Exploring Bacalar’s Laguna De Los 7 Colores: Travel Guide
Bacalar, often referred to as the Maldives of Mexico, is home to a stunning lagoon oasis known as the Laguna de Los 7 Colores. The water ranges in hues from turquoise to deep blue and black, creating a mesmerizing palette. Exploring every inch of this 60 km (37 miles) lagoon in a short amount of time can feel overwhelming. After spending nearly a week here, I have narrowed down the best spots to experience the magic of Bacalar’s lagoon.
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Bacalar’s Laguna de Los 7 Colores
To experience the magic of Bacalar's Laguna de Los 7 Colores, I recommend spending the day on the water and finishing with a view from above. You can explore by kayak, paddleboard, or on a pontoon/sailboat tour.
For the best experience, opt for a sailboat tour where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy an unobstructed view of the incredible landscape and water around you. I am not usually one to pay for a higher-priced tour excursion, but this boat tour is simply unmatched. Envision a day exploring the Laguna De Los 7 Colores to its fullest, featuring a cold pineapple juice or cerveza in your hand, the sun shining down, and the breeze keeping you cool. The ride will take you to all of the highlights of Bacalar I mention below in just 3 hours, making it the perfect mid-day activity for those heading here with less time. The tour also includes a view over the lagoon from a high tower in their hotel, offering a perspective you can not get anywhere else, except from a drone. You can find the boat trip I joined and recommend here!
Regardless of whether you choose the tour I joined or choose to rent a kayak/paddleboard, this travel guide will help you locate the must-see spots of the lagoon.
Pro Tips for your day!
Sunscreen is not allowed in the lagoon to preserve its pristine water system, so cover up! The lagoon offers little shade. I recommend bringing a rash guard, hat, sunglasses, and anything else you may need to keep from burning.
Tour or not, I recommend eating a larger meal before heading out to keep you energized. The 3 to 4-hour boat tours usually include a small snack and beverage, but if you are like me, I need lots of food to keep me happy :)
The boat tour I joined included pineapple juice, water, beer, and a small snack of pineapple and yuca.
If you do not join a tour, pack lots of water to stay hydrated throughout your explorations!
Most boat tours include every stop I have mentioned below, with optional time for swimming at a couple of them.
You can decide to kayak or paddleboard to each location below, but be ready for the ultimate arm workout. It may be best to break up your exploration into multiple days to avoid overexertion if you choose to paddleboard or kayak.
The Must-See Spots Of Laguna de Los 7 Colores
Cenote Esmeralda
Cenote Esmeralda is the largest cenote in Bacalar, with more than 500 meters in diameter and a depth of 50-70 meters. This cone-shaped cenote is the place where most boat tours begin. Envision crystal-clear, emerald-green waters that contrast with the deeper blue of the surrounding lagoon colors. With many tour boats docked in this cenote, I recommend saving the swimming for a different spot and instead exploring this area in your kayak, paddleboard, or boat tour.
Pro Tip: If you plan to rent a kayak or paddleboard, you can find a rental place from one of the places around the cenote.
Canal De Los Piratas
This canal was named after the pirates who used it as a passage in earlier years. It was the most ideal spot for them to steal goods and evade being captured by Spanish settlers. Today, the Canal de los Piratas remains a shallow, aqua-colored waterway, perfect for taking a refreshing dip. There are many mangroves around the entire area. You can kayak or paddleboard here in around 30-45 minutes, depending on speed, or venture here with the same boat ride I mentioned above.
Isla de los Pájaros
Also known as Bird Island, this area features another crystal-clear, aqua-blue, Maldives-like spot for swimming. The islands got their name because of the 40 species of birds that spend time here, including the massive storks native to America and the Pink Spoonbill that migrate here. You can watch the birds fly over you, soaring down into the bushes on the island. It is a peaceful and beautiful experience, making it one of my favorite stops on the Laguna de Los 7 Colores.
Pro Tip: This spot is another stop along this incredible 3-hour boat trip, and you get plenty of time to take another dip in the water and explore.
Cenote Negro
A view of Cenote Negro
A view from inside Cenote Negro looking out
Cenote Negro is an open, sunny cenote and, as the name suggests, features a dark and mysterious black color. It has a unique drop-off point where the water from the lagoon changes from light blue to black, leading into an inky black abyss. This cenote represents the seventh color of the Laguna de Los 7 Colores and is the only location where you can see all seven colors simultaneously.
