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Bacalar travel guide
Bacalar is a city in Mexico, as well as the capital of the municipality of the same name, located in the state of Quintana Roo, practically on the border of Mexico and Belize. The town is known primarily for its picturesque lake, which is also called the Seven-Colored Lake – this is a famous tourist attraction, thanks to which the small village was able to grow and become a famous resort center.
Things to Do
Bakalar – Lagoon of Seven Flowers and the name of the settlement of the same name. This resort is still only gaining popularity among tourists, so it is calm here, there are no large hotels and prices have not yet “”bite””. An ideal place for ecological tourism.
Magical settlements or towns are a special project of the Mexican government to draw attention to certain settlements in Mexico that have a particular history or legend
At one time, Bacalar was a trading post for the Mayan tribes. Then for a long time, Bacalar was a haven for English pirates
Bacalar is located on the border with Belize, 4 hours from Cancun. For its amazing combination of watercolor-like in the Maldives, the lagoon is grateful to several cenotes and white soft sand
Way to get there
By car from Tulum, you can reach Bacalar in about 2 hours 20 minutes on the Mֳ©xico 307 highway. From Cancun (on the same highway) it will take about 4 hours and 15 minutes. The city can also be reached by ADO buses going to Chetumal, from Tulum, and from Cancun.
Itineraries
Less than an hour from Chetumal or 5 hours from Cancun is one of the most heavenly places in southern Mexico – Bacalar. Growing in popularity in the state of Quintana Roo, this Magic City is one of the most beautiful natural treasures: the Bacalar Lagoon, or the Seven Flowers. It is a beautiful lake of colorful water that is surrounded by attractions including the main square surrounded by lovely gardens in the center. And for history buffs, there is the Port of San Felipe Museum, where you can learn about the history of this place from the Mayan period to the colonization period. Another place to visit is the Chachoben archaeological site. Here you can see ruins framed by great history and natural beauty.
In addition, in the town of Bacalar, there is the Fortress of San Felipe Bacalar and the museum, which are part of the country’s National Historical Heritage.
Climatic conditions
The climate of Bacalar is favorable for tourists to visit this resort all year round. It is rare when the temperature here drops below +22 ֲ° ׀¡ and practically does not rise above +33 ֲ° ׀¡. The temperature fluctuates imperceptibly throughout the year. The seasons differ only in the amount of precipitation: if in February, March, and April it rains only a couple of times a month (respectively, 3, 2, and 2 rainy days on average), then in September and October – 12 and 11 days.
Beach and outdoor activities
Lake Bacalar is considered one of the most beautiful in Mexico. It is often called the Bacalar Lagoon because the Spanish word for ג€lakeג€ is ג€lagunaג€. The lake is also often called “”the lake of seven colors”” – it is believed that the water in it has just so many shades of blue and light blue. The lake is composed of 3 cenotes. Its length is 42 km with a width of only 4 km.
Hotels
There are several inexpensive hotels in the town of Bacalar, but the hotels on the banks of the Bacalar Lagoon are quite expensive. The cost of the room is $ 60-100 per day. Most often these are eco-hotels, which are common not only in Bacalar but also in other places in Mexico, for example, in Tulum. These are hotels where electricity is powered by solar panels, there are no outlets in the rooms, and sometimes there are no windows, shower-toilet can be shared by several houses. In general, such semi-hiking conditions. Accommodation in tents (awnings) near Bacalar Lagoon is also very popular. You can live in a palette on the shore of the lake for $ 20-30 for a double tent per day. Consider these features of accommodation when choosing a hotel. The hotel can be booked here.
Food
Many restaurants and cafes are located right on the shore of the lake. There are many of them – more than 6 dozen. Most of them specialize in Mexican cuisine, many of them serve seafood. Many of them are famous not only for their cuisine but also for their original design.
Shopping
To buy trinkets made by local craftsmen, you should go to the Jose Maria market. But there are small shops with souvenirs on the shore of the lake and on the shore of the Azul cenote. From Bacalar, first of all, they bring multi-colored hammocks, wooden carvings, national Mexican clothes.
Attraction
The main and main attraction of Bacalar is Fort San Felipe – an imposing fortress, erected in the 17th century to protect the village from attacks by pirates, who once got into the habit of coming here from neighboring Belize. But this is not the most interesting and beautiful thing about Bacalar. The most amazing thing is the nearby lagoon of the same name or lagoon of 7 colors. It is the second-largest freshwater body of water in Mexico and one of the cleanest bodies of water in the world. The water here is really outrageously transparent (I don’t remember when and where I saw this last time) and has, if not 7, then at least 5 colors.
There are 3 cenotes on the territory of the lagoon, i.e. natural sinkholes formed from the collapse of the vaults of karst caves. In some places, their depth reaches 90 meters. Moreover, as you can see in the photo, the transition can be so abrupt that if you accidentally fall there, then you are unlikely to ever be found. I must say that for the ancient Maya, cenotes were considered sacred places. They were used as water sources. Here they performed ablutions, performed rituals of sacrifices.