10 Things To Know Before Visiting Bacalar Lake, Mexico

Last updated on June 26, 2025

Bacalar is one of our favorite towns in Mexico. This charming pueblo magico just an hour from Belize in Quintana Roo, offers a much-needed reprieve from the more touristic areas of this region. Aside from its delicious food and fascinating history, the real draw is Bacalar Lake.

This lake is aptly named La Laguna de Siete Colores, or the Lake of Seven Colors, and is one of the prettiest bodies of water we’ve ever seen. Often compared to the Maldives, it’s not exactly like a tropical getaway in South Asia, but it’s worth visiting in its own right.

If you’re ready to bask in the beauty of Bacalar Lake this guide will share the 10 things you absolutely need to know before visiting.

1. There are no “real” beaches in Bacalar

Bacalar Lake is long and narrow spanning roughly 37 miles or 60 kilometers. Despite its seemingly endless shoreline, you won’t find any sandy beaches here. Bacalar Lake was created from a series of cenotes that eroded over millennia.

The limestone rock that surrounds the lake is mostly grass or enters the lake shore. Don’t worry though, it doesn’t mean you can’t relax along the water. Virtually every hotel, Airbnb, or beach club with access to the lake has a dock and hammocks near or over the water.

If you are searching for soft white sand beaches you’ll want to drive an hour to the Cruise Port town of Mahahual. While it is more touristic than Bacalar, we loved Mahuahual and its fantastic snorkeling!

2. You have to be careful near Stromatolites

Bacalar is one of the few places where you can still see Stromatolites. These ancient fossils are 3.5 billion years old and are believed to have created our ozone layer. These reeflike colonies produce cyanobacteria which is a living organism that creates more oxygen than all trees in the world today!

The stromatolites can be found in various spots of Bacalar Lake with a funny tooth-like shape that reminded me of geodes. They are often flat on top (like below) but can be in longer and larger sections (like near Los Rapidos).

Of course, never walk on or touch the stromatolites. But you also shouldn’t wear perfumes, deodorants, or sunscreens (even reef-safe sunscreen) in Bacalar Lake to protect the stromatolites. If you need extra sun protection check out our packing gear below for recommended items to bring to Bacalar.

Being aware of your personal interactions in Bacalar Lake is helpful, but also be mindful of your overall tourism footprint. Increased tourism to Bacalar has put a strain on the lake. More boats, more tours, and most visitors to the lake can lead to pollution harming these rare Stromatolites. If you’re going to go on a boat tour (you should) I recommend a sailing tour which has less environmental footprint.

3. Cash is used in many places

Since tourism is growing so much in Bacalar, many newer or hip restaurants accept credit cards. However, cash is still king in Mexico. Any of the street vendors, some of the tour companies, and smaller shops will likely only accept Mexican Pesos.

Come to Bacalar with plenty of pesos on hand. I recommend having $200 to $400 MXP on hand per person per day. As a guide, street tacos and other low-cost meals are around $30 to 50 pesos ($1 – $3). Meals at a formal restaurant are more expensive, around $100 to 300 pesos or more ($6 to $17).

There are a few cajero automaticos, or ATMs in Spanish, but it’s not uncommon for ATMs to run out of money in small towns like Bacalar. We use our travel credit cards like the Capital One Venture X before cash if they accept cards. This card charges no international fees and allows us to earn miles and points to redeem for future travel. If you want to see other top travel credit cards right now click here.

4. The water isn’t guaranteed to be blue

Bacalar Lake of Seven Colors is known for its gorgeous green and blue shades. While most pictures here showcase the wonderful variations of turquoise and dark blues, it’s not always the case.

When we visited in February of 2020 Bacalar, Mexico experienced a lot of rain which caused the lake to have a monotone deep blue color. The water was murky and in all honestly, was pretty disappointing. We still had a blast swimming in cenotes, eating tasty food, and exploring the town but certainly didn’t get to appreciate the Laguna Bacalar in all its glory.

To avoid having an experience like we did, don’t visit after a hurricane has hit this region or if they’ve had a lot of rain. Also, time your visit for the dry season. We share more on when to visit below!

➡ Read Next: 9 Bacalar Must Do Activities for Your Next Trip

5. There are only a few public access points to the lake

Bacalar Lake is open to the public, but access to the lakeshore doesn’t come free. Most areas fall on private property and thus, limit who can enter the lake. Thankfully, the city has improved its public access points called balnearios.

