From sunrise walks and boat trips, to tasty tacos and a lazy river experience like no other, this two-day Bacalar itinerary shows you the highlights.
Mexico is full of beautiful beach destinations, but Bacalar offers something completely different. This natural lagoon has spectacular water in every shade of blue. The town itself is quirky, with its colourful murals, trendy food spots and relaxed vibe.
I’ve visited Bacalar twice now, and both times I’ve come away thinking I could happily stay longer. The first time I visited, I was struck by how different the lagoon felt from Mexico’s Caribbean beaches. On my most recent trip I returned with my husband and two kids, which gave me a completely different perspective.
While you could easily spend several days in Bacalar, you’ll be able to see the highlights in two days. My ideal two-day Bacalar itinerary includes a boat trip, time at a lagoon club, lots of great restaurants and a day out at the region’s natural lazy river, Los Rápidos. Ready to plan your trip? Here you go!
How to spend 2 days in Bacalar
I’ve kept this itinerary fairly relaxed. Bacalar isn’t somewhere I’d recommend racing around ticking off attractions. The lagoon is the reason you’re here, so I’ve suggested lots of ways to enjoy it.
Bacalar Itinerary: Day 1
Go for a sunrise walk by the lagoon
The best way to start your time in Bacalar is with a sunrise walk by the water. It’s so calm and peaceful first thing in the morning, perfect for a bit or headspace. I headed to Muelle Público 36, a pier that is open to the public. I strolled down the jetty, watching people swimming off the end. Seeing the first golden rays of the day over the serene water was a very special way to start my day.
Grab a coffee and a pastry in the main plaza
I loved starting my day by buying a delicious pastry from one of the small panaderias, then heading to Café Tito Bacalar in Zócalo Park for a coffee. There are lots of benches in the square, so you can take your coffee to a spot with a view. There’s also a great playground too, so it was ideal for my mornings with the kids!
I absolutely loved those relaxed mornings, sipping on strong coffee, eating flaky pastries and enjoying spectacular lagoon panoramas.
Take a boat tour of Bacalar
The best way to see the Lagoon of Seven Colours is by boat. On a tour you will get to see a lot of the lagoon’s highlights, including:
- Emerald Cenote – where you’ll view an underground water source
- Cenote Cocalitos – where you can see the stromatolites
- Cenote Negro (Black Cenote) – which reaches depths of 100m, and appears almost black
- Bird Island – where you can see a wide variety of birds, particularly in April and May
- Pirate Canal – where you can swim
What I loved most was that the boat trip didn’t feel like a standard sightseeing tour where you simply look at things from the boat. There were lots of opportunities to get into the lagoon, which made the whole experience much more memorable.
A quick note about stromatolites, as you may not have come across them before. They are living rock formations created by microorganisms and among the oldest forms of life on the planet. They look just like pale-coloured rocks in Bacalar, but it’s very important you don’t stand on them or touch them. They’re living ecosystems and are particularly vulnerable.
It’s also worth noting that the lagoon is closed on Wednesdays, so consider the days of your visit when you’re planning your two-day Bacalar itinerary. I know that sounds odd, but it means there are no boat trips or waters activities. It’s designed to be an ‘ecological break’, to help with the conservation of the ecosystem.
Enjoy one of the best restaurants in Bacalar town
We had so many good meals in Bacalar, I’ve got plenty of spots to recommend! Rather than suggest where to eat for each meal over two days, I thought it’d be better to give you a quick rundown of my favourite restaurants from my recent visit.
Tigre Pétanque – We loved this restaurant. It’s more of a night spot, with a cool upmarket vibe, appetising menu of small plates and great mezcalitas. Visiting as a family, this restaurant was ideal as our son could run around in the pétanque area. The ceviche was one of the best things we ate in Bacalar.
La Burguesía del Pueblo – This burger restaurant overlooks the main square. We were absolutely starving and the burgers here were SO good. There was a huge variety of fillings and they were really generous. It’s a lovely spot to people watch too!
Hijos del Cocho – When I was researching restaurants in Bacalar for the best ceviche, this was highly recommended. It was great! Very busy with a fun vibe, massive portions and tasty food. The ceviche wasn’t very refined, but it had great flavour and was very generous. If you like large plates, boozy cocktails and a fun atmosphere, you’ll love it here.
Los de Atlixco – We visited this place for lunch after Los Rapidos. It feels more like a street food spot, with its outdoor dining. The food was really tasty. We enjoyed a selection of tacos, as well as a beef parillada, which was similar to what we call fajitas. We enjoyed everything we ate, and the black tortillas made everything pop visually!
La Pancha Bacalar – This was one of the tastiest meals we had in Bacalar. The restaurant specialises in birria de res – a type of slow-cooked beef in spices. It’s usually served with a meat broth, which we thought was utterly delicious. Like a hug in a bowl! Order the quesabirria – you won’t regret it.
Spend the afternoon relaxing at a lagoon club
After a morning of adventures, how about spending the afternoon relaxing at one of the lagoon’s beach clubs. We visited Carmelita Lagoon Club, which is at the far end of the town. It has a beautiful infinity pool next to the water’s edge, a top restaurant and bar area, plus a spa. You pay an entrance fee, which covers having access to the facilities. You can then pay for food and drink (which was excellent here!)
