BACALAR

NATURAL BEAUTY, CULTURE, GASTRONOMY, AND MORE

In Bacalar you will be able to enjoy much more than the Lagoon. Delicious cuisine and other attractions are waiting for you, such as Cenote Azul, archaeological sites, downtown Bacalar with its colonial architecture, and the San Felipe Fort.

THE SEVEN-COLOR LAGOON

The Bacalar Lagoon is home to a unique ecosystem and a great variety of endemic species. Here you can also admire fantastic structures know as stromatolites, which are dome-like calcareous mounds built up of bacteria. They are the earliest fossil evidence of life on Earth. We encourage you to observe the following recommendations to ensure the preservation of this natural heritage site:

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THE SAN FELIPE FORT

Located just two blocks from the hotel, the San Felipe Fort is landmark for Bacalar history and offers fantastic view to the Lagoon. Built in 1729 at the lagoon shore to protect Spanish population from English pirate raids into the village, it is now the seat of the Museo de la Piratería (Pirates Museum).

DOWNTOWN BACALAR

The main attraction in downtown Bacalar is the historical central park “Ángel Remigio Rosado,” embellished with century-old trees and a peaceful kiosk. Around the park you will find small shops offering locally manufactured crafts. Tropical woodcarving is a local specialty. You will also find a lot of restaurants offering a great variety of gastronomy. Be sure to ask us about the best restaurants in the area.

CENOTE AZUL

Two-hundred meters wide and over 90 m deep, and Cenote Azul is reputedly the country’s largest, ground-level accessible well. It is the perfect place for experienced divers, but it you can also enjoy a simple swim in its crystal-clear waters.

ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES

Around Bacalar you can find the following sites:

CHACCHOBEN. The largest archaeological site in the lake area, Chacchoben hosts the Gran Basamento, a large construction used for public and religious ceremonies in the ancient Mayan civilization. A great variety of animal species and vegetation enhance the beauty of the site.

DZIBANCHÉ. This place is representative of the Mayan Peten style in architecture. Here you will be able to observe the hieroglyphic symbols at the Templo de los Cautivos (Captives Temple) and enjoy its atmosphere of mysticism.

KINICHNÁ. The landmark of this site is a monumental three-level citadel similar to a Greek acropolis, surrounded by several temples distributed in triads, which are representative of the Early Classical Mayan architecture.

KOHUNLICH. This site comprises housing and ceremonial complexes. Its landmark is the Templo de los Mascarones (Figureheads Temple), decorated with eight stucco figureheads painted in red and black polychromies.

STREET ART

The Bakalarte Festival, celebrated in the streets of Bacalar, will surprise you with over 100 mural paintings by Mexican and foreign artists. Aires Bacalar is also part of the route and shows in its walls an impressive mural by Edgar “Bacalao” Argaez, a Bacalar-born artist currently based in Monterrey, northern Mexico, who has been able to show some of the magical beauty of his natal village.