Lake Bacalar | Things to do at Bacalar Lagoon, Mexico

Updated May 2024

Lake Bacalar, also known as the Lake of Seven Colours, is one of the most beautiful places I visited during my three months in Mexico (and maybe ever). From swimming with fishes in the Cenote Azul and taking part in watersports and activities, to lakeside hotels where you can relax and soak up the weather – this is a guide to the best things to do in Bacalar Lagoon, Quintana Roo:

Disclaimer: prices are based on the trip I took in 2018, however the rest of the information is still helpful and up to date.

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The best things to do in Bacalar

The biggest reason people come to Lake Bacalar is to chill out in and around the stunning Bacalar Lagoon. However, there’s also so much to see and do in Bacalar and here are just a few ideas of activities to try out and things to see during your stay:

1. Cenote Azul (Blue Cenote)

A cenote is a deep sinkhole that connects to the sea or a lake through underground rivers. They’re very common in the Yucatan area of Mexico and the Cenote Azul, in Bacalar, is one of the most beautiful cenotes I visited.

At the south end of the costera (coast highway), which is around three km south of Bacalar’s city center, the Cenote Azul is a 90m-deep natural pool with bar and restaurant. It’s walkable, or you can rent a bike or hire a taxi to go there.

The waters are crystal clear, so you can snorkel or dive with the fishes! It’s one of the largest, deepest and cleanest cenotes in the Yucatan. I spent a few hours at Cenote Azul, but I could have easily spent the whole day there. The restaurant is reasonably priced and the cost of entry is 25 pesos (though there are no lockers).

2. Cenote Negro (Black Cenote)

The Cenote Negro, or Black Cenote, is actually on Lake Bacalar and only accessible via the lake. It’s a popular place to kayak out to, and it was a stop-off point on the sunrise stand-up paddleboarding tour I went on (see below). There’s a rope attached to a tree, so you can swing into the lagoon.

3. Stand-up paddleboarding on the lake

A sunrise stand-up paddleboarding tour with WhatSUP Bacalar was easily my favourite thing to do in Bacalar. Though I had to be up and in a bikini at 5am in the morning, it was worth it to paddle out onto the lake and watch the sunrise.

This was my first time paddleboarding and I loved it! It took a little while to get the technique right, but it was fairly easy to get into the swing of (and not too strenuous). Plus, falling in was actually kind of fun – Bacalar Lake is quite warm, so it felt like plunging into a bath!

The tour cost 450 pesos per person and took around three hours. We went to the Cenote Negro and El Canal De Los Piratas (see below), and generally paddled around watching the beautiful colours of the lake and the sunrise (we even saw a swimming turtle!).

The tour guides also have a GoPro, so you don’t have to worry about taking your phone or camera out on the water. The stand-up paddleboarding photos in this post were taken by Jules at Stadtlandboard.

4. El Canal De Los Piratas – Pirate Canal

In the 1700s, pirates used to come from the Caribbean to Bacalar using a natural canal through the lagoons. These days, the Pirate Canal, or Pirates Road, is a fun place to visit on Lake Bacalar. There’s even a ship by the entrance that was once turned into a bar, which you can climb and jump off into the lagoon.

The mud around the canal is apparently really good for your skin (either that or the WhatSUP Bacalar guides have a really twisted sense of humour), so we rubbed it all over ourselves for exfoliation and natural goodness!

5. Cocalitos

The Cocalitos Cenote on Lake Bacalar is home the ‘largest organism on Earth’, the stromatolites, also known as the ‘living rocks’. Entry to the park costs 25 pesos and you can also camp there. There are very few places in the world that these rocks can be seen, so it’s definitely worth a trip to see them while you’re in Bacalar.

You can swim amongst the rocks (though I’m not too sure how good that is for them) and there are also some swings in the lake nearby.

6. Boat trips and kayaking on the lagoon

There are plenty of other watersports to do, such as kayaking (tours from 450 pesos or rental for around 200-300 pesos), so you can explore Lake Bacalar at your own pace. There are also boat tours and other water activities available, such as with Bacalar Boat and Board.

7. Relax by the lake

Of course, the number one thing to do in Bacalar, and the reason why everyone comes to the beautiful Bacalar Lagoon, is to relax by the lake. Swimming, sunbathing and general lazing around. Of everywhere I visited in Mexico, I felt the most relaxed during my week in Bacalar.

Lake Bacalar Accommodation

Bacalar has a wide range of accommodation options, from backpacker hostels to gorgeous hotels and resorts, so you can enjoy a visit to Bacalar Lagoon on any budget.

Best hostels in Bacalar

I stayed at The Yak Lake House Hostal (US$18 per night) in a shared dorm, for around US$94 for a week. This was a little more than my usual budget, but someone recommended The Yak Lake House because of the amazing WiFi (and it is amazing, especially for Mexico), as I was working from my laptop.

Other popular budget hostels include Yaxche Centro Hostal y Camping (US$13 per night).

Bacalar restaurants: where to eat and drink

There are a lot of good food options in Bacalar. Here are just a few of them that I managing to try out during my short stay:

• Mango y Chile, a great vegetarian and vegan restaurant just off the Zocalo.
• La Playita, a gorgeous bar and restaurant with hammocks and an impressive lakeside view.
• El Manati Bacalar, a great cafe with good food, and an art and craft shop.
• Pizzeria Bertilla, an Italian restaurant with a great reputation.

When to visit Bacalar: weather and peak seasons

Spring (March to May)

Spring in Bacalar is humid, with highs of 34°C. However, rain is rare (only one to four days per month). Spring is the second busiest period for tourism after winter, which is good for those looking for things to do in Bacalar.

Summer (June to August)

Summer in Bacalar is comfortable, with warm temperatures and only seven to eight days of rain per month. June to August is a slow season for tourism, so accommodation may cost less.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn in Bacalar has highs of 35°C, with some humidity and wind, and some rain. Tourism is the slowest during these months because of the weather, so hotels may cost less. I visited Lake Bacalar during November and it was actually lovely; nice and warm, but not too hot. There were a couple of storms and some lighter showers, but mostly gorgeous sunny days.

Winter (December to February)

Bacalar Lagoon has great weather in winter, with average highs of 32°C and fewer rainy days. However, winter is also peak season for tourists, so be sure to book accommodation in advance.

Getting to and from Bacalar

Bacalar is in the south of Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan area of Mexico – very near the border of Belize. The easiest way to get to and from Lake Bacalar is by ADO bus:

• Tulum to Bacalar (150 to 240 pesos one way)
• Playa del Carmen to Bacalar (200 to 340 pesos one way)
• Cancun to Bacalar (240 to 440 pesos one way)

My experience at Lake Bacalar

I had a great time in Bacalar and my relaxing week there was one of the highlights of my three-month trip around Mexico. I had originally planned for longer in Playa del Carmen, but I heard so much about Bacalar Lagoon that I had to go and see the Lake of Seven Colours for myself (and I counted more than seven)!

I hope this guide has been helpful for planning where to stay, when to visit and things to do in Bacalar, Mexico. To learn more about my time in Mexico, read A Tale of Two Earthquakes in Mexico City, my literary guide to CDMX in The Best Bookshops in Mexico City, or anything from my Mexico archives.

Recommended Read: I’ve committed to making my bathroom and travel toiletry back zero waste and plastic free. Plus, many zero waste toiletries come in solid form, so they’re perfect for your backpack or hand luggage, as well as better for the planet and for you.