Bacalar, Mexico, Is the Yucatan Peninsula’s Hidden Gem

A two-hour flight separates the coast of South Florida from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. With Mayan ruins, gorgeous Caribbean beaches, lively coral reefs, raucous nightlife and some of the best food in the world, the region deserves all the hype it gets. 

But sometimes, you want to land somewhere and not hear English or worry about rowdy drunk tourists. Cancun and Tulum may be too popular now to offer such an experience, but travelers have yet to overrun many other places in the Mexican Caribbean.

Perhaps none are as magical as Bacalar.

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Most international tourists going to Yucatan head to the Riviera Maya, the northern part of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The area has popular destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. We love these places and enjoy the millions of things to do when visiting them. But there is no denying that they’ve fallen victim to overtourism and overdevelopment. 

We miss Tulum the way it was 10 years ago (yes, we’re one of those people), but since those days will never come back, look south to the Grand Costa Maya for a small-town experience. Chetumal and Mahahual are worthy destinations, but in a recent conversation with several Quintana Roo Tourism Board members, one place kept coming up: Bacalar. 

They say for the best travel experience you should go where the locals go. According to the Quintana Roo Tourism Board, 74 percent of tourists in Bacalar are Mexican nationals. Here, you’ll hear Spanish more often than English — and that’s reason enough to plan a trip.

What makes Bacalar so special? Like most of the Yucatan Peninsula, its culture is still strongly Maya, with the language being widely spoken.

Of course, you can also see the mark of colonization, most visible in the Fort of San Felipe, or Fuerte de San Felipe. Once used for defense against pirates, the structure now houses museums where people can learn about the region’s history while enjoying sweeping views. 

It’s also a town of diverse nature, built along an impressive lagoon of changing blues. A preserved colonial history, strong Mayan culture and biodiversity have earned Bacalar a coveted spot as a Mexican Pueblo Magico, or Magical Town.

Also known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors, the Bacalar Lagoon, or Lake Bacalar, is the town’s beating heart. Not only does it provide water for the people and the animals that live here, but it also offers breathtaking vistas and endless possibilities for activities. 

Expanding about 31 miles, the lagoon is perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling and boating. Its crystal-clear waters drastically change hue depending on depth, being powdery blue in shallow places and dark blue where it is deep. You’ll be treated to one of the most splendid fluvial environments on the planet.

The Rapids of Bacalar is a particularly spectacular place to visit within the lagoon. Here, you’ll be able to float over living stromatolites, single-celled organisms that exist in very few places on Earth. (Fun fact: You can see fossilized stromatolites in Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park.)

Bird watchers should also visit Bird Island, a small part of the lagoon where thousands of birds fly once the sun sets. Even if you’re not into birding, this is a phenomenon worth seeing with your own eyes. 

In the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, cenotes are underground caves or sinkholes that often have small openings. You usually have to go underground or down a precarious staircase to reach them. 

But cenotes in Bacalar are distinctive for their openness and impressive width. Some of them are so large that they resemble small lagoons.

Bacalar Lagoon has two famous cenotes that we highly recommend you visit: Cenote Cocalitos and Emerald Cenote. The former is perfect for seeing stromatolites, and the latter provides a perfect contrast to the turquoise water of the lagoon. It is also an excellent spot for snorkeling and diving. 

Other visit-worthy cenotes are Cenote Azul — one of the area’s deepest — and Cenote Negro, or Black Cenote. This name refers to the very dark hue of its water.