If you want to be surrounded by beauty and dont mind being away from the town, Mia Bacalar Luxury Resort & Spa is the single most splurge-worthy place in Bacalar. Find the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions based on the most talked about places recommended by Trippy members. Here's the quick answer if you are able to make this entire trip by car without stopping. WebBacalar is super safe. Or even better from Chetumal you can take a 90-minute ferry to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye! WebBacalar is located in the far south of Mexicos Yucatn Peninsula, in Quintana Roo state, close to the Belize border. A: Yes, it is safe. Its not worth flying into another country to head straight for the border and going through immigration a second time. Drive for about 1 hour, then stop in Playa del Carmen and stay for about 2 hours. People travel to Bacalar to enjoy a low-key, quirky town. Also, would love to hear about best places for a swim or to spend the day. Alternatively, you can bring areusable bottleand invest in aSteriPen water purifier(much better and faster than tablets). Much of Bacalar is walkable, but if youre going further afield, call a taxi. Tulum is for the cool people. This road is quite straight, fairly well-maintained, and has good signage. travelers and answer some questions about Cancun! I hear the veggie burgers are great. Drive from Cancun to Bacalar - safe? - Bacalar Forum Staying Safe . How far is Bacalar from Cancun But more than that Bacalar is significantly safer than Quintana Roo hotspots like Cancn, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. If you dont have a car, you can take a cab here. Playa del Carmen to Bacalar | Traveling around the Riviera Maya is safe in general and you should not encounter any problems on public transport. Bacalar gives you very good value for money a lot more than the aforementioned Mexican hotspots. There is a restaurant on the premises and we enjoyed fresh ceviche and some drinks. I got octopus montaditos, they were incredibly delicious, and I felt like I saved a ton. It is safe to drive from Cancun to Bacalar. WebBacalar is located in the far south of Mexicos Yucatn Peninsula, in Quintana Roo state, close to the Belize border. When an outlet that big writes about a small place, it almost guarantees an influx of visitors. Consequently, this is also when Bacalar (and the rest of Quintana Roo) gets the most of its tourists. Warnings from U.S. officials and the government, as well as from news anchors, have been flooding social media and news outlets. I havent been yet, but its a priority on my list. Drive for 2.5 hours then stop at Laguna Bacalar and stay for 1 hour. Get From Cancun To Bacalar, Mexico (Bring enough pesos with you to sustain your stay; some but not all places in Bacalar take cards.). Go out to eat in Bacalar and you wont be in a stuffy restaurant instead, youre likely to be mostly outdoors, in a courtyard of some kind, potentially surrounded by greenery and music. Carry your repellant around with you in Bacalar they can bite you at any time of day, but theyre especially active at dusk. ADO buses run to Bacalar from destinations throughout the Yucatn. WebRe: Cancun to Bacalar 2 years ago Save As others have said, an easy drive and worthwhile if you have a couple of days to spend. Tulum to Bacalar | 215 km, 2.5 hours drive. First off, Mexico is much safer than the media would have you believe. The nearest big city to Bacalar is Chetumal, and the distances to other bigger cities are below: Cancun to Bacalar | 346 km, 4.5 hours drive. Were driving during the day from the Cancun airport to Bacalar, considering taking the 307. Even if you dont go to Los Rapidos (WHY WOULD YOU NOT GO TO LOS RAPIDOS?! If you would rather be in a really nice place right in Bacalar town, where you can walk to all the restaurants, I recommend Hotel Carolina. Safety , : , . Hot water isnt always a given. Cancn is for spring breakers, partiers, and people afraid to leave their resorts; Playa del Carmen is for people who want to visit Mexico, but surrounded by the comforts of home. The river looks slow-moving but its a lot stronger than youd think. If youre driving, know that there isnt an exit from the highway when youre driving away from Bacalar youll have to do a U-turn after you pass it, then take the exit. We grabbed some food here after our boat tour. Cerveceria Bacalar This brewery is a 25-minute walk from town, but if youre taking a boat tour with Amir Adventours, this is where their tours start and finish. Mosquitos love lakes. If you want to stay somewhere that feels high-end but doesnt break the bank, Casa Chukum is a great option. Samys is a barbecue stand specializing in pork. There are sufficient parking lots in Bacalar itself, and the journey from Cancun to Bacalar is easy and safe. Bacalar, Mexico so go ahead and check the reverse directions to get the Here are some of the top spots to eat in Bacalar that I recommend: Enamora This