Short answer: Bacalar is the Lagoon of Seven Colors, a long freshwater lagoon in southern Quintana Roo that runs from pale turquoise to deep blue. It is the easy northward extension of the Belize corridor: about 45 minutes from Chetumal, so if you are crossing at the Chetumal border you can be floating in it the same day. Come for the water, kayak or sail it at dawn when it is calm and the colors are best, see the cenotes and the old fort, and respect the stromatolites, the fragile living rock along the shore.
Bacalar is the part of Mexico closest to us, just over the border past Chetumal, and it is quieter and gentler than the Riviera Maya up north. If you are already doing the Chetumal crossing, Bacalar is the natural first or last stop on the Mexican side.
Getting there (it’s right past Chetumal)
Bacalar is about 40 minutes to an hour north of Chetumal by road. Coming from Belize, you cross at the Chetumal border and continue straight up; from elsewhere in Mexico, ADO buses and the Maya Train reach Bacalar. It makes a clean bridge between Belize and the Yucatán: cross, sleep in Bacalar, carry on north, or do the reverse on the way home.
What to do
- Get on the water early. Kayak, paddleboard, or sail the lagoon in the morning before the wind picks up, when the seven colors are at their clearest.
- The cenotes. Cenote Azul and Cenote Negro are deep dark-blue sinkholes joined to the lagoon system; Los Rápidos is a channel with a gentle current.
- The Fort of San Felipe, the old pirate-era fort overlooking the water, with a small museum and the best sunset view in town.
- The town, a relaxed Pueblo Mágico with lagoon-side spots to eat and swim.
A word on the stromatolites
The rough, rocky formations along parts of the shore are stromatolites, among the oldest living structures on earth, built by microbes over thousands of years. They are alive and fragile. Do not stand on them, and wear no sunscreen or repellent when you go in the lagoon near them; the chemicals harm both the stromatolites and the water’s clarity. Use a rash guard for sun instead.
Bacalar sits in the wider region covered in the Maya World guide; for the food, the Yucatán food guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Bacalar from Belize?
Cross the border at Chetumal and continue about 40 minutes to an hour north by road. Bacalar is the closest part of Mexico to northern Belize.
Why is Bacalar called the Lagoon of Seven Colors?
The lagoon’s varying depth and white sandy bottom make the water show in bands of color, from pale turquoise to deep blue, especially in the morning light.
Is Bacalar worth visiting?
Yes, especially as part of a Belize–Yucatán trip. It is quieter and cheaper than the Riviera Maya, and the lagoon is genuinely beautiful. One to two nights is plenty.
What are the stromatolites in Bacalar?
Living rock formations built by microbes over thousands of years, among the oldest life forms on earth. They are fragile, so do not touch or stand on them and avoid sunscreen near them.
About Isela Post
Isela is a Belizean mother who has been cooking from memory and from markets her whole life. Her recipes carry the food of the Yucatec Maya tradition, the corner store ingredients of daily Belizean life, and the party table of every celebration she has ever fed people at. She writes for the Belize News Post.