Tip: Cenote Negro is within walking distance of downtown Bacalar and similar to Cenote Esmeralda, kayaks and paddleboards are available for rental nearby.
Cenote Cocalitos
Cenote Cocalitos is famous for the large stromatolites nearby that stick up from the water. The cenote and stromatolites are surrounded by crystal-clear shallow water perfect for relaxing in. Some boat tours do include a stop here. Kayaking or paddleboarding to this place is possible as well. However, you can choose to explore the area via Los Cocalitos, a day resort right on the cenote for 100 pesos. Hammocks and swings are spread around the water for a day of cooling and relaxing day in the water.
The View From Above
Many travelers bring drones to Bacalar in order to capture the mesmerizing colors of the Laguna De Los 7 Colores in all its beauty. If you do not have a drone, you can head here for an incredible view similar to that of a drone. I do not know if you need to pay to access the view, but I do know that the boat tour includes a stop here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As mentioned previously, this unbelievable view is complimentary with the boat tour I did in Bacalar, but I am not sure if there is anywhere else on the island that offers a similar view. The hotel is private, so you may not be able to access the tower without partaking in the boat tour as well.
General Information: Bacalar
Best Time to Visit:
Hurricane Season: June - October | Dry Season: November-April
The best time to visit Bacalar for optimal weather and the clearest waters is from November to April. However, the best deals on accommodations and other expenses are during the low season, which is the opposite of these months.
I spent the last week of June in Bacalar, where it was very quiet with few people around. There was minimal rain, but mostly it was sunny and hot. The water still shimmered clear in the sunlight; however, the levels were higher than usual, and there was a slight green tint due to the rain.
How to Get to Bacalar:
Bacalar does not have an airport so you will need to fly into one of the nearby airports. I suggest choosing one of the airports below. You will then need to take one of the following: the ADO bus, a private taxi, a shared van, or a rental car to Bacalar. For an in-depth explanation of how to get to Bacalar click here!
AIRPORTS & THEIR DISTANCE FROM BACALAR
Chetumal (CTM): 38 KM (45 minutes)
Tulum (TQO): 202 KM (2.5-3 hours)
Cancun (CUN): 333 KM (4.5-5.5 hours)
Mode of Transport in Bacalar:
Bacalar is entirely walkable and you only really need a taxi, bicycle, or motorbike to access areas like Laguna Bonanza and Los Rapidos.
Bicycle: A bicycle rental is usually around 150-200 pesos. Longer-term rentals offer a better chance at discounts. I always suggest bike locks in Mexico.
Taxi: Taxi are cheap in Bacalar. Getting around the downtown area is usually between 35-50 pesos, depending on where you are heading. Taxis to Los Rapidos and Laguna Bonanza are around 250 pesos each way.
Taxi Seguro Bacalar Phone #: +52-983-833-7421
Motorbike: If you are here short term I would suggest opting for a bicycle or taxi. For long-term visitors, a motorbike may make the most sense if you prefer not to walk everywhere. The cost per motorbike ranges from 650 pesos for a full day to 500 pesos for a half day plus a deposit fee. The longer you rent, the better discounts you may get.
Where to Stay:
As mentioned, the town is small and walkable. I recommend staying anywhere in the central area to easily access the majority of activities, food places, etc. in walking distance. I recommend staying right on the lagoon if you can, especially for those here for only a night or two.
Best Accommodation Options For Every Traveler
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: The Yak Lake House - Hostal or Che Bacalar Hostel & Bar Adults Only
Best Low-Budget: Hostal & Suites Pata de Perro
Best Mid-Budget: Hotel Makaabá Eco-Boutique or Casa Chukum
Best Luxury: Blue Palm Bacalar
Food Recommendations:
IS IT SAFE?:
Bacalar felt extremely safe, and maybe one of the safest places I ventured to in Mexico.
How To Stay Safe:
This is all opinionated and based upon my experiences only, but you should always stay up to date with your country’s travel advisories regardless. Follow basic rules of safety while traveling.
Emergency Contact Number: 9-1-1
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