restaurant is such a delight the food is inventive and delicious. : " . Get a 45-minute bus ride from Bacalar to Chetumal, which sits right on the Belize border. This fort is located in the center of town, across from Bacalars main square. From Cancn you can hop on a five-hour bus to Bacalar. The main activity in the water is getting into the river and letting it carry you away downstream. Because tourism will be increasing here no matter what, and as long as thats happening, I want the right kind of people to visit Bacalar. Tourists are not targets for pickpocketing, theft, or violent crimes, though you always should keep an eye on your belongings (in Bacalar and everywhere). What else? Its also the grand finale of my two-week Mexico road trip itinerary on the Yucatn peninsula. Alternatively, you can get from Tulum to Bacalar in the space of 3 hours. Wait until you see sunset! The water will be a bit warmer and so will you. If youve seen a lot of Mayan ruins in the Yucatn, dont feel super-obliged to visit Uxmal, Mayapan, Chichn Itza, and Tulum bring a lot more drama but if you enjoy ruins and you have several days in Bacalar, theyre worth the excursion. It ends in Bacalar, Mexico. airport, and get to your destination. Some of my friends decided to swim to the island and I knew theyd turn back exhausted long before they got there! That's what Trippy is perfect for, take-off and landing, and time to taxi on the runway. I want to send Samys as much business as possible. Progress is happening whether we want it to or not, and its selfish to insist a place remain pleasing to your travel memories when locals could use the economic opportunity that comes with development. Cancun Airport (CUN) to Bacalar Bacalar is a five-hour bus ride from Cancn International Airport, and its close to Tulum, Mahahual, and the Belize border if youre driving. Dont wander off alone into unknown areas, and dont make yourself an easy target. Service is slow. Is Bacalar near Cancun? Im convinced no other country gets a more inaccurate representation in the American media this is not a lawless land of cartels, beheadings, and gun violence. This felt very much like a place capitulating to the Tulum aesthetic all style, no substance, and very overpriced. The one flaw of Los Rapidos is that it is very painful to walk on the gravel. Bacalar If you take these steps to protect yourself, you can have a safe and memorable vacation in Cancun. Nixtamal One of the best restaurants in Bacalar, Nixtamal has a cave-like atmosphere with a fire going. Also, would love to hear about best places for a swim or to spend the day. Mexico their mezcal margaritas were! There are shaded seating areas with tables for eating, or you can sit back in lounge chairs. Click here to guarantee you the best car rental price. I am at a loss for words describing how fun this place is!! Visiting cenotes is one of the best part of traveling in Mexicos Yucatn Peninsula. The Yucatn Peninsula is full of Mayan ruins, and the area around Bacalar is no exception. Of all the seven shades of blue, the bright turquoise surrounding Bird Island is probably my favorite shade. Here are some destinations from which you can reach Bacalar on a nonstop bus ride: You can book tickets on the ADO site or you can buy them at bus stations. This is the only kind of sunscreen you should use in the lake. Dont take drinks from strangers. As for the crowd, in addition to Mexicans, there are lots of North Americans, seemingly experienced travelers in the know (my first thought was erstwhile backpackers grown up), primarily young adults with few seniors and very few children (I saw zero foreign kids in Bacalar). To Bacalar Its one thing to write about cocktail bars in New York or museums in Paris. This has ended and was back to normal in 2022. Warning: some of these taxis take a long time to show up, and some of them required multiple phone calls before anyone showed up. Departure airport: Cancn International Airport (CUN), Arrival airport: Chetumal International Airport (CTM). Bacalar has so many wonderful restaurants and one incredibly overrated restaurant that of COURSE I will name. This post was most recently updated in January 2023. security lines and waiting at the gate, and the actual flight itself. Whats the best area to stay in Bacalar? Limit your drinking. For roughly 15 years or so, Tulum has been showcased as the artsy, creative alternative to Cancn and Playa del Carmen. Alternatively, book a private transfer from the airport to Bacalar. Officials not only deploy police officers all over the city, but members of the various military branches can also be seen driving and walking the streets as well. Bacalar is a very small town where international tourism is still at a fairly early stage. I recommend you bring aLifeStraw Water Bottle, a bottle that purifies water as you drink it through its straw. Understand that there are no beaches in Bacalar, Mexico. WebHeres my shortlist of the top Bacalar resorts: Overall Best