Bacalar Lagoon

Laguna de Bacalar

A freshwater lagoon known as the Lagoon of Seven Colours, whose water shifts from pale to deep blue in seven shades. Its lakebed holds stromatolites, among the oldest life forms on Earth.

Laguna de Bacalar lies in the south of Quintana Roo state, near the Belize border. It is about 340 km from Cancún (4 to 5 hours by road) and about 40 km from the state capital, Chetumal. The lake stretches about 42 km from north to south and is one of the largest freshwater lakes on the Yucatán Peninsula. Its bed is white limestone sand, and the mix of depths and natural sinkholes (cenotes) makes the water shift through seven shades, from clear and pale green to emerald and deep blue, which is why it is called the Lagoon of Seven Colours. Large areas of stromatolites lie on the lake bed. These layered structures are built up by cyanobacteria and are among the oldest life forms on Earth, so motorboats are restricted in the lake area and walking on the stromatolites is forbidden. Activities include sailing or paddleboarding across the lake (about 2 to 3 hours, roughly 400 to 600 pesos per person), passing the Pirates' Canal, a waterway used by pirates in the 18th century, the Cenote Negro, and Bird Island, a white sandbar shallow. You can also swim and sunbathe at your hotel's jetty or at the public beach of Balneario Ejidal. The Cenote Azul at the south end of the lake is a huge natural sinkhole about 200 metres across and 90 metres deep. In town, Fort San Felipe, built between 1729 and 1733 to defend against pirates, is now a museum with views over the lake. The Mayan Train opened a Bacalar station in 2023, and ADO buses run direct from Cancún. The town is small and quiet, so one or two nights here is ideal for slowing down, and the lakeshore is lined with wooden cabins and hammock hotels. The coordinates are taken from the lakeshore in Bacalar town.

Bacalar Lagoon

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby