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Quintana Roo, Mexico

Bacalar

Spend 2 days on the lagoon: a sailboat tour, cenote swims and slow lakeside meals. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 1 activity and 3 outdoor spots from our curated routes.

Plan Bacalar with friendsBrowse 10 places
Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Places
10

2 See · 1 Do · 3 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Tulum & Riviera Maya

Best season
Dec – Apr

from our route notes

Warmest month
May

31°C / 88°F avg high

Coolest month
January

27°C / 80°F avg high

Wettest month
October

about 221 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Bacalar

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Bacalar across Centro and Chacchoben.

  • Fuerte de San Felipe in BacalarPhoto: Carol Carol · Google
    See

    Fuerte de San Felipe

    18th-century fort built against pirates, with a museum overlooking the lagoon.

    Tip Good views from the ramparts.

    • Centro
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Chacchoben in BacalarPhoto: Joan Antoni Jimenez Garcia · Google
    See

    Chacchoben

    Maya ruins in the jungle with restored temples.

    Tip Go early; it's quieter then.

    • Chacchoben
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Bacalar in Laguna Bacalar.

  • Bacalar Lagoon Sailboat Tour in BacalarPhoto: Bacalar Lagoon Tours · Google
    Do

    Bacalar Lagoon Sailboat Tour

    Sail the lagoon of seven colors to the Pirates' Channel and Bird Island.

    Tip Morning tours have calmest water.

    • Laguna Bacalar
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Morning

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Bacalar.

  • Los Rápidos in BacalarPhoto: Los Rápidos de Bacalar · Google
    Outdoors

    Los Rápidos

    Section of lagoon with a gentle current you can float down.

    Tip Bring a float; arrive before groups.

    • South Lagoon
    • $
    • 3 hr
    • Morning
  • Cenote Azul in BacalarPhoto: Mayra Macias · Google
    Outdoors

    Cenote Azul

    90-m deep cenote for swimming, with a lakeside restaurant.

    Tip Go weekday mornings.

    • South Bacalar
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Weekday morning
  • Cenote Cocalitos in BacalarPhoto: M M · Google
    Outdoors

    Cenote Cocalitos

    Lagoon spot with stromatolites and hammocks in the water.

    Tip Do not stand on the stromatolites.

    • Cocalitos
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon

Eat

3 places to eat in Centro, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Mango y Chile in BacalarPhoto: Mango y Chile · Google
    Eat

    Mango y Chile

    Vegan restaurant by the fort with lagoon views.

    Tip Closed Tuesday.

    • Centro
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • La Playita in BacalarPhoto: La Playita · Google
    Eat

    La Playita

    Lagoon restaurant with a jetty for swimming.

    Tip Bring swimwear.

    • Centro
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon
  • Nixtamal in BacalarPhoto: Elisa Is Hier · Google
    Eat

    Nixtamal

    Wood-fire and ember cooking built on heirloom corn: tlayudas, tostadas and smoked fish a few blocks from the lagoon.

    Tip Dinner fills up; arrive early or reserve.

    • Centro
    • $$
    • 75 min
    • Dinner

Drink

1 bar or café for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Noru Bacalar in BacalarPhoto: NORU BACALAR · Google
    Drink

    Noru Bacalar

    Lagoon-front Japanese-fusion spot with sushi, mezcal and signature cocktails, open until midnight. Formerly Nao.

    Tip Go at sunset for lagoon views and cocktails.

    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Sunset

How to fit Bacalar into a trip

Bacalar is stop 3 of 3 on our Tulum & Riviera Maya route. Follow it as-is or lift Bacalar into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Bacalar month by month

Average daily highs run from 27°C / 80°F in January to 31°C / 88°F in May. October is the wettest month, with about 221 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Bacalar weather and the best time to visit →

Near Bacalar

2 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Bacalar questions, answered

How many days do you need in Bacalar?

Our route notes suggest 2 days in Bacalar. On our Tulum & Riviera Maya route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 18 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Bacalar best known for?

Spend 2 days on the lagoon: a sailboat tour, cenote swims and slow lakeside meals. Standouts on our list: Fuerte de San Felipe (18th-century fort built against pirates, with a museum overlooking the lagoon); Chacchoben (Maya ruins in the jungle with restored temples); Los Rápidos (Section of lagoon with a gentle current you can float down).

When is the best time to visit Bacalar?

Our Tulum & Riviera Maya route is best Dec – Apr. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in May (31°C / 88°F), the coolest in January (27°C / 80°F) and the most rain in October (about 221 mm).

What are the best things to do in Bacalar?

Start with Bacalar Lagoon Sailboat Tour, Los Rápidos, Cenote Azul, Cenote Cocalitos and Fuerte de San Felipe. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 activity, 3 outdoor spots, 3 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Bacalar?

Our picks: Mango y Chile (Centro); La Playita (Centro); Nixtamal (Centro). Closed Tuesday (Mango y Chile).

What is near Bacalar?

The closest destinations in our guides are Tulum (about 197 km / 122 mi) and Playa del Carmen (about 257 km / 160 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Bacalar with your crew

Open the Tulum & Riviera Maya route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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