Best Things To Do In Bacalar, Mexico

Wondering what to do in Bacalar, Mexico?

Bacalar is a beautiful lagoon located in the south of the Quintana Roo peninsula.

Very close to Chetumal and Belize, you’ll discover a quiet and peaceful lake where you’ll find 7 different shades of blue.

Bacalar was easily one of our favorite destinations during our trip to the Quintana Roo and I highly recommend it. It should be on your list of Mexico bucket list experiences.

This area is less touristy, meaning you’ll be able to relax away from crowds while enjoying the exotic vibes of Bacalar.

In this guide, you’ll find information on the best things to do in Bacalar. Then, we’ll give you our tips to help you make the most of your stay.

Without further ado, let’s talk about the best things to do in Bacalar, Mexico.

Sunrise Kayaking

One of my favorite things to do in Bacalar was kayaking. In fact, you can make the experience more special by booking a sunset or sunrise tour.

We opted for the sunrise tour and it was absolutely fantastic. We booked it via a local tour company called Sunrise Kayak Bacalar.

Now, you should know that if you don’t speak a word of Spanish, you may struggle to understand everything, but if you can understand Spanish, you’re going to love this experience. 

Also, the company says they are providing drone shots after the experience, but it’s not true.

The guide used a GoPro and the shots were not that great, so if you do want to experience this, bring your phone along with you to take pictures. They will give you a dry bag to keep your valuables dry.

You’ll start your kayaking journey at 6 AM in the dark. We were lucky to be there during the full moon, so we were able to see a bit more of the peaceful laguna at rest.

Then, you’ll make a few stops along the way to relax and take a break from paddling.

We were given the option to watch the sunrise from the Black Cenote or the Pirate canal (Canal de Los Piratas).

We picked the Black Cenote. It was quiet and we saw a group of people watching the sunrise too from a stand-up paddleboard. 

That said, it’s possible to watch the sunrise with a paddleboard instead of a kayak if you don’t mind going into the water early in the morning.

Then, we paddled back. There was a spot where we could go for a swim and then the tour was over.

Now, if you don’t like waking up early, consider doing a kayak tour at a different time if you prefer. Alternatively, you can rent a kayak by yourself and explore the lake on your own.

Boat Tour In Bacalar

You have a few options when it comes to planning a boat tour in Bacalar. You can book your own private tour or you can join a group to decrease the costs.

You’ll find different options from party pontoon tours, to relaxing sailboat tours.

We opted for a private sailboat which cost 3000 pesos. It included fruits and drinks as well as our private skipper.

If you opt for a group boat trip, it can cost anything between 350 and 650 pesos per person.

Note that you can easily organize boat trips directly with local tour operators or at your hotel.

Usually, the boat trip includes all the major highlights of the laguna:

• Pirates Canal
• Birds island
• Black Cenote (Cenote Negro)
• Emerald Cenote (Cenote Esmeralada)
• Cocalitos Cenote

We booked this tour directly with our hotel Blue Palm Bacalar.

Blu Beach Club

One of our favorite spots in Bacalar was Blu Beach Club where we found the best spots to enjoy the turquoise water. The venue is beautifully designed and fairly quiet. 

It costs 400 pesos per person for the whole day, and it includes a sun chair and a towel. Then, you’ll get 250 pesos in food and drink credits.

We spent a day there and it was a fantastic experience. The service was perfect, and the view was absolutely breathtaking.

Alternatively, you can consider other popular spots like Cocalitos or Jaguara Beach Club.

Day Trips From Bacalar

Finally, you can also organize a day trip if you want to see something different. Note that the lake is “closed” on Wednesdays for recuperation. (This is not the case during the high season, though).

So, planning a day trip on a Wednesday can be a brilliant idea.

Note that the following places can be visited by car or by taxi.

• Los Rapidos (15 minutes from Bacalar)
• Dzibanche Ruins (1h20 from Bacalar)
• Kinichna Ruins (1h20 from Bacalar)
• Kohunlich Ruins (1h20 from Bacalar)
• Snorkeling in Mahahual (one hour from Bacalar)
• Chetumal (40 minutes from Bacalar)

Tips For Visiting Bacalar

Now, let’s talk about our tips for visiting Bacalar. 

If you’re happy to stay in Bacalar during your entire stay, having a car is not necessary. In fact, some hotels provide free bicycles so that you can explore the area. 

But, if you want to go on day trips, having your own car would help you reach the destinations mentioned above. Alternatively, you can organize transport or a cab to reach them.

Note that there are strict rules to maintain the health of the Bacalar lagoon. For example, it’s suggested not to wear sunscreen, to avoid going “to the bathroom in the lake”, etc.

These rules are there to make sure to keep the lake healthy and to keep its fabulous colors intact.

You can reach Bacalar easily by bus, by car or by flight. Make sure to read our guide to find out how to get to Bacalar the easy way.

Finally, you may be wondering how many days to spend in Bacalar? My answer is simple. Think about the activities and day trips you want to do while in Bacalar, and this should help you figure out the length of your stay.

We stayed in Bacalar for 5 nights because we like to take our time when visiting new destinations.

Also, we didn’t want to feel rushed because Bacalar is further, and we wanted to make sure we would have enough time to do everything we wanted to do.

Final Thoughts On The Best Things To Do In Bacalar

Bacalar is a beautiful spot and is absolutely worth visiting.

In fact, it was one of our favorite spots in the Quintana Roo and we highly recommend it.

We hope this guide was helpful and that you’ll love it as much as we did.

Want more Mexico travel inspiration? Read one of the following guides:

• Backpacking in Mexico
• Day trip in Cozumel
• Best time to visit Tulum