For the first time in SwimTrek's 20-year history, we dive into Mexico's 'Lagoon of Seven Colours'…
In 2026, our Bacalar trip takes us to the 'Maldives of Mexico' - we stay in a town not far from the Belize border in southeastern Mexico. You will stay on the sunlit shore of Lake Bacalar, known as the ‘Lagoon of Seven Colours’ and host to the largest freshwater microbialite reef in the world.
Overview
The Bacalar lagoon is a must-visit for travelling swimmers and a bucket-list destination. Within the clear depths you will find calcareous mounds called ‘stromatolites’. These living fossils have existed for roughly 3.5 billion years and provide some of the earliest evidence of life on earth.
The multi-coloured lagoon is fed by an underground river, which flows from the world’s largest system of water caves and tunnels, snaking across the Yucatan Peninsula.
Not only will you enjoy spectacular lagoon swims, but you can escape the tourist trail to enter a forested landscape, split by rivers and dotted with water-filled cenotes. The cenotes were sacred sites to the ancient Maya - gateways to the underworld, often associated with the rain god, Chaac.
“You will stay on the sunlit shore of Lake Bacalar, known as the ‘Lagoon of Seven Colours’...”
Locations
Bacalar
During this trip, we stay in Mexico’s Quintana Roo region at Hotel Sur in the town of Bacalar. This charming town has been visited by traders and occupied since Pre-Columbian times. Once the region was populated by the Maya civilisation and Spanish Conquistadores took the ancient city, formerly known as ‘Sian Ka’an Bakhalal’, in 1543.
Xul-ha
The waterside town of Xul-ha thrives with a culinary scene enriched by its proximity to the Caribbean coast. Tourists emerge in crowds from the jungle and wade into the lagoon to swim freely in hues of turquoise and blue.
Trip Highlights
- Swim the freshwater ‘Lagoon of Seven Colours’ and peer goggle-eyed at the largest microbialite reef in the world
- Ride rapids that flow among ancient ‘stromatolites’, offering some of the earliest evidence of life on earth
- Out the water, take hikes into lush forests that surround your base at Hotel Sur and discover secret rivers, crystalline lagoons and water-filled cenotes
Things To Do
- Take a tour of the Fuerte de San Felipe - an 18th-century fort perched with views over the lagoon. Inside, you will find a small museum with an array of artefacts to uncover the region's colonial history and past entanglements with pirates.
- Wake early and take a sunrise paddle on the lagoon - aside from swimming, kayaking, sailing, and paddleboarding are all popular activities. Alternatively, you can join wellness sessions with meditation, breathwork and sound baths as sunlight peels over the lagoon.
- Boat tours depart to notable attractions like the cenotes: Esmeralda and Negro. You can also visit the narrow Pirate Canal that connects Bacalar Lagoon to the smaller Mariscal Lagoon - formerly used by pirates to gain entry to Bacalar.
Must Eat
There are many popular restaurants to choose from, like waterside La Playita with swinging hammocks and a menu of fresh seafood, catering for vegans as well. For breakfast, Enamora offers a delicious selection of omelettes, fresh fruit and French toast with garden views. You can also keep it simple at lunch with colourful food trucks handing out well-stuffed burritos for a quick refuel after you leave the water.
Must-Try Local Dishes
Here's a few picks from Bacalar's best-known eateries:
- Mouth-watering street food doesn't come much better than tacos al pastor dripping marinated pork, cooked vertically on a spit. This is often served with pineapple and cilantro.
- Tamales feature in traditional Mexican breakfasts, made with corn dough (masa) and a choice of ingredients: pork, chicken, or vegetables. All this is wrapped in maize husk and steamed to perfection.
- Mexican street food doesn’t come more flavourful than grill-charred elotes! Slather the grilled corn on the cob with mayonnaise and season it with chili powder and lime juice. Then add a few salty sprinkles of Cotija cheese and cilantro.
Drinks Of Choice
- For Bloody Mary fans, a refreshing michelada is a Mexican cocktail beer with Clamato (tomato juice and sugar) and lime juice. Add to this a blend of Worcestershire, soy, and hot sauces. Lime wedges can be used for the rim to hold salt, or salt mixed with chili powder if you want the extra kick. Tajin seasoning also brings additional lime flavouring.
- Soak up the tropical atmosphere with a zingy margarita cocktail made from lemongrass, basil, lime and mezcal. In Bacalar, these are served smooth and smoky with an edible flower on top.
- Light agua frescas are non-alcoholic thirst quenchers - a staple in Mexican cuisine, which is particularly popular in Bacalar. These are made simply from a mix of fruit, water, lime juice and a little sweetener.
Where We Stay
Hotel Sur
The 4-star Hotel Sur Bacalar is our base only a 10-minute drive away from Cenote Azul - one of Mexico's deepest cenotes. You can walk to the Mercado Municipal de Bacalar Market where local stalls offer fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and tortillas. The air-conditioned hotel rooms all have garden and pool views, kept private by leafy surrounds. Inside, you will find flat-screen TVs and bathrooms with both baths and showers.
“Our base [is] only a 10-minute drive away from Cenote Azul - one of Mexico's deepest cenotes...”