There are kayaks and paddleboards to rent, as well as steps straight into the lagoon. We had an amazing afternoon there. It was very peaceful, had picture-perfect views, and felt nice and safe for our toddler to play. That tuna an mango tartare was incredible too!
Other people recommended Beach Club Blú, which has a very reasonable entrance price for the day, and a bar/restaurant on site to order from. The water is really shallow here, so it’s more reminiscent of a beach.
Watch the sunset over the lagoon
After a busy first day in Bacalar, find a spot by the lagoon and watch the colours change as the sun goes down. If you’re staying somewhere with lagoon access, it’s the perfect time to grab a drink and enjoy the view. Or, you could head to one of the many lagoon clubs or bars for a drink to toast your day.
Bacalar Itinerary: Day 2
Spend the morning at Los Rápidos
If there’s one experience you can’t miss during your two-day trip to Bacalar, it’s Los Rápidos.
It’s one of the most famous things to do in Bacalar, and for good reason. Los Rápidos is a natural stretch of water where you float along, letting the gentle current carry you through the lagoon. The combination of crystal-clear water, natural rapids and beach club vibes make this a unique experience.
I’d recommend arriving at 10am when it opens, as there’ll be fewer people and the temperatures will be a little cooler. For more information, read my guide to visiting Los Rapidos.
Visit Cenote Azul
If you’re looking for an extra activity around Bacalar, you could visit Cenote Azul after Los Rapidos. This cenote is separated from the lagoon by a bit of land, and you have to pay an entrance fee to visit. Once there, you can swim in the water and enjoy a peaceful experience in crystal clear waters.
Go kayaking or paddleboarding
If you’d rather be active and see more of the lagoon, how about hiring paddle boards or kayaks? There are plenty of places to rent them from in town, or you can hire them from a lagoon club.
While we were on our boat trip we saw people in glass bottom kayaks which looked amazing! You can explore quite far and wide. They had made it over to Bird Island and the Pirate Canal. I did this on my very first trip to Bacalar and loved it!
Take yourself on a street art tour
Bacalar town is a rainbow coloured town, with huge murals adorning the sides of many buildings. It reminded me of another of my favourite Mexican destinations, Isla Holbox.
I love that you can walk the streets and feel like you’re perusing one huge outdoor art gallery. I took photos of some of my favourites, but there are so many to see, and no doubt new ones popping up all the time. Take a moment to really appreciate them when you’re there.
Explore Fuerte de San Felipe
Right in the centre of Bacalar’s charming town is Fort San Felipe. This fascinating historic site was built in the 18th century to defend the area from pirate attacks. It’s now a museum, where you can learn more about the history of the area and explore the fort’s unique spaces.
Even if you don’t fancy paying to look around, you can walk the perimeter of the fort’s walls. I loved taking in the views of the fort with the lagoon behind.
End the night with cocktails in Bacalar
You’re on holiday, so you HAVE to treat yourselves to at least one cocktail each day! I had some delicious passion fruit mojitos in town. Plus, we absolutely loved the mezcalitas on this trip. If you’ve never tried one, you’re in for a treat! It’s like a margarita but made smoky mezcal instead.
If you usually drink beer, try a local michelada. My partner is a huge fan of this drink, which elevates a standard bottle of beer with flavours of salt, chilli and lime.
Spending 3 or 4 days in Bacalar?
While you can cram a lot into two days in Bacalar, I’d recommend spending three or four days here. This will mean you’re not racing around and can appreciate the natural beauty at a slower pace.
There aren’t loads more activities to add to your list, but just having a little longer so you can spend more time kayaking, swimming or relaxing – it’s worth it! After all, part of Bacalar’s appeal is spending time by the water with no fixed plan.
Tips from two visits to Bacalar
As mentioned, I’ve visited Bacalar twice, several years apart and with different agendas. My first trip was as a backpacker and my second visit was with my family. If you’re visiting for the first time, here’s my advice:
- Don’t try to squeeze too many lagoon activities into one day. You could easily stay at a lagoon club ALL day, and have a great experience.
- Book the boat trip in advance. They are best first thing in the morning, so you might want to find a tour operator online and book for your first morning.
- Visit Los Rápidos when it opens at 10am so you can avoid the peak rush.
- If you’re travelling with young children, consider accommodation that has lagoon access. We stayed at an Airbnb in town, but it would have been lovely to be able to sit by the water. However, being able to walk to restaurants and the main square is something I wouldn’t trade!
I hope you have a great time in Bacalar. It’s one of my favourite towns in Mexico. There are so many enjoyable activities, plus I just adore the laid-back feel of the place. If you’re looking for more advice to plan your trip, I’d recommend clicking through to read these posts:
- The Best Bacalar Travel Guide
- Los Rápidos Bacalar: My Honest Guide + Everything You Need to Know
- 3 Week Mexico Road Trip Itinerary: The Ultimate Yucatán Peninsula Route
- The Best Isla Holbox Travel Guide
- Visiting Isla Holbox With Kids
- The Ultimate 5-Day Cancun Itinerary
- The Best Luxury Hotels in Tulum – 5-Star Hotels in Tulum, Boutique Resorts and More