Alongside all that beautiful nature, Bacalar is nice for watersports together with paddleboarding, crusing, and (when the climate is true) windsurfing.

And in case you merely wish to calm down and swim in these crystal-clear recent waters, there are seashore golf equipment alongside the lake to swimsuit most budgets.

emptry road with a line of palm trees in the middle and the wall across the road is painted a light orange with a colourful mural of the word Bacalar painted over it in bright blue letters — *The city is filled with vibrant avenue artwork and murals*

The right way to Get to Bacalar

It’s very straightforward to journey to Bacalar from most components of the Yucatan Peninsula. There may be an ADO bus station on the town and several other buses a day.

READ MORE: Take a look at my information on attending to Bacalar for extra in-depth data.

To get to Bacalar from Cancun, you possibly can take an ADO bus from Cancun Bus Station. The bus from Cancun to Bacalar takes about 6 hours and there are departures nearly each hour all through the day. Tickets price round $500-600 MXN. If you buy them upfront on-line or through the ADO app they’re typically cheaper. Head to ADO.com.mx to verify the bus instances in your journey date.

The identical bus calls at Playa del Carmen and Tulum, so in case you’re heading to Bacalar from any of these cities you possibly can simply take the bus from the ADO station.

From Merida: You too can get to Bacalar from Merida by ADO bus. The bus takes about 5 hours and prices $630 MXN. There are fewer buses per day however nonetheless a number of decisions for departure instances.

From Campeche, you’ll have to take a bus to both Merida or Escarcega first, then change for a bus to Bacalar. And from Palenque, you’ll need to take the 9-hour bus journey in a single day to achieve the lakeside city.

For those who’re travelling to Bacalar from additional afield, I counsel flying into both Cancun, Merida or Chetumal airports. From any of those, you possibly can both hire a automobile or take a bus.

How Many Days / How Lengthy to Keep in Bacalar?

You’ll be able to discover Bacalar city and the lake in a single or two days, however to essentially benefit from the lake and the encompassing nature you’ll doubtless need three or extra days.

For those who’re very brief on time, it can be potential to see all the pieces in a day. You might take a ship tour within the morning, then go to the fort and stroll across the city centre within the afternoon. However it might be equally potential to whereas away an entire week in Bacalar. I actually suppose I might keep there for a month and never become bored with that unimaginable lagoon!

shot of a lake with vivie cyan water and the distant bank covered in palm trees with a few houses and buildings dotted between the trees. there are two people rowing a blue kayak on the lake i nthe distance — *There are many enjoyable issues to do on the lake.*

When is the Finest Time to Go to Bacalar?

The perfect time to go to Bacalar is mostly thought of to be between November and Might. It’s, nonetheless, just about a year-round vacation spot. Common excessive temperatures sit between 28-32°C all year long. For probably the most comfy temperatures, January is the good month to journey to Bacalar, with a mean low of 19°C and a excessive of 28°C.

Based on WeatherSpark, June to October are the rainiest months in Bacalar, with September having probably the most rainfall and extra overcast skies. Nonetheless, rain on the Yucatan Peninsula often is available in brief, heavy showers. So you should still get pleasure from sunshine for many of the day.

Christmas week and Holy week (Easter) are among the many hottest instances for locals to vacation in Bacalar. Subsequently, the realm might be extraordinarily busy and costly at the moment. It’s additionally typically busier at weekends, so in case you can go to mid-week you’re extra more likely to discover a whole lot on lodging.

I actually have been to Bacalar in January and February and loved clear, dry, sunny climate on each events!

Why is it Known as the Lake of seven Colors?

Bacalar is usually known as the “Seven Colors Lake” or the “Laguna de los Siete Colores”. This nickname is as a result of various shades of blue discovered throughout the lake.

aerial photo of a large landscape with a cyan lake and three circular cenotes with dark blue water - two are under the lake and the closest one is just next to it surrounded by green forest - bacalar lagoon travel guide mexico — *Are you able to see why they name Bacalar the “Lagoon of seven Colors”?*

Close to the shore, the shallow, clear waters are a vivid cyan, whereas over the deep cenotes that feed the freshwater lake, it’s a a lot darker blue or inexperienced color.

One of the simplest ways to expertise these completely different shades is by taking one of many fashionable Bacalar boat excursions. These will take you to a couple spots on the lake, together with two of the underwater cenotes, so you possibly can see the altering colors of the water with your individual eyes.

Are you able to Swim in Bacalar Lagoon?

