Bacalar is a small town located 200 km south of Tulum, close to Belize’s border. Bacalar is known for its beautiful lagoon, known as the “Lake of Seven Colors” due to the various shades of blue and green that can be seen in the water. During our 2-week Yucatan road trip, we spent 3 days in Bacalar and stayed in the gorgeous Habitas Bacalar hotel. I loved it so much and I am quite sure it is the best hotel in Bacalar, so it deserves its own blog post! Here is everything you need to know about this incredible property.
WELCOME TO THE BEST HOTEL IN BACALAR!
After passing the unmarked gates of Habitas Bacalar, you are welcomed with a drink in a traditional thatched palapa for the check-in process. Once the formalities are done, one of the staff took us through a mindfulness ritual, inviting us to reflect on the positive in our lives and to leave all the negative behind to fully enjoy our stay in Habitas Bacalar. I thought that was very thoughtful and they wonderfully avoided falling into something gimmicky. Once the welcome ceremony is done, we hopped on a buggy and were driven through the forest to the main property. As soon as we arrived and I could see the blue lagoon peeking through the vegetation, I was sold, in love!
THE VIBE AT HABITAS BACALAR
The Habitas chain focuses on setting up luxury properties that are eco-friendly, blend with nature, and inspire holistic wellness. And this is exactly the vibe that you get in Habitas Bacalar: calm, relaxed, and disconnected.
Supporting their wellness vision there is a range of activities proposed during the day, such as yoga, guided meditation, sound healing, etc. If you feel like exploring the lagoon, you can also borrow the hotel’s complementary kayak and paddles. Because the hotel is located quite far from all other development, you have that part of the lake all to yourself. We did a bit of paddling in the morning, and it was so stunning to be all alone.
The hotel also organizes activities at an additional cost, such a temezcal ceremony, mezcal tasting, sailing tours, and sunrise stand-up paddling.
Finally, what would be a wellness oasis like Habitas Bacalar without a spa? I booked a full body massage and OMG I loved it! I am quite the regular at massages after many years living in Asia, so trust me when I say it was worth every $$.
All in all, it would be easy to spend a full week here, never leaving the premises!
The vibe in Habitas Bacalar is truly spectacular. The only 2 little things I would point out were the location of the yoga/meditation palapa, quite close to the bar (so not always as quiet as it could be), and the high price of the extra activities compared to the price you can pay with external tour/activities organizations.
THE ROOMS
All the bedrooms in Habitas Bacalar are similar: a 40 sqm, A-framed tented cabin with a thatched roof, spacious bathroom, and outdoor shower. The only difference is the location of the room, the ones directly facing the lagoon being the more premium choices.
In line with their ethos, the rooms are minimalistic with earthy interior decoration: a comfortable bed, chair, bean bag, small desk, and an open closet area. No TV, phone, coffee machine, or kettle. But who would want to stay in their room watching TV when they can watch the beautiful lagoon with a fresh cup of coffee or a cocktail all day?
The shower is outdoors and it is my absolute favorite thing! Oh no, I am lying, I loved the honey-infused shower gel and shampoo even more! Of course, no miniature plastic amenities here, the shower products are displayed in refillable full-size bottles. The focus on these small but important eco-friendly practices is really something I appreciate, and one of the reasons I think Habitas is one of the best hotel in Bacalar.
THE RESTAURANTS
Two places serve food at Habitas Bacalar. The 2-storey restaurant called Siete (seven in Spanish, a reference to the 7 shades of blue in the lake) and the lagoon-facing deck that offers a more limited menu.
After a sunrise dip in the lagoon, we loved taking our breakfast on the deck. Early morning the lake is completely smooth and particularly spectacular. The breakfast options are sophisticated, beautiful, and delicious! I loved the Coconut Chia Pudding and the French Toast (sweet tooth here!). We also gathered on the deck around sunset time, for some cocktails and snacks, while soaking up the tranquility of the end of day. To be honest, I could have spent the entire day on this deck … the view is so stunning.
Every night, after sunset, we had dinner at Siete. This cozy candle-lit restaurant serves creative dishes, focusing on locally sourced ingredients. They have great options for vegetarians and vegans, and a good list of wines too!
A FEW MORE INFOS ABOUT HABITAS BACALAR
- Unfortunately, the property is not suitable for people with limited mobility / in wheelchairs, as most of the constructions are elevated, ie. require a few steps to be reached.
- The mosquitoes are gonna come for you, especially in the evening on the deck. The hotel provides mosquito repellent, but you might want to take your own extra-strong one, bring some long pants, and keep some anti-itch cream handy.
- The lagoon is a very fragile ecosystem that needs to be protected. Therefore it is highly recommended to not use any sunscreen (even the “eco-friendly” ones). Bring some wet shirts if you don’t want to burn during boat trips, kayaking, paddle boarding, etc.
I can’t say it enough: we loved our stay in Habitas and I am confident it is the best hotel in Bacalar. If you are looking for a relaxing experience, trying to focus on your own physical or mental wellness, and want a beautiful base to explore the Bacalar lagoon (or on the contrary, stay in the whole day), Habitas is for you. Also, it is a great way to experience the Habitas hospitality at a slightly better rate than more popular (but equally stunning) locations such as Tulum or Alula. Of course, it is a five-star hotel, so there is a certain price tag to it, but it is worth every $!
HABITAS BACALAR – HOW TO GET THERE
Habitas Bacalar is located around 4 hour-drive south of Cancun International Airport, and 30 min from the Chetumal airport, The drive is straightforward and mostly highway. The hotel entrance itself stands on a big road, but is very discreetly indicated, so you will need your GPS to know where to stop! There is parking on site. If you are not driving, the hotel can arrange a pick-up/drop-off for an additional cost. For more details about driving / road tripping in Yucatan. you check my 2-week Yucatan road trip itinerary.
HABITAS BACALAR – WHEN TO VISIT
The best time to visit Bacalar is from November to February, when the weather is mostly warm and sunny, with average temperatures in the high 20°C and little chance of rain, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as swimming in the lagoon and exploring the area. March to June are also good months to visit Bacalar, but the average temperature rises well above 30°C. The winter months are of course peak tourist season, so accommodation and activities may be more crowded and expensive during this time.
June to November is the rainy season, so I would not recommend it if you want to explore the lagoon. But there could be a certain cozy charm in snuggling in the cabins, doing some yoga, and meditating while it rains outside if you are just in Habitas Bacalar for relaxing. Plus the showers are usually short-lived!
Have you ever been to Bacalar? Would you agree with me that Habitas has to be the best hotel in Bacalar? If you have other recommendations, please drop them in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!
Love, Emma
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