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Where is Bacalar Mexico located?

Are you ondering where Bacalar, Mexico is located? This guide includes Fun Facts about Bacalar and answers to frequently asked questions.

Bacalar, Mexico, is located in the southernmost part of the Yucatan Peninsula. It belongs to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, lying close to the borders of the nearby nation of Belize.

Cancun International Airport (CUN)  is where many tourists fly when they go to Bacalar, Mexico, but Chetumal International Airport (CTM) is the nearest airport.

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Bacalar, Mexico’s exact location is 18.68 latitude and -88.39 longitude.

Distance to Other Major Destinations:

DistanceEstimated travel time by car
Bacalar to Chetumal24 miles or 39 kilometersAbout 40 minutes
Bacalar to Tulum131 miles or 211 kilometersAbout 3 hours and 15 minutes
Bacalar to Playa del Carmen171 miles or 275 kilometersAbout 3 hours and 20 minutes
Bacalar to Cancun215 miles or 346 kilometersAbout 4 hours and 15 minutes
Where Is Bacalar Mexico Located

Universal Traveller recommends the following websites to plan & book your trip to Mexico

  • Check & book all available transportation options on GuateGo
  • Get Your Guide helps you find the best tours wherever you are heading to.

Where is Bacalar Mexico on the Map

Bacalar Fun Facts

1. Bacalar Mexico is known for its lake that shares the same name. Laguna Bacalar is fondly called “Lago de Los Siete Colores” or “The Lake of Seven Colors.” Does the lake have seven colors for it to be awarded such a nickname? The waters have different shades of blue, and upon looking, you might think that you are looking at an ocean.

2. The name Bacalar came from its original Mayan name, which is Siyan Ka’an Bakjalal. Siyan Ka’an means “the birth of heaven” while bʼak halal means “surrounded by reeds” in English.

Where Is Bacalar Mexico Located

3. Until 2011, Bacalar was part of the municipio of Othon P. Blanco in Quintana Roo. When Bacalar Mexico became a municipality in itself, Othon P. Blanco lost 40 percent of its territory.

4. In 2006, Bacalar Mexico was crowned as a “Pueblo Magico” by the Department of Tourism. The government gives this award to places that are regarded as national treasures. There are only 111 “Pueblos Magicos” in all of Mexico.

5. It is in Bacalar where you will find the “most ancient living being on the planet” – the stromatolites. These are living rocks that have been present on earth since thousands of millions of years ago.

Where Is Bacalar Mexico Located

Frequently Asked Questions about Bacalar Mexico

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How far is Bacalar from Cancun?

The distance between Bacalar and Cancun is 199 miles or 321 kilometers. 

How long is the drive from Cancun to Bacalar?

The drive from Cancun to Bacalar takes about four hours and 15 minutes. The driving distance between Cancun and Bacalar is 215 miles or 346 kilometers. While the drive might be pretty long, you will be thrilled to know that you will be passing by major tourist destinations such as Playa del Carmen and Tulum, so you might as well make an itinerary out of it.

How do I fly to Bacalar?

To reach Bacalar by airplane, you can fly into Chetumal International Airport (CTM) or Cancun International Airport (CUN). It all depends on your point of origin. If flights fly into Chetumal Airport, go for it because it is technically the nearer airport to Bacalar than Cancun.

Is Lake Bacalar saltwater?

No, Lake Bacalar is not saltwater. It is actually a freshwater lake. It is fed by the underwater springs, and this body of water has a strong enough pressure to prevent the saltwater from Chetumal Bay from coming in. The saltwater and freshwater collide at some point, giving the lake its famous blue tones.

Are there crocodiles in Bacalar?

Yes, there are crocodiles in Bacalar. This affirmative answer comes from the numerous instances you read online recalled by visitors of the Bacalar Lagoon. However, science would say that crocodiles are highly unlikely to thrive because Lake Bacalar is a freshwater lake.

Universal Traveller recommends the following websites to plan & book your trip to Mexico

  • Check & book all available transportation options on GuateGo
  • Get Your Guide helps you find the best tours wherever you are heading to.

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