One Day in Bacalar Lagoon

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Cancun check, Playa del Carmen check, Tulum check, next stop Guatemala. Wait a minute, don’t you think you’re missing something here? HELLOOOOO, YES! There is one more place you must stop by for a day trip to wilderness and paradise in the Caribbean: Bacalar, Pueblo Mágico.
Los Rapidos

Plan your trip

From Tulum or Cancun, book a bus with ADO to drive you to Bacalar. Count 5 hours from Cancun and -2 if you come from Tulum. Once you arrive in Chetumal (ADO bus stop) get into a taxi to drive you to Downtown Hostel . It will cost you about $30MX. If you need to head back to the ADO after your stay and leave early morning, call radio taxi from the reception on 285 3272, they will come pick you up within 5 minutes.
"Akumal" 6-Bed Dorm
Ring the bell, someone is coming! If you’re lucky you’ll be welcomed by your host (owner of Downtown Hostel ) Rodrigo. Big smile upon his face, Rodrigo loves travelling and decided to open a hostel to now travel through tourists like us, what am I saying, explorers like us! $100MX one night dorm, FREE breakfast and wifi (super fast broadband), comfy new mattresses, hot showers, lockers, 360 rooftop terrace amazing for sunrise and sunset, common lounge with books, hammocks, Netflix and chill.

If you still think of skipping Bacalar, you won’t be thinking for long because at night Rodrigo, offering a couple of Modelo beers will talk to you about Bacalar like he is telling fairy tales to his kids. This is it you’re in and the next day, you’ll wake up fresh as a daisy to explore the beautiful lagoon of 7 colors called Bacalar. Never heard of it before on the guide or from other backpackers, well how does it feel to feel special about being a pioneer? Pretty good right! Now read below all the spots you should be having the time of your life:

How to get there?

From Downtown Hostel around the corner you can get on a colectivo for $40MX one way. They run very often from early morning until the evening.

or

Go with Rodrigo, the owner of Downtown Hostel in Chetumal, he will drive you to all the stops listed above plus you are gonna have a good laugh the entire day.

Where to stop?

Los Rápidos

Entrance fee is $50MX per person, locals usually spend the day there, quite busy on Sundays. There is a restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious ceviche to share for $250MX. You can ask for a table, hammocks and just enjoy yourself. Swim in the currents from the top until the end it’s lots of fun!
Ceviche Plate to share with nachos and habanero sauce

La Laguna

La Laguna
Few meters away, next to Los Rápidos, there is La Laguna, the beautiful lagoon of Bacalar where you can stop for pictures, swim and a drink. Beautiful drive all the way until the end with palm trees, swings and nature.

Cenote Azul

Cenote Azul
Entrance is $10MX, they have safety jackets, restaurants, viewpoint, wifi and parking.The cenote is 90 meters deep and you can swim around or do labs from beginning to end, total length is 200m one way. You may also encounter fearless kids jumping and diving from the trees!

Green Monkey Hostel

Green Monkey Bus Dorm
If you’re enjoying Bacalar so much and want to extend your stay by staying at the heart of the lagoon, stay overnight at Green Monkey where the atmosphere is very laid-back and friendly. You’ll have the option to sleep in a convertible bus with mosquito nest, tents or cabañas. The hostel is located near the Fort, great location to take a collective back to Chetumal whenever you want.
Green Monkey View

Balneario ecológico

Laguna Bacalar by HIbiscus & Nomada.jpg
Entrance fee is $3MX and it’s only known by locals. Nothing but the 7 colors lagoon and some sand to rest with a view! Enjoy a rasped (crushed ice drink - don’t try to be too creative with the flavours i.e. tamarindo with chamoy, you may not like the taste!) A good one we tried was Pineapple with Chamoy (spicy powder on top). Go swim in the lagoon, or rent a kayak to cross it and see the different layers of colors this lagoon has to offer. You won’t believe how this large lagoon is not the sea but a spring water lagoon. 
Que disfruten!

Marion Payen
, Founder of Hibiscus & Nomada

“Travel far enough, you meet yourself”

@Hibiscusandnomada

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