Unique Things To Visit In Bacalar Mexico

An Overview of Bacalar

Bacalar is a uniquely isolated town located in the eastern portion of Mexico atop a serene lagoon of amazing blue hues.  Though access is somewhat more challenging than coastal cities, Bacalar is home to some of the most astounding views in the province. Vast portions of the bay are shallow and perfect for wading and swimming exploration. With boats skimming across the lagoon and quaint towns in Mexico’s warm regions, there are many unique things to visit in Bacalar.

A line of sticks extending into a light blue lagoon near Bacalar

Unique Things To Visit In Bacalar


Bacalar Lagoon Sunrise Kayaking

Kayaking the lagoon is widely considered one of the best activities in the area. The lagoon absolutely glows in the early mornings and viewing it via kayak is a unique treat.

Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar (Castle San Felipe)

This is a low and powerful hill fort built by anti-piracy Spanish leaders. The fort was constructed by embedding uniquely angled low stones in low hills to overlook and defend the area. The attraction contains a moat and a small museum with murals and artifacts dedicated to the region’s history.

Canal de Los Piratas

Located in a rather beautiful portion of the lagoon, there is a decaying pirate ship floundering in the shallows. The ship open to the public to climb upon, making it an entertaining destination for visitors exploring the area by boat.

Cenote Azul

This is a deep drop-off cenote attached to the bay where the water colors suddenly alter and a deep underwater chasm appears.

Archaeological Zone of Kohunlich

Kohunlich is a series of moss-covered Mayan ruins in a dense jungle with exceptionally impressive stone work and carved faces.  The ruins are located roughly an hour outside Bacalar by car.

An outdoor awning dock in front of trees in Bacalar

Thatch Docks

Many parts of the lagoon are accented by unique Y shaped docks which host hammocks and small huts for relaxing.

Isla de los Pájaros

This is an ecotourism island attraction home to a great variety of bird species including as parrots, owls, hawks and waterfowl.

Bacalar Rapids

This portion of the Lagoon creates a naturally occurring lazy river for guests to drift upon.

Sac-Ha

Meaning “White Water” in the Mayan tongue, this is a beach club situated along some beautiful swimming areas. Also nearby are living rock formations called stromatolites. Stromatolites are some of the oldest fossils on earth, with carbon dating putting some as old as 3 billion years. They’re thought to be the dominant form of life on the planet for over 2 billion years and are responsible for oxygenation of the atmosphere.

Mangrove Maze

This section of the lagoon is home to a large network of mangrove trees reaching out through the shallows, creating a small labyrinth guests can kayak throughout.


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GoPro Hero9 Black

The GoPro Hero Black is my go to Action camera. I’m not comfortable bringing my cell phone to many wet and rugged locations, so the GoPro does most of my photographic heavy-lifting. The only things I bring in my GoPro kit are the camera, a spare battery and the forehead mount. I upgrade my GoPro once every two years. It was particularly excellent to have during my aquatic tour of Belize.