Sure, you possibly can swim in Bacalar Lagoon / Lake. It’s a freshwater lake with very clear water – so it’s a very fantastic place to swim.

Across the edges of the lake, the water is pretty shallow, typically waist-deep. Most of the seashore golf equipment have small jetties so you possibly can soar straight into the deeper water with out having to wade by means of the silty mud.

An area organisation known as Agua Clara por Bacalar screens the water high quality and publishes a month-to-month report – together with the degrees of E Coli within the lake. On the time of writing, these outcomes are “wonderful”. Click on right here to verify the newest report.

PLEASE NOTE: swimmers are requested to take a number of measures to guard the lake (learn extra right here). Don’t use sunscreen whereas swimming (I like to recommend masking up with a rash vest as an alternative), don’t pee within the lagoon, don’t exfoliate with the clay of the lake, and don’t contact the stromatolites. Please investigate cross-check the principles and ensure you assist shield the lagoon for future generations.

Are there Seashores in Bacalar?

There aren’t actually any sandy seashores across the fringe of Lake Bacalar. The sides of the lake hit the land straight, and are typically surrounded by grass.

As a substitute, there are quite a few balnearios or seashore golf equipment. These lakeside golf equipment often have a bar and/or restaurant and several other chairs or solar loungers. Some have altering rooms and towel leases. Many have small jetties into the lake, so you possibly can hop straight into the deeper water to swim with out wading by means of the silty mud on the water’s edge.

Some cost an entry price, whereas others have a “minimal cost” that it’s a must to spend on foods and drinks.

grassy lawn with two skinny palm trees and a row of grey sun loungers with bright blue towels on facing a lake with vivie cyan water on a very sunny day with blue sky overhead — *I can very a lot suggest Seashore Membership Blu in Bacalar*

What Occurred to Cocalitos Bacalar – is it Open?

Cocolitos was one of the vital fashionable seashore golf equipment in Bacalar. Discovered simply outdoors the city, this lakeside seashore membership was well-known for its vibrant over-water hammocks and swings. It’s additionally house to a sanctuary of big estromatolitos (stromatolites): historical, “dwelling” rock-like formations created by layers of microorganisms.

Nonetheless, after I visited Bacalar in January 2023, the well-known Cocolitos seashore membership was closed – and had been for a number of months. Locals instructed us there had been a disagreement amongst the household who personal it, and nobody was certain when (or even when) the seashore membership can be reopening. I’ll attempt to replace this publish as and after I be taught extra.

Within the meantime, you possibly can nonetheless go to the stromatolites right here as most boat excursions cease off on the sanctuary.

Are the Boat Excursions Value it?

Probably the most fashionable issues to do in Bacalar is to take one of many many boat excursions across the lake. These are a good way to see the lake. You’ll go to a number of fundamental sights, together with the underwater cenotes which feed the lake. You’ll be able to see how the color of the water adjustments in several components of Bacalar Lagoon, resulting in the nickname “Seven Colors Lake”.

You’ll additionally cease off on the stromatolite sanctuary subsequent to Cocolitos Seashore Membership (see above). So that you’ll get a close-up view of the fascinating “dwelling fossils” that hold Bacalar’s water so pure.

I really loved the boat tour a lot that I did it on each of my visits to Bacalar! It’s a good way to see the foremost sights across the lagoon in a brief area of time.

shallow clear water with white sand beneath and several large grey rock formations of stromatolites under the water in Bacalar Lagoon Mexico — *Stromatolites below the water in Bacalar lake*

Are there Crocodiles in Bacalar Lagoon?

The Riviera Maya’s freshwater areas are sometimes house to crocodiles, and Bacalar is not any exception. There have been a number of reported crocodile sightings in the previous couple of years, however these are very uncommon and most reviews that may be seen on-line seem unsubstantiated.

In March 2022, an unbiased native information web site reported {that a} man had been minorly injured in a crocodile assault in Bacalar. It’s arduous to confirm if the story was true or a hoax, because it wasn’t reported elsewhere and seems to have been based mostly on a tweeted picture by the person in query. That is the one reported assault from current years so it seems to be a freak incident.

Bacalar Lagoon is 42km lengthy and just some areas are constructed up. Crocodiles are often pretty shy, so if there are crocodiles in Bacalar they’re unlikely to be seen anyplace close to the city or vacationer areas. They’ll often keep on with the quieter, wilder spots the place they gained’t be disturbed by the numerous boats on the lake. So in case you’re nervous about swimming within the lake, keep on with seashore golf equipment and swimming spots close to city.