Best Access Options to Bacalar’s Lagoon of 7 Colors

Without a doubt, Bacalar’s lagoon has the most vibrant colors and beautiful clear waters. But, how can you access the lagoon easily? There’s no open beach like in a normal beach town, instead, mangroves and the town’s houses reach directly up to the waterfront. If you want to go swimming in the lagoon, you need to find a pier that leads you to the water. There are private and public piers, and among the public piers, some are for free, and for some, you have to pay a bit of money. Or you pay a bit more and go to a beach club. Here we give you an overview of the best access options to Bacalar’s lagoon of 7 colors so you can enjoy your stay in Bacalar the most!

Best Access to Bacalar’s Lagoon Through Piers

Pier of the Nature Reserve (Balneario Ecológico) – Low-Cost Option

The pier of the nature reserve (Balneario Ecológico) is my favorite option to go swimming in the lagoon. It’s probably the longest pier in Bacalar and it takes you on a roundtrip through the mangroves to the lagoon. From here, you can reach the water through the steps of a wooden ladder. This is one of the best-maintained piers, and I think it’s ok to pay the 20 pesos (1.20 USD) entry fee that it costs which is valid for an entire day. As there is no shade (unless you sit in the water under the pier), you might want to come before noon, and maybe come back again in the evening when the sun is less strong. As this is a nature reserve for the mangroves and the lagoon in general, there’s no alcohol, no smoking, no pets, and no loud music allowed – which in my opinion is a plus if you want to spend a quiet day at the lagoon. Plus, you’re supporting the nature reserve. A win-win situation😊 This pier is definitely one of my highlights. Beautiful! And on your way back, you can take a look at the mangroves from high above.

The Nature Reserve Park “Balneario Ecológico” – Low-Cost Option

To the right of the aforementioned natural resort, you find the natural park. Here, the same rules apply to the pier (no smoking, no alcohol, no pets, no loud music), and you pay 10 pesos (0.60 USD) entrance fee. Then you walk some hundred meters through the mangroves before you reach a nice but small piece of lawn from which you can enter the lagoon. There’s no shade except for the bit that the bushes are spending in the afternoon, that’s why most visitors sit there at the edge of the lawn. The water is crystal clear and the sand perfect, you can walk or swim out far and still touch the ground. There are not many people here, and there tend to be more Mexicans. If you like to swim in peace, I can recommend this one!

Public Pier “Balneario Municipal El Aserradero” – Free of Charge

This pier is public and free of charge, and the plus – apart from it being quite large – is the park you cross before entering the pier. The pier itself has no shade, unfortunately, but you might find some in the park which also has a swimming pool which wasn’t open when we visited. There are also bathrooms and a restaurant in the park. The water is beautiful. As there are no regulations with regards to alcohol, smoking, pets, and music as for the nature reserve mentioned beforehand, it might be that someone turns up the music, and in Mexico that means turning it up really loud. If that’s more your style, and if you prefer to bring alcoholic beverages to the pier, then choose this one.

Public Pier “Andador Peatonal Calle 16” – Free of Charge

Tiny, with 2 benches to sit on, with boat trips heading off of the pier next to it – this pier is inconspicuous but cute. Plus, it has shade from a palapa roof. There weren’t many people there, and I enjoyed sitting here in the mornings. Even though boat trips start from the pier next to it, it’s relatively quiet and you can enjoy taking a dip in the water. However, watch out for the boats that are leaving or coming back to the pier next to it. From this pier, you also have a nice view of other piers.

Public Pier “Muelle 18 / Laguna de los 7 Colores” – Free of Charge

You can’t miss this pier, as there’s a booth for boat trips at the entrance of a tree-shaded path towards the pier. There are always some boats toad to the pier as many tours depart from here. That’s why you won’t really have your peace and quiet here unless you go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, but it’s definitely a good picture opportunity for the lagoon and other piers. Not the best option for swimming, though.

Mexican Vibe in the “Palapa en Avenida 5” – Low-Cost / Family Option

If you want to get a Mexican vibe to your swimming afternoon, visit this Palapa on Avenue 5. It costs 30 pesos (almost 2 USD) entry fee, but you have a gated area with a lawn for the kids to play football on, several palapas with tables and benches, shade under the trees, a bathroom, and showers (for an extra cost of 5-10 pesos, which is 0.30-0.60 USD). You can also camp here! The water is not as clear as in the other places I’ve described, and the soil is a bit muddy the first few meters going into the water – probably because of the tree leaves that fall onto the ground. Still, we enjoyed our evening here with a lively yet relaxing atmosphere. Make sure to bring your food and drinks, as there are no shops around. The last 150 meters to this place are via a dirt track, so make sure to drive slowly or come by bike.

Balneario Ejidal Mágico Bacalar – Family Option at Medium Cost

In this spa, you pay 75 pesos (around 4 USD) entrance fee, a palapa (palm-roofed place to sit) at an extra cost of 100 (around 6 USD) pesos, and a beach lounger for 150 (around 9 USD) pesos. They have a restaurant and offer boat trips. There are slides and hammocks in the water, and you can rent kayaks. When you walk into the water, the ground is stonier than elsewhere, but the water is clear. Avoid it on public holidays as it can get very crowded. If you’re looking for a well-rounded option for your beach day, or if you go with kids, then this place is a good option.

