The ultimate guide to Bacalar with kids
- Admin
- May 6
- 6 min read
Updated: May 7
Bacalar, Mexico has been a little up and coming town over the past few years. It sits on the shores of the most beautiful lagoon; so beautiful it's called the "Maldives of Mexico". After visiting this little gem, I can attest that this name is well deserved. Even with years of Bacalar being high on my list of places to go, it still lived up to my high expectations, and even surpassed it in many ways.
The wild part is, this turquoise blue water you're seeing isn't the ocean! It's a lagoon with fresh water, which boggles my mind and makes my skin and hair quite happy (maybe an unpopular opinion, but I'm not the salt water type).
So are you ready to plan a trip to Bacalar with kids (hey, or even without)! Let's do it.
Is going to Bacalar with kids safe?
Things can happen anywhere, but, rest Bacalar is generally very safe. Leave any media-inspired negative preconcieved notions you may have about Mexico behind, because you won't need them here. Be respectful and don't do stupid things, and chances are you'll be more than fine.
How to get to Bacalar?
Bacalar is a stones throw from Belize, on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. You can get there from flying into the Cancun Airport, which is a major international hub and your best bet. You will have to rent a car or take an airport transfer about 4 hours away, passing through towns like Playa del Carmen and Tulum before you reach Bacalar.
There is also a newer airport outside of Tulum, which would cut your transfer time to only 2.5 hours. Flights are limited and also more expensive, but maybe one day this will be a better option.
Best hotels and where to stay in Bacalar
You can either stay in town, or on the lagoon. We booked last minute (literally as we were arriving to Bacalar), and upon seeing the town, we decided to save money and stay in the town. It was super cute, and I think I prefer it. I definitely got a more local vibe in a touristy place which is what my family prefers. We stayed at Tierra Maya,
Mid-range on the lagoon
Hotel Solana Bacalar (this hotel is very simple--more like glamping)
Luxury on the lagoon
Mid Range in town
Best Restaurants in Bacalar
The ambience in a lot of the restaurants in Bacalar was wonderful. I imagine that this is how Tulum used to be years ago: laid back, boho vibes.
Breakfast
El Manati Bacalar - This place is more than a restaurant. It has a beautiful dining area outside surrounded by trees and flowers, and we also had someone playing acoutic while we were there. Inside is an art galary with beautiful art from local artists. They also have a little area where kids can play which gives them bonus points in my book. I would say the food was just ok, but I would still recommend it because it was a peacful place.
Albahaca Breakfast - This restaurant is a few blocks from the main square. It was the only place I wanted to eat at because the reviews were amazing and the photos of the food made me drool. We saved breakfast here for the last morning and it just happened to be closed, so please go and tell me how it is! We ended up going just a block or 2 away to La Casa de Lauu. It also has a very local feel and the food was probably the best we had in Bacalar. I highly recommend!
Mexa - This little coffee cart doesn't sell food, but if you're looking for a coffee, this is your place. It's right in the main square and also has games and things to play while you're enjoying your coffee. I loved it.
Lunch and Dinner
Mr. Taco - You'll probably see this recommended in a lot of places. It's nicely decorated, chill, and the food comes out fast, so it's great if you're looking for something quick and casual. The food was ok--I thought the fish tacos were the best thing we ordered.
La Playalita - I think this is one of the more popular restaurants in Bacalar (judging by the amount of seating there was). This is the first restaurant we ate at in Bacalar, right when we arrived in the town. I love that it's right on the water--it's exactly what we wanted. I think I just ordered the wrong thing (why order Thai curry at a Mexican restaurant???), but the chicken burger was good and the desserts were actually pretty amazing.
Atlixco - Right off the main square is Atlixco, a very casual restaurant (similar vibes to Mr. Taco). I would just say the food is significantly better. My son had the Mexican burger which looked absurdly big, but he said it was amazing. I had the chicken burrito and enjoyed it. If you're looking for casual dining with decent food, I recommend this spot.
What to pack
Besides all the typical things you bring on vacation, I would make sure you bring proper sun protection for your whole body. You are not allowed to wear sunscreen in the lagoon, and the sun is STRONG. Bring hats and sunshirts for sure.
I wore this sunshirt the entire time I was in the lagoon in Bacalar. Make sure you bring sunshirts for the whole family.
This hat is a little nerdy, but it will help protect your child's face. I highly recommend a hat like this.
What to do in Bacalar
Los Rapidos - This was such a fun experience! Los Rapidos is a short section of the lagoon that is narrow and more like a river. Here are some tips and things you should know about visiting Los Rapidos:
It gets quite busy, so go right when it opens at 10am or towards the end of the day (it closes at 6)
They provide life jackets, but it would have been fun to just have tubes (even just simple ones like this), so I would recommend bringing some.
They have a restaurant there with mid food (although their onion rings were great). You can’t bring your own food in, so prepare accordingly.
Be very cautious of the stromatolites. Do not touch them and stay on the boardwalk. They are one of the oldest organisms in the world and also the reason why the water is so clear and blue.
You cannot wear sunscreen in the water, so bring hats and sunshirts to cover your body. I wore this sun shirt and cannot recommend it enough.
Have fun and enjoy!! It was such a fun thing to do with the kids, but it would have been equally fun with just adults.
Lagoon tour - You'll see people sell lagoon tours everywhere, and they typically go to the same places. You can book anywhere on the street, we booked ours through our hotel, or you could book ahead through Viator. You could also do a private tour if you prefer.
Sunrise paddle boarding - Sunrise paddleboarding is something I wanted to do, but didn't get a chance. It looks incredible, so I would definitely check it out!
Rent Kayaks - We rented kayaks the day after we did the boat tour because we wanted to do a little exploring ourselves. We especially wanted to enter the Canal de los Piratas which cannot be entered by any motorized boat, so basically we had the turquoise water and the Laguna Mariscal to ourselves. It was magical. There are many other areas of the lagoon to explore as well--just make sure you have the muscles for it!
Many hotels and restaurants rent kayaks on the lagoon.
Check out the town - People don't talk about the town enough in my opinion. Even if you're staying on the lagoon, make sure you make your way up to walk around the town, check out the shops and vendors, and enjoy the Zocolo (town square) at night. It's poppin!
I hope you enjoy your time in Bacalar! It's truly a magical place, and I do feel like it's rapidly growing, so check it out while it still has it's charm.
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