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An entire information to tips on how to get to Bacalar, Mexico by bus, automotive, and airplane from most main vacationer hubs.
Wish to go to the attractive, vibrant city of Bacalar and the well-known “Lake of Seven Colors”? That is simply one of the crucial lovely nature spots on the Yucatan Peninsula, with impossibly clear cyan waters fed by underwater cenotes.
Attending to Bacalar may be very straightforward from most elements of the Yucatan Peninsula. There’s an ADO bus station on the town and several other buses a day.
You may also get to Bacalar from Belize by automotive, bus, and even ferry (through the border city of Chetumal).
Wherever you’re ranging from, you should use the drop-down contents menu under to leap to the part you want. Buen viaje!
The place is Bacalar?
Bacalar Lagoon is an enormous lake on the jap coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state. It’s about as far south as you’ll be able to go alongside the east coast of Mexico, proper by the border with Belize. A small city, additionally known as Bacalar, sits alongside the southwestern fringe of the lake.
Flying to Bacalar Mexico: Closest Airports
The closest airport to Bacalar is Chetumal Worldwide Airport, about 40 minutes drive away. This airport solely has one direct flight route, between Mexico Metropolis and Chetumal.
The closest main worldwide airports are in Cancun (4 hours) and Merida (4.5 hours). Each have direct flight connections to a wide range of nationwide and worldwide locations.
In the event you arrive into Chetumal Airport, a personal switch to Bacalar begins from $51.89 USD (click on right here to test newest costs). Alternatively, you’ll be able to head to Chetumal ADO bus station and take the bus to Bacalar. The journey is about 40 minutes and there are frequent departures all through the day.
The best way to Get from Cancun to Bacalar
Driving
Driving from Cancun to Bacalar may be very easy. Head out of the town and onto Freeway 307, then comply with this south all the way in which to Bacalar. The journey sometimes takes about 4 hours, however might be nearer to six hours when the site visitors is dangerous.
It’s fairly a simple journey, however I like to recommend utilizing a satnav to keep away from getting misplaced. The highway is kind of a straight line and there’s not a lot in the way in which of surroundings, however there are some good spots to cease off alongside the way in which if you wish to make a highway journey out of it.
You’ll be able to break the journey up by stopping alongside the Riviera Maya. The favored city of Tulum is sort of midway – recognized for its lovely white sandy seashores and Mayan ruins.
In the event you’re questioning how secure it’s to drive from Cancun to Bacalar, I’ve coated that close to the top of this put up.
Bus from Cancun to Bacalar
To get to Bacalar from Cancun, you can too take an ADO bus from Cancun Bus Station. The bus from Cancun takes about 6 hours and there are departures nearly each hour all through the day (from 6am to round midnight).
Tickets value round $500-600 MXN. If you buy them upfront on-line or through the ADO app they’re typically cheaper. Head to ADO.com.mx to test the bus instances to your journey date.
The ADO buses in Mexico are wonderful. They’re cozy, secure, and straightforward to e book. Buses are air-conditioned and have bogs on board, so you shouldn’t have any qualms about travelling by bus all through the Yucatan Peninsula.
The best way to Get from Cancun Airport to Bacalar
There aren’t any direct buses from Cancun Airport to Bacalar. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to simply take a bus from the airport to the Central Bus Station in downtown Cancun, from the place you’ll be able to then take a bus to Bacalar.
Buses run from Cancun Airport to downtown Cancun very steadily (there are at the least two buses an hour). The journey takes about an hour from T3 or 45 minutes from T2 and prices $110 MXN. The buses run from round 8am till midnight.
You should buy tickets from the ADO counter contained in the terminals, shortly after leaving the luggage declare space.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to take a taxi to the central bus station however that is MUCH costlier. You possibly can additionally pre-book a personal switch, which may be helpful in case you’re arriving late at night time. Click on right here to test switch costs and availability.
Desire to drive? You’ll be able to choose up a rental automotive at Cancun Airport and hit Freeway 307, as described within the part above.
The best way to Get to Bacalar from the Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen & Tulum)
The Cancun to Bacalar bus additionally calls at Playa del Carmen and Tulum alongside the way in which. So in case you’re heading to Bacalar from the Riviera Maya, head to certainly one of these two ADO stations.
Playa del Carmen to Bacalar
The ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar takes 4 hours and normally prices round between $400-500 MXN. There are a number of departures all through the day. From 7:40am, there’s roughly one bus an hour till about 7:30pm, with a few a lot earlier and later choices as effectively.
Keep in mind that buses go away from Playa del Carmen Alterna station (not the Turistica one).
If driving, it takes between 3-4 hours (relying on site visitors), following Freeway 307 all the way in which.
Tulum to Bacalar
The ADO bus from Tulum to Bacalar takes 2 hours 50 minutes and normally prices round $370 MXN. There are a number of departures all through the day, with roughly one an hour till about 9pm.
If driving, it normally takes round 2.5 hours (relying on site visitors), following Freeway 307 all the way in which.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to e book a personal switch between Bacalar and Tulum. These are costlier, however some have the choice to incorporate a 2-hour cease within the beautiful Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Click on right here for more information.
The best way to Get to Bacalar from Merida
You may also get to Bacalar from Merida by ADO bus. The bus takes about 5 hours and prices $630 MXN. You might be able to get tickets cheaper if you are going to buy them upfront.
