Exploring the vibrant town of Bacalar, Mexico, is an adventure you should undertake. The next stop after Tulum and just a short bus ride down the road you will find the crystal-clear waters of the Lagoon of Seven Colours. Why is it called the lagoon of seven colours? Well simply because of the dramatic varying of depth to the earth below resulting in different levels of 'blue'. Its a visual joy for the eyes and worth the visit for this alone however there is so much more to Bacalar.
As a backpacker you will be stepping off the traditional tourist trail, and whilst there are still holiday makers you are largely going to leave a lot of them behind and in place you will find wild parties as well as big relaxing opportunities.
Hit it at the right time (February/ March) and you will have nothing but blue skies. So whats a backpacker to do in this little town and where should you stay? We have answered some of those questions in our Mexico travel guide, however we are going to look at the here in this post also.
So lets get into this blog on is Bacalar worth a visit? Below you can find a map to help you see the spots we are going to talk about.
Green - Restaurant
Yellow - Bar
Purple - Things to do/ see
Red - ATM/ cash withdrawal
Blue - Che and Yak locations
Oh and don't forget our Where's Next? Mexico podcast episode to discover the history of Mexico right back to the Mayans
Is Bacalar Worth A Visit? What to do
1. Booze Cruise Time, Discover the Lagoon of Seven Colours
Bacalar is a chilled by day and party by night kinda town and if you are heading here, I would suggest getting your party on, why? Because everyone else will be! A fun way to spend an evening is to jump on a boat with your fellow hostel mates and have a few shots poured down your neck (drink responsibly backpackers) but naturally this sort of event is always a great way to meet some fellow backpackers in the evening sun when everyone is relaxed and on good form. The lagoon is remarkably shallow so when you get to a stop off point don't dive head first into the waters and remember to have eco friendly sun cream with you. A few hour out on a boat in the Mexican sun can burn quickly without you realising. Many a backpacker has been the victim of sun burn from this type of event.
The major hostels like Yak and Che usually host a ticketed party night so keep your eye out for that. Yaks is right on the waterfront and a pretty beautiful setting for a party.
TOP TIP - GET CASH OUT IN TULUM OR CHETUMAL
Depending on which direction you are coming from, Bacalar is notorious for a short fall in the cash in its ATM's. Whilst you can pay for things on card, some events are still cash only!
Back to the Lagoon
Ok lets go back to the lake for morning why, because you can SUP chill in hammocks or just have a swim. I can morning but its a fairly 'lazy' town so your sore head can have a few hours extra in bed before heading out. Or if you are not into the party town, you can always do a sunrise paddle board session, generally this will set you back around £20-30 for approximately 3 hours, prices from 2024.
If SUP if not your thing then just go ahead and dive in, generally you should not walk away from Bacalar without getting wet at least once, and a shower does not count!
2. Cenote Azul
Just up the road from Bacalar is cenote Azul, surrounded by lush jungle vegetation, you'll feel like you're in a tropical paradise. Cenote Azul has several jumping platforms of varying heights, allowing you to leap into the refreshing waters below. A nice way to spend an afternoon with fellow backpackers.
3. Los Rapidos
Find yourself a group, jump in a taxi and head to Los Rapidos for a really fun activity. You can swim, float, or tube in the lagoon, allowing the gentle current to carry you along. It's a relaxing and enjoyable experience, especially on a sunny day. Although I will caveat that with, this will likely be more of a touristy destination, so if solitude is what you are looking for then you are better off floating on the lake, however I found it extremely beautiful and a good laugh we got carried a bit too far down the stream and then spend a good while trying to get back!
4. Explore the Ancient Mayan Ruins
If you have had enough of water activities and exploring the town, then head to the ancient Mayan ruins of Dzibanche and Kohunlich to unravel the mysteries of this fascinating civilisation. The archaeological sites are straight out of a movie set so you can do your best Indiana Jones or Lara Croft impression as you climb pyramids, walk through the jungle and soak in the history and grandeur of the Mayan world.
5. Explore the local art works
The streets of Bacalar are another example of a town as a canvas, there are some truly beautiful pieces, its well worth taking a few hours to just walk the streets and practise a bit of photography. Head away from the lake from Yak hostel and you will start to discover the art of the streets.
Where to eat in Bacalar
Food stops
There is some really good cuisine in Bacalar, you can find everything from cheap local style tacos from Mr. Tacos, to some very fancy cuisine in a beautiful lake side locations like La Playita. There are some fantastic in between options as well, Mango y Chile for example. We have highlighted a few spots on the map, however we would love for you to add your culinary top tips in the comments below for fellow backpackers to explore in 2024 as new places are popping up all the time due to the increasing popularity of Bacalar.
Our top 5 in no particular order are as follows
Nao Bacalar - More Expensive
Spectacular Japanese sushi, Nao has you covered, the drinks menu is just as good as the food and the setting is gorgeous, just off the lagoon, higher price point but not overly expensive.
Mr Taco - Cheaper Option
For cheap local tacos this place on the central square is a very popular choice!
Mango and Chile - Average Price
Modern fresh food including smoothies and veggie burgers.
La Playita Bacalar - More Expensive
Empanadas, ceviche & fish tacos, another one on the lagoon and a little more expensive but very highly rated and close to both Che and Yak.
La Burguesía del Pueblo - Average Price
On the main square highly rated highly recommended hearty burger joint with big cocktails and big shakes
Local foods
When eating local make sure to try Cochinita pibil, a achiote-marinated pork. If you are vegetarian, esquites is your local food to try, a popular Mexican street food made of corn, mayonnaise, lime juice, and chili powder—a true explosion of flavours.
Where to stay
Ok if you want to immerse yourself into the bwild backpacking scene there are two places calling
There are two main hostels here, one is Che and the Other Yak. Both are party hostels. There are other hostels available, but from their reviews, they can be 'hit and miss'. If you want a more chilled stay and have a group of friends, an Airbnb might be the best option (expect to pay around £50 a night). I would happily go back to Che if that is something to go by but make sure you have your earplugs and face mask! Lets look at Che and Yak.
Che Bacalar Hostel & Bar dorm £8-12 a night (2 night stay min)
Clean and comfortable, the hostel has a nice kitchen and some beautiful views. It has breakfast options, a pool and when not in party mode a fairly laid back vibe! If you do stay here capsules are not too much more per night giving you a double bed. As with all party hostel, expect noise, take a good set of earplugs! You will meet people here easily especially if you do a sunset booze cruise.
The Yak Hostel
A popular place for backpackers. This place is right on he lagoon. It is also home to an iconic party usually on Wednesday, where you can paint yourself in neon paint and get your rave on. If you are staying here, the dorms are a bit dated and like Che you will need some good ear plugs! You cannot take your own drinks in, and reviews suggest it is not the easiest place to meet new people unlike Che which was! Below are some of my own photos of Che, I did like the shower and WC arrangement here!
How long should you stay in Bacalar?
The thing with Bacalar is whilst it is a great place, you can cover it in 2-3 days. If you are looking for a big chill then you could perhaps do longer, but realistically beyond the lake there is not a huge amount to do. Its a great stop but personally I would not stay longer than 3 day before getting the urge to start moving to the next location.
Is Bacalar Safe?
This one is super easy, Bacalar is very safe. As always be careful at night but during the day you will be absolutely fine as a solo traveller.
Ok backpackers, thats all from Bacalar for now, we will be updating this one soon as two friend have visited more recently and I am looking to role their thoughts into this post.
Take care until then and let us know how your time was in Bacalar in the comments below. Cheers Jack
For the curious explorer
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