Best Access to Bacalar’s Lagoon Through Beach Clubs

If you prefer more comfort for swimming in the lagoon, choose a beach club that provides you with chairs, beach lounges, drinks, and food. These options cost more, of course. Following is a list of recommended beach clubs.

Beach Club Blú

The entrance fee is 500 pesos (almost 30 USD), of which 250 pesos (15 USD) can be used for consumption. They have a restaurant, beach lounges with towels, and a DJ playing music – so if you prefer a more meditative day at the water, this might not be the best option for you:-) The water is clear, and you can see stromatolites close to the shore. Stromatolites are rock-like structures built up by bacteria; please don’t touch nor stand on these structures to not damage them. Beach Club Blú might be more expensive than other options, but it’s also less visited. It’s about 6 km from the city center, so you’d best take a taxi or your car (there are parking lots).

Bacalar Beach Club

The entrance fee for this beach club is 150 pesos (about 9 USD), which includes a rented kayak for 45 minutes so you can paddle to the Cenote Negro which isn’t far away from it. Or you pay 450 for a boat trip around the lagoon and have the entrance fee included. Towels cost extra (50 pesos – 3 USD). This beach club has a pool and beach lounges. The beach club is about 2 km from the city center.

El Búho Hotel & Lagoon Club

A hotel and beach club that provides access to the lagoon. It lies directly in between the Cenote Negro and the Cenote Esmeralda. You pay 300 pesos (18 USD) entry fee, of which 250 are for consumption in the Italian restaurant adjacent to it (with gluten-free options!). Relax on hammocks and beach lounges, or rent a kayak to explore the lagoon.

Best Access to Bacalar’s Lagoon Through Tours

Of course, you can also just take a tour to get a chance for a swim in the lagoon. Especially if you’re only for one day in Bacalar, you can combine exploring the lagoon by boat with taking a swim. Here are some recommendations.

Boat Trip around the Lagoon (with Swimming Opportunities)

The best way to understand why the lagoon is called „The Lagoon of 7 Colors “ is by boat. Various tour providers depart from different places in Bacalar. You can choose whether you want to go by pontoon (“pontón”) or by boat (“lancha”); the pontoon is more comfortable. The tour guide will let you swim at some of the stops for about 20 minutes. If you would like to spend more time at certain places, you might want to consider booking a private tour instead of a group tour. Check out my post on Best Things to Do in Bacalar.

Tour to Los Rápidos (Rapids)

Los Rápidos is a canal about 14 km from the city center. The current that flows through this natural canal flows a bit stronger, and you can just let yourself get carried along. Also, it’s a great spot to see stromatolites. Stromatolites are rock-like structures formed by bacteria that produce oxygen that are the oldest form of life on the planet. Please don’t touch or step on the stromatolites!

You can also go to Los Rápidos by yourself and just pay the entrance fee at the restaurant with the same name (“Los Rápidos de Bacalar”). However, the service hasn’t been the best, and going with an enthusiastic tour guide hoping for a tip is probably the better option:-)

Best Access to Bacalar’s Lagoon Through Staying at a Hotel at the Beachfront

Several hotels have private access to the lagoon. This is one of the most comfortable access options. When choosing your hotel, make sure to check how far the hotel is from the city center. The hotels closer to the city center often have a smaller access area to the lagoon. The hotels further away might have a larger beachfront area, but you need to take a taxi to get to the city center. However, if you can spend the whole day comfortably at the lagoon, you might not want to leave anyway:-)

Casa Aakal Lagoon Front

This hotel has private access to the lagoon and is only 3 blocks from the main square. So you have the best of two worlds at once! There’s an outdoor swimming pool, garden and terrace. But you can’t necessarily see the beachfront from your room.

Hotel CasaBakal – A pie de Laguna

This 5-star hotel has its own beachfront and access to the lagoon. It has an outdoor swimming pool, garden and terrace, and its own restaurant. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards for free, and there’s a spa center for massages and yoga. The only downside is that the city center is a bit further away, so you’d need a taxi to get there. However, you have all you need right there – the lagoon, activities, and tours starting close by.

Villas Ecotucan

If you love being in nature, this hotel is for you. It’s 5 km from the city center and each palm-roofed cabaña has its own terrace with a garden view. The hotel has a private pier to access the lagoon. The rooms are powered by solar panels. You can have breakfast at the hotel, and there are more restaurants within walking distance. The hotel offers activities like kayaking, bird watching, and a walk through the jungle.

How to Get There

Bacalar is about 3 hours from Tulum by car (210 km), or 5 hours from Cancún. The nearest airport is Chetumal, and then a 45-minute drive by car or taxi brings you to Bacalar.

Within Bacalar, you can get around using a taxi or by arriving in your rental car from the airport.

Want to Know More About Bacalar?

If you want to know more about the town of Bacalar, where to eat, and what to do – then check out my other blog about Bacalar here.