Bacalar Luxury Hotel: Habitas Bacalar. Standing on the edge of a lake-enclosed cenote, as the water changed from light to dark. The easiest way to stay safe when visiting Cancun or anywhere else is to always be conscious of your surroundings. If you take these steps to protect yourself, you can have a safe and memorable vacation in Cancun. But if youre not a big group, you can join a boat tour here (with open bar!). The water was brown; the beaches were littered with seaweed; the ruins were overcrowded; everything was grotesquely overpriced. , : () , () , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ! I spent two months living in the city of Mrida, Mexico. Thanks! Let me show you what makes Bacalar magical! The free trade market was filled with clothing and art flowy dresses that were not remotely Yucatecan but made for Instagram, and crockery that my friend Nathan said he had seen sold for a fraction of the price elsewhere. Half Of Cancun Tourists Leave Their All-Inclusive Resorts During Vacations, Here Is Where They Go, This Off Path Beach Near Cancun Is The Perfect Place To Escape The Crowds, The Cancun Sun is an Off Path Enterprises production, original sound Worldwide Travel Guide . Rentalcars compares 900 companies at over 53,000 locations. But the best way to see it is to spend the day on a boat trip on the lagoon, strolling in knee-deep aqua water at El Canal de los Piratas, gazing over the chasm where neon turquoise meets indigo in the Cenote Negro, swimming in reflective Tiffany-blue waters rich in limestone. Im convinced that its the most beautiful place in the country, and its proof that lakes can be much prettier than the ocean. the flight planner: Trippy has a ton of information that can help you plan your trip to Bacalar, Mexico. You cant always find this in Bacalar shops so be sure to buy some before you arrive. Choose From Thousands of Cancun and Riviera Maya Hotels, Resorts and Hostels with Free Cancellation On Most Properties, TheCancun Sun Community FB grouphas all the latest travel news, conversations and tourismQ&As for the Mexican Caribbean. Use biodegradable sunscreen exclusively. A shimmering, beautiful lake exploding in seven shade of blue. If you take these steps to protect yourself, you can have a safe and memorable vacation in Cancun. Most boat tours last about three to four hours and take you to some of the spots I detail below, like Pirates Canal, the Cenote Negro, Cenote Esmeralda, and Bird Island. If youre traveling in Mexico, foreigners can only use a small drone like the DJI Mavic Mini its under 250 grams so it doesnt need to be registered. In terms of photography, the Cenote Negro is a great vantage point for capturing all shades of the Lake of Seven Colors. Those are the two best things to do in Bacalar. WebRe: Cancun to Bacalar 2 years ago Save As others have said, an easy drive and worthwhile if you have a couple of days to spend. This should be your #1 priority while traveling to Bacalar. Small drones are permitted at Bacalar for now. Here are four nice rentals that cost about $40 per night in low season and are located close to the center of town: Find deals on Bacalar hotels and rentals here. waiting for our flight, and making it to the destination. of your actual flight time. Cancun to Bacalar: 4 hours 15 minutes | 345 KM Playa del Carmen to Bacalar: 3 hours 15 minutes | 279 KM Tulum to Bacalar: 2 hours 20 minutes | 215 KM Private Shuttle to Bacalar The easiest way to Bacalar is by private shuttle. One should be spent on a boat trip on the lake and one should be spent at Los Rapidos. If youre interested in doing this, go for it!). This riverside club is perched on part of the river that feeds into Bacalar lagoon. Ultimate Guide to 50+ Best Cenotes in Mexico, Two Weeks in Mexico: The Ultimate Yucatn Road Trip Itinerary, Isla Holbox, Mexico: An Idyllic Caribbean Getaway, 24 Fabulous Things to Do in Sayulita, Mexico, 35 Fun Things To Do in Guanajuato, Mexico, 13 Best Mexico City Neighborhoods to Stay In (All Safe! Traveler Alert:Dont Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! I agree the road is good but it has a very bad history of serious accidents. U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands. Tulum to Bacalar | 215 km, 2.5 hours drive. That nearly derailed our trip. Its located on the edge of Bacalar town. Instead, maybe youd like to sit on a dock with a beer in hand, watching the sky turn pink. Mango y Chile A very popular vegan restaurant right off the town square. Bacalar is situated in the state of Quintana Roo in southwestern Mexico, near the border with Belize. Be sure to tip your guides they work hard. (whether it's first class or coach). At the same time, however, you need to be careful about writing guides about places like Bacalar. This has been the narrative for quite some time. In these cities, thieves and scammers target tourists and drug dealers solicit tourists. "as the crow flies" which is calculated using an iterative : ! This beach town on