Located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, Bacalar is about two hours from the famous beach town of Tulum.
Even though it’s relatively close to this ever growing vacation destination, it remains a small town with a majority of Mexican and European tourists.
If you’re looking for a destination where you can enjoy outdoor adventure activities like SUP and kayaking alongside affordable wellness services like cacao ceremonies, massages, and yoga, then Bacalar should be on your Mexico bucket list.
How to Get to Bacalar
There are a few different ways to get to Bacalar depending on where you are starting your adventures. The easiest and most affordable airport to get to from outside of Mexico is Cancun. You can create a fun itinerary around Quintana Roo that includes stops in Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and eventually Bacalar.
By mid-to-late 2025, the Tren Maya should be complete. With this completed, you will be able to take the train directly from Cancun to Bacalar.
If you can find flights to the closer Tulum Airport, this is only about two hours away and is an easy drive to Bacalar. The third option is the Chetumal Airport, which is only about 35 minutes from Bacalar, but currently only has domestic flights from Mexico City available.
Best Hotels in Bacalar
These are the top places to stay for every budget in beautiful Bacalar.
1. Akalki
This is without a doubt the best hotel in Bacalar. If you want a place to splurge on your trip to this Pueblo Magico, Akalki is well worth the money.
Bacalar is sometimes referred to as the Maldives of Mexico. However, there are very few hotels around the lagoon that are overwater bungalows like you would find in the Maldives. Akalki delivers on this front in the most extravagant way.
There are only a handful of bungalows on the entire property, so you know it will be a quiet and relaxing getaway. The over-water bungalows have their own private decks and water access, so you can jump into the lagoon as soon as you hop out of bed.
The entire focus at Akalki is restoration and relaxation. Take a yoga class, experience a powerful cacao ceremony, and get a wonderful massage at the on-site spa. The restaurant serves up healthy and delicious meals to guests available throughout the day.
Bungalows start at $250 per night. Book a stay at Akalki on their website here.
2. Circulo Bacalar
This mid-range hotel is located right in the middle of all of the action in Bacalar. It is about a 15 minute walk to the lagoon, but you are 5 minutes from the town center and all of the best restaurants in Bacalar.
There is a pool in the courtyard of the hotel which offers total privacy and solitude. There are lounge chairs to relax in and a full service bar to enjoy a drink as you relax in the sunshine.
The rooms are clean and minimally decorated in the boho-style popular in this part of Mexico. A great perk of staying at Circulo is that they have free bikes for their guests, so you can get to the lagoon much quicker and more easily as well as explore further afield around the lagoon.
The breakfast at Circulo is fantastic with piles of fresh tropical fruit, local pastries and breads, homemade granola, and plenty of warm options like eggs and pancakes.
Rooms start at $80 per night. Book a stay at Circulo Bacalar here.
Many of the best hotels in Bacalar are either on the waterfront or they have views of the lagoon from a distance.
3. Diosa del Agua
This is one of my favorite mid-range hotels in Bacalar. I stayed here on my most recent trip to Bacalar and I loved the location and quiet, spacious rooms.
Located only a block away from the lagoon, down the road from plenty of delicious seafood spots, and about 15 minutes walk to the center of town, you can’t ask for a better location for the price.
The rooms are very spacious with views out over the hotel pool. The restaurant serves breakfast each morning with a full menu of cooked American and Mexican options on offer.
The staff go above and beyond at Diosa del Agua and make it an even better place to rest your head each night. Rooms start at $89 per night. Book a stay at Diosa del Agua here.
4. Hotel Carolina Bacalar
This luxurious hotel is located right on the lagoon with choices of rooms that face either the jungle or the lagoon. You are a short paddle or kayak ride away from the stunning Cenote Negro. If your goal is to spend as much time on the water as possible on your trip to Bacalar, this is one of the very best options.
The rooms make you feel like you’re in the coolest tree house you’ve ever seen except that tree house has air conditioning and turquoise lagoon views. The onsite restaurant is serving up some of the best food in town and is open for guests for every meal of the day, including an exceptional breakfast of Mexican classics and healthy alternatives.
It is close enough to town to walk to all of the restaurants in about 15 minutes. Grab a bike from the front desk and get there even quicker (just know that there’s a little bit of a hill as you get to town).
There is a nice patio and outdoor space at the back of the hotel where you can hop into the lagoon for a swim or just relax in one of the hammocks. Rooms start at $290. Book a stay at Hotel Carolina Bacalar here.
From hotels like Carolina or Amainah, you can enjoy sunrise paddle board sessions to the nearby Cenote Negro.
5. Amainah
This high-end resort is the best place to come for a luxury solo trip, a romantic getaway, or a trip with the girls. It is adult-only and has everything you could possibly want from an indulgent trip. Do sunrise yoga on the docks of the lagoon, swim in the hotel pool, relax in a private hot tub, or indulge in a delicious meal at the modern onsite restaurant.
The beds are plush, the rooms are clean and quiet, and there is a spa with massages and facials available. If there are other trips you want to have while you’re in Bacalar, you can speak to the concierge and they will help you with the absolute best experiences available.
Rooms start at $260 per night. Book a stay at Amainah Hotel here.
6. Hotel Agam
Hotel Agam is the perfect mix of high-end style at a more affordable price point. With rooms starting at $140 per night, you can enjoy stylish rooms, a fitness center, lap pool, and Jacuzzi.
The location is great with an easy walk to the lagoon and the town center. The breakfast options are large with everything from continental to full-cooked American or Mexican-style dishes available.
I absolutely love the pool area at Hotel Agam and when I visited this hotel during my last trip to Bacalar I loved just chilling in the comfortable lounge chairs with a drink from the hotel bar. Book a stay at Hotel Agam here.
Hire a kayak or a paddleboard from the Yak Lake House, even if you decide not to stay here.
7. Casa Lamat
Casa Lamat is one of the more budget-friendly hotels on this list. Rooms all start at under $100 per night at this waterfront hotel, making it a great price when compared to other waterfront hotels.
Rock in one of the hammocks on the deck or hop in one of the boats available and explore the lagoon right from the hotel’s backyard. The rooms feel like rustic cabins, but they are clean, comfortable, and have air conditioning.
The location is just on the edge of town, which makes the rooms incredibly quiet at night. However, you are still only a short 15 minute walk to all of the restaurants and bars in town. Book a stay at Casa Lamat here.
8. Yak Lake House
The best budget hotel in Bacalar is the Yak Lake House. It is one of the only waterfront hostels in town and is also the absolute best place to stay at a solo traveler who wants to meet other people on the road.
Bacalar is firmly on the Mexico Backpacker route and this is where you want to come for the best price to quality ratio as a fellow backpacker.
There are 8, 7, and 4-bed dorms to choose from, all of which are mixed. You can also opt for a private double, triple, or quadruple room if you are traveling with a group of friends.
The Yak Lake House is one of the best places to come for watersport adventures in Bacalar. Even if you aren’t staying here, you’ll still want to come here to take a sunrise SUP ride or take a SUP yoga class. They have kayaks to rent as well as sunset catamaran trips available.
Dorms start at $30 per night and private rooms start at $90 per night. Book a stay at the Yak Lake House here.