The Magical Town of Bacalar, just 40km from Chetumal, was one of the first places on our bucket list during our visit to the Riviera Maya. We’d heard about the lake with its seven shade of blue, which changed depending on the depth of the water, the concentration of minerals and the strength of the rays of the sun.
Once we arrived in the village, we headed straight to the Fortress of San Felipe in the centre to enjoy the breathtaking views of the beautiful blue lagoon below.
Several hotels, villas and cabins, many of which operate under the eco-tourism concept and with direct access to the beach, can be found along the coast. Some of them also offer breakfasts, and recommendations to begin your adventure with kayaks, speedboats and sailboats available to rent.
Luckily for us it proved very easy to rent a sailboat to visit the lagoon’s main attractions: the pirate’s canal, the mangrove area, the Black Cenote, also known as the Cenote of the Witches, the Cocalitos Cenote with its incredible age-old stromatolites, the Island of the Birds, and the clay beach for an all over cleansing body mask!
Of course, we couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to spend more time at our favourite spots, so this time we ventured out in kayaks. And surprisingly enough, we realised it was a lot easier than we thought once we got our bearings.
For lunch (which seemed like dinner) we went to La Playita, a cosy, charming restaurant surrounded by lush vegetation and with spectacular views overlooking the lagoon.
At night we went to a place called Galeón Pirata with a rocker/hippy feel to it for a few drinks and to listen to some music. When we got back to the hotel, we enjoyed the peaceful and relaxed atmosphere on the wharf for a while and played cards with the relaxing symphony of crickets, frogs and cicadas in the background. It had been a long time since we’d heard anything so beautiful.
The next day we decided it would be a good idea to visit the Blue Cenote, and we weren’t wrong! We had a great time at this wonderful place and put our diving skills to the test in waters more than 90m deep. The snorkelling gear allowed us to admire the rock formations and the labyrinth of roots found along the banks of the natural pool.
Later on, we returned to the Fortress San Felipe Museum. It’s an old building from the 18th century that at the time protected the people of Bacalar from pirates attacking who came trying to take possession of the Palo del Tinte (a natural pigment used to dye traditional clothing). After the building stopped fulfilling its function, it was turned into a museum and today preserves the town’s fascinating history.
Before leaving, we stopped for our last meal at the Kai Pez restaurant. It’s a gardened area on the banks of the lagoon and a great spot for a few romantic photos at sunset. Unfortunately, our time on this magical trip through one of the most beautiful corners of the Riviera Maya had come to an end. We could have stayed here forever!