Most buses go away from the Mérida Centro Histórico ADO station. On the time of writing, there are 5 departures a day, with the primary at 7:30am and the final at 6pm.
If driving, it normally takes 4 or 5 hours from Merida to Bacalar. The drive time from Merida Worldwide Airport is 4 hours 20 minutes in regular site visitors. It’s a reasonably easy drive, following freeway 184 to Polyuc, then the 293 till you attain freeway 307 which runs straight by means of the lakeside city.
If you’d like o break the journey up, you could possibly drive through Valladolid and/or Chichen Itza. The whole drive time for this route could be 6-7 hours relying on site visitors, so it’s longer. Nevertheless it’s value it for the possibility to spend an evening (or longer) within the lovely city of Valladolid and go to the well-known Mayan pyramids at close by Chichen Itza.
The best way to Get from Palenque to Bacalar
Over in Chiapas state, Palenque is just a little additional afield than a few of the different locations coated right here. The bus takes about 9 hours, and there are normally just one or two buses a day.
For some motive, the one choices out there are night time buses, arriving into Bacalar at both 2:40am or 4am. These buses are operated by AV, a sister firm of ADO, and normally aren’t fairly as good as ADO buses. They’re nonetheless cozy sufficient, however each instances I took this bus the AC was on tremendous sturdy and I used to be very chilly – so I like to recommend sporting lengthy pants and a sweater for the journey.
To drive from Palenque to Bacalar would take round 6 hours. Nevertheless, Chiapas state is taken into account much less secure for driving than Yucatan or Quintana Roo. In Chiapas, highway blockades might be fairly frequent when locals are protesting. Typically, these points solely have an effect on the highway between Palenque and San Cristobal (you’ll be able to learn extra right here) however you could need to search recommendation from locals earlier than planning to drive from Palenque to Bacalar or vice versa.
The best way to Get to Bacalar from Belize
For these travelling overland from Belize, Lake Bacalar is usually the primary port of name when arriving in Mexico. The border crossing is at close by Chetumal, so the lakeside city makes a logical (and delightful) first cease.
Bus
You’ll be able to take a bus from Belize Metropolis to Chetumal, then change for a bus to Bacalar.
There was an ADO bus from Belize Metropolis to Chetumal. It took 4 hours (together with immigration on the border) and price round $500 MXN. This was quickly suspended in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it’s unclear when it is going to begin working once more.
For some motive, this bus route has apparently by no means been proven on the ADO web site – so sadly, you’ll most likely have to move into the terminal to investigate whether it is working. If it’s not, there are a number of native bus corporations that may get you to Chetumal. They may be much less cozy than an ADO bus, however they’ll additionally value a bit much less.
In the event you’re coming from additional north in Belize, there are additionally buses from Corozal to Chetumal. These take round 45 minutes – primarily attributable to how lengthy the immigration course of takes.
Ferry
You may also get to Chetumal by ferry, or “water taxi”, from both Caye Caulker or San Pedro. Once more, from Chetumal you’ll be able to take a taxi or bus to Bacalar.
From Caye Caulker to Chetumal the boat takes 3 hours quarter-hour and prices $1400 MXN per individual. San Pedro to Chetumal takes an hour and a half and prices $1300 MXN. Try San Pedro Water Taxi for timings and ticket costs.
Driving
The drive from Belize Metropolis to Bacalar sometimes takes round 3 hours. You possibly can add in a cease on the Altun Ha Mayan ruins alongside the way in which to interrupt up the journey.
In the event you plan on driving from Belize to Bacalar (and elsewhere in Mexico), test that firm you hire the automotive from lets you take it into one other nation. In any other case, it could invalidate your insurance coverage.
Is it Protected to Drive from Cancun to Bacalar?
Quintana Roo state is among the most touristy elements of Mexico and customarily fairly secure.
Between Cancun and Bacalar, you’ll be following Freeway 307, which is a significant highway that’s typically in good situation. You might come throughout some potholes or different harm, so you should definitely control the highway always.
Between Tulum and Bacalar, the one fuel station is at Felipe Carrillo Puerto. So it’s a good suggestion to refill your tank in Tulum.
One drawback that, sadly, does exist includes the police. Apparently, they may often cease drivers and count on bribes earlier than they’ll allow them to go. I’m undecided precisely how frequent that is – it positively does occur however it additionally appears to be fairly uncommon. I’ve executed a number of highway journeys across the Yucatan Peninsula and by no means encountered this subject myself, and I definitely wouldn’t let it put me off driving.
You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the above – and get some helpful insider driving ideas – in this information to driving in Mexico.
The best way to Get to Bacalar from Additional Afield
In the event you’re coming to Bacalar from elsewhere, I like to recommend flying into one of many close by airports, then taking a bus.
From Mexico Metropolis, you’ll be able to fly on to Chetumal Airport, then take a bus, non-public switch, or drive to Bacalar (about 45 minutes).
From anyplace else, it’s best to have the ability to fly into Cancun or Merida, then both drive or take a bus to Bacalar (see above).
I hope you’ve discovered this information on tips on how to get to Bacalar helpful. If in case you have any questions, scroll down to depart a remark!
Learn Extra…
Bacalar Journey Information and FAQs
