If you are looking for a quiet place with beautiful blue waters to take a break from your trip through Yucatan, Bacalar with kids is a fun stopover during your tour of Mexico. Bacalar has a beautiful lake where the water is no less than seven shades of blue. This is caused by the different depths in the water. It is beautiful to see, making you feel like you are in the Maldives for a moment. It is a nice place to check out for a while, but where you should not linger too long in our opinion. Especially with small kids, we found this place a little harder to entertain. Most people have seen it after two days here. In this blog, we list the best children’s activities in Bacalar.
Best travel time Bacalar with kids
The best travel months to visit Bacalar with kids are from November through May. This is the dry season in this area and this is when you are most likely to have sunny weather in Bacalar. Although temperatures are pleasant year-round in Bacalar (around 30 degrees), rainfall increases significantly during the remaining months. Of course, this can take some of the fun out of activities in Bacalar with kids.
Transportation to and in Bacalar
Bacalar itself is not very big if you stay in the center. It is then easy to walk everything. The accommodations on the other side of the main thoroughfare, often have a bike to borrow to get to the center of Bacalar. Be sure to check where exactly you are staying and what the options are with kids.
To travel to Bacalar, we recommend renting a car. This gives you just a little more freedom to go wherever you want with kids. We rented our car through Sunny Cars. We also had good experiences with this. Sunny Cars has an extensive insurance package and fine conditions.
For example, you can rent a car at Cancun airport or Playa del Carmen airport. These are the places where most tourists arrive by plane when they go on a tour of
From the city of Tulum it is a 2.5-hour drive to Bacalar and from Valladolid it is a 3.5-hour drive by rental car. You can also travel to Bacalar with kids by ADO bus and maya train. It is, of course, a possibility, but as we mentioned earlier, a car does give a bit of freedom with the family.
Children’s Activities Bacalar
#1 Swimming in the beautiful lake
When you are in Bacalar with kids, of course you must spend a day swimming in this beautiful blue lake. The water is nice in temperature and has beautifully clear water quality. Unfortunately, hotels have also found their spots at the lake and have already conquered many places on the shore. At these spots you can then only go swimming at the lake for a fee.
Where it is still free, however, is on the lake’s public dock:. Balneario Municipal El Aserradero. This is a short walk from the center of Bacalar and this spot is off Calle 14. There are also places outside Bacalar where you can swim for free at the lake, but we did not go there with the kids.
Be aware that in many places you cannot just walk into the water, but enter the water via a scaffold or steps. This is not always convenient with kids who do not have a swimming certificate. Tip: check our sleep accommodation in Bacalar (heading family-friendly hotel Bacalar) for free water access to the lake at a hotel.
#2 Boat ride on the lake
If you are in Bacalar with your kids, of course you want to see the natural beauty of the seven shades in the lagoon. The best way to experience this is by taking a boat trip across the lake. You have different types of boat tours in different price ranges. Because of this, there is a boat tour available for everyone’s budget.
You can think of anything from a shared motorboat to a private sailboat with refreshments and bubbles at sunset. The shared boats stop at fixed spots where everyone can jump out of the boat with their life jackets on. In some places, swimming is not allowed due to the protection and sacred nature of the area.
Examples of these types of boat tours are the 3-hour boat tour of Lake Bacalar or the 3-hour sailing tour of Lake Bacalar. Please note that on Wednesdays the lake is “closed” to boats, kayaks and SUP boards. They do this to allow the lake to recover. It is then possible to go swimming with kids at the lake.
#3 Canoeing or supping on the lake
Would you rather be active with your family in Bacalar? Then it is a nice idea to go canoeing or supping on the lake. This also gives you the freedom to stay on the lake for as long as you want and you won’t be dependent on a tour, for example. Fun stops at Lake Bacalar are:
- El Canal de los Pirates: this is a pirate route in the earlier years with shallow, clear water.
- Bird Island: this is a small island that is home to many species of birds.
- Cenote Negro: This is a cenote under the water which provides a dark blue color.
For the truly adventurous, multi-day kayaking trips are also available, where you stay overnight in tents along the shores of the lagoon. In the evening you can enjoy a beautiful starry sky by your tent. This is especially an activity you can possibly do with kids who are a little older.
#4 Los Rapidos – Drift snorkeling
You can also go drift snorkeling in Bacalar with kids. For this outing you will need a car or a cab ride to the destination Los Rapidos. Here you can let a natural rapids push you along the river. All you have to do is lie down with your goggles, snorkel and life jacket on and the river will do the work for you.
At the end of the rapids, you can walk back to the starting point via the constructed jetty. Here you can still enjoy a drink, a dip in the water, or rent a canoe to further explore the area.
Note that during your route in the water you will encounter very old stromatolites. These are large white/beige-like living fossils that produce a significant amount of oxygen. Unfortunately, there are only a few places left worldwide where these types of living fossils occur. Therefore, do not touch them and help preserve nature.
Sunburn also damages the stromatolites. You can then put the kids in swimwear, for example, to prevent sunburn.
#5 The central square
In Mexico, there is always something going on in the central square of the place where you are at the time. In Bacalar you will find cozy stores and restaurants in the center, and even a fort that you can walk around. For us, though, with our little kids, the highlight was the fun playground in the center of Bacalar.
The central plaza was the perfect place to spend some time in the shade while our kids played among the Mexican kids who were also enjoying themselves to the fullest. Towards evening, the plaza will also have nice stalls with souvenirs and Mexican snacks to try.
Family-friendly restaurant Bacalar
There are plenty of places to eat with your kids in Bacalar. One place we really liked and came across by chance was Chiltepín Marisquillos Bacalar. It is located just a bit outside the center, but is really worth it. Here you can eat delicious fresh fish, but also plenty of other things for those who do not like fish.
The food here is delicious, but the cocktails are also well made here. Meanwhile, the kids can enjoy the pool or the small playground.
If you’re really tired of tacos and tortillas for a while and just feel like a nice bite to eat, we have a nice food stall for you. The food stall does not open until 7 p.m., but Mexicans even line up here after their workday. So that means good food and nice prices. Most of the food here is taken out, but you can also eat at a table and get your drinks at the supermarket next door.
We enjoyed a burger and the most delicious well-fried fries in Mexico here. Located just outside the center, the stall is in front of the supermarket (Mini Super Allia) at the intersection of Adolfo López Mateos and Calle 10.
Family-friendly hotel Bacalar
We stayed with our family in Bacalar at Hotel Alux. This is a clean hotel with spacious rooms. The room we booked had nice beds, Netflix on the television and a jacuzzi on the roof. This hotel is a subsidiary of Hotel Aluxes which is a beautiful hotel and which is located on the lagoon. The advantage is that you can use their entrance to the waterfront for free.
They have built jetties there with nice lounging areas, swings and a small slide. It is nice to spend some time here with the kids and possibly have a bite to eat. Check online for more information about Hotel Alux.
Of course, besides Hotel Alux, there are other accommodations where you can stay in Bacalar with kids. We list some of these family-friendly accommodations in Bacalar. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodation: Hotel Sur Bacalar
Mid-range accommodation: Royal Palm Bacalar Cabañas & Lagoon Club
Luxury Accommodation: Azulea Bacalar Hotel & Spa – Lagoon Front
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Bacalar.
