Lagoon of Seven Colors - The Maldives of Mexico
(25 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Bailey Wah
Philadelphia, PA
International Planner, Specialized in Helping YOU.
Dérive (noun) - To drift unplanned, led only by the landscape and architecture around you.
I am a lover of architecture, exploring new cities led by culture and art, and building personalized itineraries for those wanting to experi...
Dérive (noun) - To drift unplanned, led only by the landscape and architecture around you.
I am a lover of architecture, exploring new cities led by culture and art, and building personalized itineraries for those wanting to experience luxury & wellness behind their destination’s borders. Details, planning, and ensuring transparency in every step of my process is my main concern; To guarantee your peace of mind & put your trip desires first. I first explored my interests in planning first at a Small Family-Operated Travel Company in my hometown of York, Pennsylvania & quickly gained knowledge of Europe, Southeast Asia, South America & more. From here, I have branched off and became a Full-Time Online Travel Advisor. I have also recently secured a Full-Time position Coding for Corporate Travel with J.P. Morgan Chase & Company.
My wanderlust spirit leads me to finding the richest of cultural towns filled with beaches & spas for relaxation, century-old castles, cathedrals, and museums for exploration, and luxurious MICHELIN/Boutique-Style Restaurants & Bars to fulfill your foodie needs. Reaching the status of Super Agent on Travel Leaders, I have continued to collaborate with travelers looking to make a Destination trip out of a new country, or revisiting a city that they want to dive deeper into. Whether you are wanting to sip on cocktails on Cascais' best beaches, or trek Bali Indonesia’s active Mount Batur Volcano, or are arranging a road trip through Spain to visit all of Antoni Gaudí Designed Buildings (or maybe that’s just me), I will go above and beyond to tailor the culture of each destination to fit each couple, group, or family.
To drift unplanned, whether led by the landscape and architecture of a new area, or led by the land or locals across the world, I will take care of you.
Can Be Reached At
1-717-819-6445
Spending the last five days in Bacalar was magical, to say the least. It takes a lot to impress me, with all the options in Cancun, Tulum, Playa, and more; I was a bit blown away by this location.
Bacalar has an abundance of history in which you can learn more about when you are visiting the Fortresses there, or online. Bacalar was built to ward off pirates, some of which were seeking a type of tree that's dark was used for dye.
Upon visiting Bacalar, I knew there were multiple cenotes in this location. Commonly referred to the lagoon of seven colors, and the "Maldives of Mexico", it's obvious this place is a great secret. This location is home to the largest amount of stromatolites in the world, which produce oxygen through their billion-year old living fossil micro-organisms. Two years ago after excessive rain and three hurricanes, the lagoon turned a brown color, but as of this post, it's 90% back to its original blues.
The town itself was super cute, and they were actively doing work on it all over to maintain and increase biodiversity. LOVED.
HOW TO GET THERE:
- 4 Hour Drive from Cancun International Airport
- 3.5 Hour Drive from Playa
- 2.5 Hour Drive from Tulum
Most transfer companies will take you right to the place. Rental cars are nice options as it is a straight easy and comfortable drive. There is also a direct flight from Cancun to Chetumal, if your timing works out this way. Comfortable Air-Conditioned Buses can be used as an inexpensive option. The closest Airport to Bacalar is Chetumal Airport - about 45 minutes away.
WHERE TO STAY:
Bacalar has no traditional All-Inclusive hotels, as it's not that type of place. The hotels and resorts here are boutique and unique, and offer personalized experiences among the locals. Without a rental car, I'd recommend staying in town for easy access and walk able restaurants and activities. Staying at Casa Hormiga (in town, not on the lagoon) and Habitas.
WHAT TO DO:
It's all about the lake. Kayaking, paddle boarding, swimming, snorkel, and boating in the magical waters is the name of the game here. Boat tours are my top choice in this area. Popular here are "Lake Clubs", similar to Beach Clubs but by the lagoon. My favorite option was La Playita, in which they had minimum spending for food and water sports to enjoy the day. Restaurants over the lagoon, with fabulous views are the best part of the day.
Los Rapidos is the Beach Club at the rapid area of the lagoon where you can float/get pulled along by the current in this area. There are tons of ruins around for those wanting culture/archaeological wonders on their trips. Within an hour of Bacalar, you'll find Chacchoben, which has the tallest and most mature trees I've ever seen in the peninsula and MANY SPIDER MONKEYS!
MAHUHUAL is only 1 hour away for those needing their Beach fix.