9 AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN BACALAR – THE ULTIMATE GUIDE

Bacalar is home to the biggest and most beautiful lagoon in all of Mexico! Bacalar Lagoon is commonly referred to as Laguna de Siete Colores (lagoon of 7 colors), boasting 7 different shades of blue and it’s truly one of the country’s best-kept secrets. Whether you spend a couple of days or a couple of weeks, there are plenty of things to do in Bacalar to keep you entertained during your stay.

Bacalar is one of only a few Pueblos Magicos (Magical Towns) in the country, located less than one hour from the Belize border in Quintana Roo, Southeast Mexico. 

I spent 3 days exploring the town of Bacalar and its azure waters to put together this complete guide of 9 Awesome Things To Do In Bacalar.

Also in this Bacalar Travel Guide, I have included some useful information on how to get to Bacalar, where to stay in Bacalar and the best time to visit.

 

Have you got travel insurance for Mexico? I know that nobody likes to talk about this stuff but accidents can happen and having World Nomads Insurance can save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong. 

 

#1 SUNRISE KAYAKING ON BACALAR LAGOON

One of the top things to do in Bacalar is to rent a kayak and paddle out on Laguna de Bacalar (Bacalar Lagoon) in the early hours of the morning for sunrise.

The sunrises in Bacalar are really something special and one of the best ways to experience it is from your very own kayak in the middle of the lagoon. 

Your options to go sunrise kayaking in Bacalar is to either book a join in Bacalar tour with one of the tour operators in town or rent your own kayak and DIY.

I personally did it DIY and rented a kayak from Veleando Ando located at the northern end of Bacalar Lagoon and spent 1-hour on the water paddling around at sunrise.

Kayak rentals are around $10 USD per hour.

Bacalar Kayaking

Kayaking in Bacalar at sunrise

Early morning paddle – Things to do in Bacalar

 

#2 VISIT FORT SAN FELIPE BACALAR

The 18th Century Fort San Felipe or Castle San Felipe is a worthy addition to your list of things to do in Bacalar. Located in the heart of town next to the Zocalo, it’s hard to miss this impressive stone fort and historical landmark of Bacalar.

Fort San Felipe was built during the Spanish era to defend the town of Bacalar and its people from pirates that frequented the area which in the end deemed successful. 

This beautiful historic fort offers panoramic views left and right of Bacalar Lagoon and right the way across to the Pirates Channel where the famous shipwreck can be spotted.

The entrance fee to visit Fort San Felipe Bacalar is 105 MXN for tourists and 50 MXN for locals. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to cough up the $5.50 USD to step inside the fort walls, you can get a close enough look from the street. 

Search All → Resorts & Hotels in Bacalar

Fort San Felipe Bacalar

Stone steps on the outside of the fort

An old canon on the Castle of San Felipe

 

#3 HAVE DINNER AT LA PLAYITA 

I am pretty confident in saying that La Playita is one of the top restaurants in Bacalar offering a wide range of Mexican and international cuisine as well as signature cocktails and a selection of regional wines. 

La Playita is just a few minute’s walk north of the Zocalo and situated in a beautiful setting beneath the trees on the shores of Bacalar Laguna. 

I personally tried the crumbed rib-eye steak with salad and Kathy had the salmon with beans. Both dishes were mouthwatering!

For entrees and drinks, I recommend the sweet potato chips with guacamole, the Jalapeno Mezcal cocktail and the Cucumber Mint cocktail.

La Playita is open 7 days a week from 9:00 am to 12:00 am. You can check out the La Playita website for more information and reserve a table in advance.

Guacamole entree and Cucumber Mint cocktail

Delicious mains and red wine at La Playita

 

#4 GO SAILING ON BACALAR LAGOON

A visit to Quintana Roo Bacalar wouldn’t be complete without a sailing tour across the azure waters of Bacalar Lagoon. It turned out to be one of my favorite things to do in Bacalar during my visit and I guarantee you’ll enjoy the experience just as much as I did. 

I booked my Bacalar sailing tour with Veleando Ando, the most reputable tour company in Bacalar. See below for a list of what’s included in the tour:

• Experienced captain and guide
• A visit to Cenote la Bruja, Isla de Los Pájaros (Bird Island), Laguna de Siete Colores (Lagoon of 7 Colors) and Canal de Los Piratas (Pirates Channel).
• Drinks and fruits
• Snorkeling gear and life jackets

There are 3 set times available throughout the day for the Bacalar sailing tour and they are 9:00 am, 1:00 pm or 3:00 pm and the tour goes for approximately 3 – 4 hours. 

Click here to check availability and prices on the Veleando Ando website.

Bacalar sailing with Veleando Ando

Bacalar sailing – What to do in Bacalar

Fresh fruits on the Bacalar sailing tour

Great day for it! – Bacalar things to do

Drone shot of Isla de Los Pájaros

 

#5 WATCH THE SUNRISE IN BACALAR

Watching the sunrise over the lagoon is a must on your list of what to do in Bacalar. Most accommodations have private docks on the edge of Laguna Bacalar which is the perfect place to watch the sunrise.

Alternatively, if your accommodation isn’t located directly on the lagoon, there are a number of public docks to watch the sunrise in Bacalar which can be found on Calle 14, Calle 16 and Calle 18.

I personally stayed at Blue Bird Hotel which is situated on the edge of Bacalar Lagoon on the southern end of town and watching the sunrise here was incredible!

They also have stand up paddleboards, kayaks and over the water hammocks for guests to use free of charge which makes for the ultimate Instagram-worthy photo at sunrise. 

Check accommodation rates at Blue Bird Hotel on Booking.com

Perfect spot for a Bacalar sunrise

Golden rays at sunrise – Things to do in Bacalar

Early bird gets the worm at Lake Bacalar

 

#6 FLY THE DRONE AT THE BACALAR CENOTES

For all the drone pilots out there, Bacalar Lagoon is drone heaven and some of the best features of the lagoon to shoot from above are the several cenotes dotted along the shoreline. 

The best Bacalar cenotes are:

• Cenote Azul
• Cenote Cocalitos
• Cenote Esmeralda 
• Cenote la Bruja

My personal favorite cenote to take drone photos of is Cenote Esmeralda which is located on the west side of Bacalar Lagoon just 5-minutes drive south from the Zocalo. See the image below for reference.

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Drone shot of Cenote Esmeralda

 

#7 TASTE THE VEGAN BURGERS AT MANGO Y CHILE

If you’re a lover of vegan food and burgers, then be sure to add Mango y Chile on to your list of things to do in Bacalar!

Located right next to Fort San Felipe and the Zocalo, Mango y Chile is open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Due to its popularity for having some of the best food in town, you may have to wait in line for a table. If your stomach is eating itself and you can’t be assed waiting, it’s possible to order your food to take away. 

I personally tried the Clasica Burger which was absolutely mouthwatering and also the homemade Kombucha to wash it all down!

Don’t forget to give Mango y Chile a follow on Instagram.

Mmm vegan burgers – What to do in Bacalar

Mango y Chile menu – Quintana Roo Bacalar

 

#8 GET A PHOTO AT THE BACALAR SIGN

Another popular attraction in Bacalar Mexico is the colorful ‘BACALAR’ sign which is worthy of a classic tourist photo when you’re in the area.

The ‘BACALAR’ sign is located in the heart of town right next to the Zocalo so you can’t miss it. Even though it’s just a sign, you’d be surprised how popular it is among tourists so chances are you’ll have to wait your turn to get a photo.

I always wonder what people do with these classic tourist photos, whether they get developed and framed in their houses or if they just get buried in the camera roll on their phones. Either way, it’s a keep-sake photo to have and proof that you visited Magic Bacalar!

Must Read → 13 Things to do in San Cristobal

The ‘BACALAR’ sign – Things to do in Bacalar

 

#9 VISIT THE SHIPWRECK AT PIRATES CHANNEL

Last but not least on this list of awesome things to do in Bacalar is to visit the famous Bacalar Shipwreck in the Pirates Channel (Canal de Los Piratas).

It is known as the Pirates Channel because this was the entry point for notorious pirates that would sail north up the Hondo River and battle it out on the shores of Laguna Bacalar. Hondo River (Rio Hondo) is a natural division and border between Belize and Mexico. 

The most standout attraction at Canal de Los Piratas is the shipwreck which is partially covered in trees and it’s also possible to climb up onto the deck and wander around. 

Another reason to visit the Pirates Channel Bacalar is to discover the azure waters filled with high mineral content and clay-like sand, ideal for exfoliating the skin.

There is no entrance fee to visit the Pirates Channel, though because of its location on the opposite side of the lagoon you will need to find a way to get there which will incur a cost.

A few options to reach Canal de Los Piratas are:

• DIY and rent a kayak to paddle across the lagoon
• Book a sailing tour to Pirates Channel with Veleando Ando
• A join-in motorboat tour of Laguna Bacalar

Shipwreck at Pirates Channel Bacalar

Azure waters at Canal de Los Piratas

Drone shot of Pirates Channel – Bacalar things to do