Where to stay in Bacalar at the iconic Lake of Seven Colors? Lake Bacalar and its town have the most beautiful eco-hotels, lakeside cabanas and luxury hotels. But it does take some time to go through that overwhelmingly large offer to find the perfect place to stay in Bacalar. As one of the most popular destinations in the Yucatán peninsula, there’s a lot to choose from. You also have to make a choice between staying in the town of Bacalar or a more remote lakeside stay along the edges of Laguna Bacalar. This blog will help you make a choice. What are the best areas to stay in Bacalar and along the lake? And which unique hotels are the best for an unforgettable travel experience?
In short, the most unique hotels in Bacalar:
- Most beautiful luxury hotel in Bacalar Town: Hotel Aires Bacalar
- Most beautiful luxury hotel on Lake Bacalar: Kapok Bacalar
- Budget-friendly hostel in Bacalar City: The Yak Lake House
- Best glamping in Bacalar: El Buho Glamping
- Architectural bungalows on the west bank: Mia Bacalar Luxury Resort
How to get to Bacalar in Mexico?
Bacalar is a city on the well-known Lake of Bacalar on the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico. Bacalar is located on the eastern side of the peninsula, so well-known beach destinations such as Mahahual, Tulum and Cancún are not far away. It doesn’t get much further south than Bacalar, as the border with Belize is located just south of the lake.
The nearest airport is the Cancun International Airport. You can either get to Bacalar by public transport and the ADO bus or by driving yourself with a rental car. Public transport in Mexico is really well organized with its comfortable, clean ADO buses. If you are looking for a rental car, we recommend that you read our extensive blog about renting a car in Mexico to learn how to find affordable options, how to make sure you don’t pay (too much) extra for insurance and how to drive the Mexican roads safely.
Why Bacalar is worth visiting
Lake Bacalar in Mexico is often called the Lagoon of Seven Colors due to the different shades of blue. The water of the lake is dazzling blue and it’s the second-largest freshwaterlake in Mexico. The beautiful lake is the reason people visit Bacalar on their Mexico itinerary. A boat trip, kayak tour, dip in the water and the amazing hotspots are the best way to explore the town of Bacalar.
Read more: best things to do in Bacalar.
Where to stay in Bacalar
Did you know that Lake Bacalar is actually really big? As one of the largest freshwater lakes in Mexico, it stretches about 60 kilometers north and south of the town of Bacalar. From the town, it takes about 15 minutes of driving to get to the southern tip of the lake and even 30 minutes to the northern tip.
We therefore recommend you think about where to stay in Bacalar first: do you prefer to spend your days in the bustling streets and at the hotspots of the town of Bacalar, or would you rather stay at a remote, idyllic spot on the lake?
Without a rental car, we would recommend you stay in the town of Bacalar because of the remoteness of most lakeside cabins and hotels. If you travel with a rental car as we did, then we definitely suggest looking for one of the more unique places to stay at Lake Bacalar outside of town. With your rental car, you can easily visit the town to enjoy its amazing food scene, but you’ll get the chance to fully immerse yourself in the blue lake by staying at a unique and remote place along the lake.
Unique hotels in Bacalar town
#1 Hotel Aires Bacalar for the ultimate luxury design hotel with a good location at Bacalar town. The swimming pool, the natural design, the tropical garden, the delicious breakfast, the beautiful view and the attractive hotel rooms make this luxury hotel one of the best-rated hotels in Bacalar.
#2 Hotel Sur Bacalar with a prime location in the city of Bacalar. The private pool, beautiful design, rich breakfast and friendly staff are praised by the reviews of hotel guests.
#3 El Buho Glamping for romantic A-shape huts with canopies. This budget-friendly glamping site is like a mini-village with a jungle atmosphere.
#4 Aldea Che-ek with a central location in Bacalar and amenities such as a restaurant, an outdoor pool, a bar and a garden. The outdoor shower and attractive design make this one of the most unique places to stay in Bacalar.
#6 The Yak Lake House with a prime spot on the lakeshore, but right Bacalar town. It is one of the more budget-friendly places to stay, as you don’t find as many hostels in and near Bacalar as you’re used to in Mexico. There are both dormitories and private rooms.
#7 Hotel Carolina Bacalar on the southern edge of Bacalar town, where you’ll have an unforgettable stay with a jungle garden, lake view, outdoor pool and bar with swings. The highlight of this hotel in Bacalar? Hotel Carolina Bacalar has its own private beach on Lake Bacalar!
Unique hotels at Lake Bacalar
#1 Kapok Bacalar in the northern tip of Lake Bacalar. We stayed at this northern location as well and can highly recommend you to do so: from this northern tip you can a beautiful kayak or canoe trip to the water lily plains in the north of the lake. Kapok is known as a plant-based and vegan-friendly place to stay because of its delicious, plant-based breakfast. The beautiful luxury huts in the middle of the jungle are truly magical.
#2 Mia Bacalar Luxury Resort across the lake from the town of Bacalar is one of the few hotels on the west bank. So it has one of the most idyllic and peaceful locations with phenomenal views over the lake. There is an on-site restaurant, an outdoor and indoor pool, a gym and a bar as well. The bungalows of Mia Bacalar have their own unique architecture and are a beautiful piece of design in the green jungle area.
#3 Amaca Bacalar for tropical ecolodges on the lake, surrounded by nature and equipped with solar panels. There are five cabañas on this small-scale resort with a green jungle garden and jetty on the lake. A bonus: kayaks and paddle boards are included in your stay. Amaca is about a 10 minute drive from the town of Bacalar.
#4 Villas Ecuador for ecolodges with palm leaf roofs in tropical jungle atmospheres. That sounds like an off-the-grid experience, but the villas have the luxury and conveniences of electricity, wifi and private bathrooms with hot water showers. Cabaña Ecotucan is located only 5 kilometers from the town of Bacalar.
#5 Hotel Rancho Encantado just north of the town of Bacalar with a private jetty, a hot tub, a view over the lake and a swimming pool with sun beds. It offers both hotel rooms and private lodges on the water.
#6 Zensus Eco Boutique Hotel for a beautiful boutique hotel south of the city with a location not far from Cenote Esmeralda. The cute, white beach houses in a lush green jungle garden with a swimming pool make Zenus Eco a unique place to stay at the lake.
#7 Khaban Bacalar Hotel Boutique for a stunning boutique hotel with free private parking, an outdoor pool, swings in the lake and a bar. The rave reviews praise the small-scale resort for its hospitality, special architecture and cocktail hour.
#8 La Albarina with a location south of the city and right next to the famous Cenote Azul. The large green garden with a view over the lake is a wonderful place to relax. The small-scale hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms, paddle boards to explore the lake and a pier to dive from.