They often require a small fee of $20 to $40 pesos to enter ($1.25 – $2.50) but are a great option if you aren’t staying at a property with lake access. Below are a few of the closest Balnearios near the town of Bacalar:

• Balneario Ejidal Mágico Bacalar
• Balneario Municipal El Aserradero
• Balneario Ecológico
• Balneario del Fondo
• Ecoparque de Bacalar

There are also beach clubs you can visit, like Cocalitos that offer access to the lake and often have amenities like chairs or hammocks over the water, of course for a fee.

6. Where to stay in Bacalar Lake

Since public access is limited (and comes at a small fee) we recommend booking a hotel or vacation rental with access to the lake. Having easy access to the lake makes it a more pleasant trip and makes getting on Bacalar Lake so much easier!

If you prefer to search for the perfect stay, you can use the map below.

7. What to pack for a Bacalar Trip

Below are my recommended items to pack for your Bacalar trip.

• 👙 Bathing suits: I’d recommend bringing a few as you’ll likely spend time in the water daily.

• 👗Warm weather clothing: Whether this is dresses, shorts, skirts, or rompers be prepared for warm days and high humidity no matter when you’re visiting. I love renting clothes from Nuuly for trips like this or grabbing some staples second-hand from ThredUp.

• 🩻 Travel Insurance: We always recommend having travel insurance to cover the “what-ifs”. While visiting Bacalar, Mexico is safe (maybe aside from the crocodiles in the lake), it’s nice to know you would be covered if there were any major medical emergencies or trip interruptions. Our go-to travel insurance is Safety Wing. You can get a free quote for coverage by clicking here.

• 💳 Travel credit card with no international fees: Many places in Mexico City accept credit and debit cards, but most banks charge an international fee. The Capital One Venture X doesn’t charge international fees and allows you to earn points and miles to redeem for future travel.

• 👒Sun hat and sun long sleeve: We never go to a tropical location without having a sun hat or long sleeve SPF shirt. This is extra important since you shouldn’t wear sunscreen in Laguna Bacalar. This bucket hat is so cute!

• 👟Comfortable walking shoes and sandals: We did a lot of walking in Bacalar. You can get around via a rental car, but given how small the town is we often walked. I love my Vessi’s because they are super cute, washable, and waterproof! I also had sandals for trips to the beach and on boat tours.

8. How to get to Bacalar Lake

The easiest way to get to Bacalar is to drive. It’s a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Cancun airport. If you fly into Tulum, it’s only two and a half hours drive.

You can take the Ado Bus from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum. This is a fairly low-cost way to get from one of the bigger cities in the Riveria Maya. You can check the schedule and pricing for the bus here.

However, if you’re flying into Cancun or Tulum and going straight to Bacalar, we recommend getting a rental car. There isn’t a ton of public transportation options in Bacalar. You can rent a bike or scooter to get around but don’t expect to find loads of taxis and there is no Uber. Having your own vehicle allows you to explore the area more comfortably and get to some of the cool attractions like Los Rapidos without worry.

9. How long to stay in Bacalar Lake

We love traveling slowly. With that being said, we realize most people don’t have the luxury of unlimited time off.

We always recommend more time rather than less but you can see and do a lot in Bacalar in three days. I would not recommend staying for less than two nights. While you would be able to see Lake Bacalar on a day trip, you’re not really getting to enjoy this area for its natural beauty and diversity!

Three days is the perfect amount of time to be in Bacalar. You should be able to take a boat tour, relax by the beach, eat yummy food, float down Los Rapidos, and explore the town. It won’t leave you with much time at the hotel for relaxing though. If you want a mix of fun and relaxation time aim for four to five days.

10. When to visit Laguna Bacalar

The best time to travel to Bacalar, Mexico is the dry season from December to March. These months have generally more favorable weather with less chance of rain. The summer months from June to September will be very hot and humid with higher chances of rain.

We visited in the dry season in 2020 though, and still had loads of rain and disappointing water color from a recent hurricane. I also know a fellow travel vlogger who visited in October and had the perfect weather conditions with stunning watercolors. So don’t feel like you should only visit during the dry season!

Now, you are officially prepared for a trip to Bacalar Lake, Mexico! If you found these tips helpful let me know in the comments below!