Lake of 7 Colors: Laguna Bacalar, Mexico

Laguna Bacalar (or Lake Bacalar) is famous for being “The Lake of 7 Colors” and located in southeast Mexico, near the Belize border in Quintana Roo. The lake is directly next to a small town that holds the same name, Bacalar.

In October 2007, the Mexican government named Bacalar as one of the “Pueblo Magico” (or “Magical Town”). As of 2020, it is home to more than 41,000 inhabitants and a plethora of stray dogs.

Bacalar is popular for the Spanish Fort ruins and balnearios (or swimming areas). The town is relatively small and quiet with a relaxed vibe that has just enough tourism to have things to do like camping, kayaking, and swimming, along with places to eat.

One of the most popular attractions to town is the 18^th century fort named Fuerte de San Felipe. The fort is open from 9 am to 7 pm and is right in the center of town next to the central plaza. It is home to a Piracy Museum that displays colonial weapons and artifacts.

Nearby is the colonial Parroquia San Joaquín (or Parrish Church of San Joaquín) and is dedicated to the patron saint of Bacalar. The church was built during the 18^th century, but still holds its original grandeur today. Unfortunately, I was not able to visit due to renovations that are currently in progress.

Laguna Bacalar is the largest lake in the Yucatán Peninsula. The lake is fed by a 450 km (279.62 miles) underwater river that is a part of the worlds largest water cave/tunnel system.

The lake extends an astonishing 42 km (26.1 miles) north to south and is less than 2 km (1.24 miles) at its widest. The water features a striking combination of blues and greens providing the basis for the title “The Lake of 7 Colors”. Laguna Bacalar has a limestone base that assists with the lake’s incredible clarity.

I highly recommend visiting with a daytrip from the nearby border city Chetumal. Staying in Bacalar is also possible if you want to spend more time. If you just want to stop in for a visit, then a day trip is more than sufficient.

I enjoyed my stay in Bacalar, however I found the 3 nights I’d planned a little much. I spent a day walking around the town getting acquainted with my surroundings. I also found a few places to jump in and cool off from the hot sun.

There are several tours operators that offer a trip around the lake, providing different viewpoints, a stop at the three connecting cenotes, and two swim breaks. I recommend taking the late afternoon option that leaves around 3 pm.

The late tour allows time for swimming while providing information about the lake, with an opportunity to see the sunset. This was by far my favorite experience and one that no visitor should miss.

Overall, I found Laguna Bacalar to be a beautiful experience. I thoroughly enjoyed touring around the lake during the sunset but would probably choose to visit with a short daytrip instead. This is the kind of stop that is excellent for traveling with other people.

This would be a perfect vacation place for families and those just looking to get away from it all. It’s a nice stop as a backpacker to take some time off, relax and soak up some peace and quiet.