Mexicos Costa Maya is starting to get some similar Is this the next Tulum? buzz. In March 2021, I reported that Lake Bacalar had turned green due to a combination of sewage issues and a hurricane, and that it was no longer possible to visit certain parts. Its a lot less in your face than Caye caulker or playa del carmen but it's such a tranquil little town. from the airport, based on how far the airport is from downtown. Tulum to Bacalar. Lock up your valuables in a portable safe. If youre driving from Mrida to Bacalar, as I did with my friends, I have a GREAT lunch spot to recommend. Children get in for free. To get a better idea of how long this trip would really be, scroll down to calculate how many hours it would take if you drive with stops. If you are planning a road trip, you might also want to calculate the total driving time from Cancun, Mexico to Bacalar, Mexico so you can see when you'll arrive at your destination. Mexican Federal Highway 307 runs from Cancun to Bacalar. If you cant do two full days in Bacalar, use your one full day for the boat tour and try to get to Bacalar as early as possible so you can spend the afternoon at Los Rapidos. Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week. ), The ABSOLUTE Best Things To Do in Oaxaca, Mexico, How to Visit Sumidero Canyon from San Cristbal de las Casas, 21 Quirky and Unusual Things to Do in Prague, Sicilian Food: 30 Iconic Dishes + What to Eat in Sicily. The road is in good condition and is safe to drive. Playa del Carmen to Bacalar | WebThe drive from Bacalar to Cancn Airport takes about four hours. BRING ENOUGH PESOS TO LAST YOUR WHOLE TRIP. Youll need these. (For what its worth, I LOVE Belize and I think Belize and Bacalar paired together could make a great trip. And so a big group of friends and I decided to plan a weekend trip to Bacalar. With the full itinerary planned out, we can estimate We got hit by a gust of wind and the mast knocked the drone into the water, which usually destroys drones, but our captain Felipe jumped in and grabbed it quickly. Now that we have kids and so many bags, they wont fit in the rental car. You can get an ADO bus from Bacalar to Mahahual; it takes one hour and 20 minutes. This caused a fair amount of animosity from taxi drivers, to the point where they have even attacked Ubers with tourists in them, although none have been extremely violent and the attacks seem to have slowed down. Now that we have kids and so many bags, they wont fit in the rental car. One of the reasons Cancun is safer than the news makes you think is that there is security everywhere. Im going to make things easy for you: you should spend at least two full days in Bacalar. There are so many ways to experience the beauty of the lagoon. More info on this route:drive from Cancun to Bacalarroad conditionsalternate routesGoogle driving directions. I agree the road is good but it has a very bad history of serious accidents. Bacalar is located only 215 km from Tulum which is 2hrs and a 30-minute drive. Mexico Drive from Cancun to Bacalar The single best way to see Bacalar is to take a boat tour of the lagoon. If youre in the mood for sandy beaches and crashing waves, I recommend heading to nearby Mahahual. The easiest and cheapest way to get there is by car. Get travel insurance. ), a full spa, and its like your own private corner of paradise. Admission is 100 pesos ($5) and the fort is open every day but Monday. Im not the biggest fan of open cenotes they look more like lakes and are far less spectacular than cave-like semi-open cenotes but this was a pleasant place to stop for a swim. If youre looking to experience the brightest, clearest, most shimmering body of water of your life, I have some advice: travel to Bacalar, Mexico. to calculate the distance between cities. Cancun to Bacalar including time spent getting to/from Dont wander off alone into unknown areas, and dont make yourself an easy target. To see all the details on this itinerary, including There are several ATMs on the main square in town, but none of them were working when we were there. include how many minutes to get to your local airport, wait The straight line flight distance is 16 miles less than driving on roads, which means the driving distance is roughly 1.1x of the flight distance. We have been renting cars in Cancun and the Riveria Maya since 2013 and have already rented cars from the Cancun airport 5+ times. Bacalar is a world away from more popular destinations in Quintana Roo like Cancn, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. Several of the tourism professionals we met gave us permission to drone in Bacalar Lagoon and at Los Rapidos. My friends recently visited in January 2023 and the colors are as gorgeous as the photos in this post! This is a very easy place to stay off your phone for a few days. Enter your email address to subscribe to The Cancun Suns latest breaking news affecting travelers, straight to your inbox.
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