Weekend Getaway to Bacalar
Sunrise on Lake BacalarDate of Trip: February 2021
A few hours bus ride south of Tulum is the beautiful lake town of Bacalar. It is nicknamed the “Lagoon of Seven Colors” which becomes clear once you take a boat ride on the lake. I took a two night trip here during my stay in Tulum and was my favorite experience of my time in that area. Tulum can feel “hustle and bustle” at times so this was a nice change of pace for a “staycation”.
Transportation: I took the ADO bus from Tulum to Bacalar. A little over two hours and the bus stop in Bacalar is about a 10-15 minute walk to the lake.
Accommodation: I stayed at the Yak Lake House which is one of my favorite hostels I have ever stayed in.
Perfectly located right on the lake and had a good balance between work and play. The outdoor bar and seating area made it easy to socialize and meet other travelers along with nightly activities while indoors I was able to be productive working during the day. You can also book water activities such as kayak rentals and boat tours through the hostel directly.
Must Do: Boat Tour on Lake
Me and a couple other travelers at the Yak Lake House planned on taking a boat trip through the hostel, but at a bar the night before a guy told us he does tours on a sail boat and goes other places besides the “designated tour spots” so we figured we’d go with him (This may sound weird or sketchy, but especially during COVID times people were hustling to get business and he was docked at a hotel so it was legitimate).
There are a lot of tour offerings throughout the area so there is plenty to choose from and for a four hour tour it cost $500 pesos each which is about $25USD.
Such a pretty and fun day and I loved how when initially seeing the lake, it looks like any other lake, but as you go through the waters all of a sudden the color changes in all sorts of shades of blue and green. Also, we docked at places close by the designated spots used by tours so we got a similar view and experience without a group of people and we had more time and flexibility.
As with most beautiful places on Earth, tourism is a double-edged sword and as the beauty draws in people, the people deteriorate the ecosystem. Bacalar is no different and was recovering during COVID so it is important in places like this to use caution such as use biodegradable sunscreen and utilizing non-motored boats such as a sailboat or kayak to explore. Now, I am a pale, easily-burned person and I hate biodegradable sunscreen because it is not as effective, but still use it in areas such as Bacalar or cenotes. Just put on a t-shirt when on the boat being scorched by the sun :)
Must Do Weather Pending: Kayaking
I rented a kayak from my hostel one morning and attempted to kayak to the Canal de los Pirates which was straight across from my hostel. With a two person kayak, it was difficult with the wind so we did not make it to the canal, but on a calmer day or at sunrise I am sure is much easier and you will be able to take a break and enjoy the view without losing ground.
Restaurant Recommendations
Mango y Chile—vegan restaurant
La Playita—great options for everyone located on the lake
Bottom line: if you’re in the Playa del Carmen/Tulum area, I highly recommend taking the trip down to Bacalar for a night or two. I love places where you do not need to do a bunch of activities in order to have a good time and I found myself content with just relaxing at the hostel most of the time here. Definitely worth the effort!