Meet Bacalar
Bacalar in Mexico is known as the ‘Pueblo Magico’ to the locals; its awe-inspiring multicolored lagoon with seven shades of blue is what makes it worthy of such a title.
Bacalar in Mexico is most known for its ‘Lagoon of Seven Colors,’ and what a marvel it is. The lagoon is given its blue shades from seven deep natural wells called cenotes, which are dotted around the body of water. To see the lagoon during the day is an entirely different experience from seeing it at night due to the spectrum of colors the light reveals. There are plenty of water-related activities you can do once you’ve picked your jaw up off the floor and finished admiring this astonishing natural wonder. Aside from the lagoon, Bacalar is home to several impressive human-made structures, such as the coastal San Felipe fort, which was once used to defend the town’s shores from pirate invasions. Many Mayan ruins and history ooze from the city’s foundations and a museum to showcase some of the more impressive finds.
Where to live in Bacalar
Bacalar, Mexico, occupies just a small sliver of land in the state of Quintana Roo state, and as such, there aren’t a wealth of neighborhoods or places to live. There are some excellent options in the town, yes, but you should also be open to the idea of looking for property in the nearby cities too.
Best Neighborhoods in Bacalar
The best properties in Bacalar are those which offer up the best views over the lagoon, and there are some truly spectacular properties in the town. If you’re unable to find something within your price range in the town of Bacalar itself, it might be worth broadening your search to include other towns on the lagoon, such as nearby Buena Vista, for example.
Amazing Apartments, Coliving Spaces and More
We've been rounded up the best housing options in Bacalar. All are available on flexible terms, so you can stay one month or as long as you want
Quick Facts About Bacalar
Bacalar is a mystical Mayan marvel, boasting a vast lagoon of various shades of blue, but there’s a lot more to be discovered about this city. To help you get to know it better, here are some quick facts about Bacalar:The lagoon has seven shades of blue
It’s almost impossible to mention Bacalar without also alluding to the ‘Lagoon of Seven Colors’ in the same sentence. The 60km freshwater lagoon boasts seven different shades of blue due to its cenotes and is used to provide convenient access for pirates looking to plunder the rich coasts of Mexico.It has a coastal fort called San Felipe
No trip to Bacalar would be complete without a stop-off at the coastal fort San Felipe, which was once used to ward off pirate invasions. Defending the shores of Bacalar, this fort is well-preserved and has some excellent views of the surrounding area.There are Mayan ruins
The nearby Chancchoven Mayan ruins are well worth a visit for any history buff or even if you just have a vague interest in how this city came to be. It’s located in the middle of the Quintana Roo state jungle and is overrun with wildlife, making the pyramids all the more impressive.There is a history of piracy
There is a history of piracy in Bacalar and not the digital kind. During the 1700s, pirates would come from the Caribbean ocean and use the lagoon’s waterways to reach the shores of Bacalar.It’s part of the famous Riviera Maya
Mexico is a beautiful country full of world-class holiday resorts and stunning clear blue water along its coastlines. The Riviera Maya is one of the most famous tourist regions in the country, spanning the Caribbean coastline of the Quintana Roo state, and is home to Bacalar as well as many other popular destinations.Kayaking is a popular activity
Not only is the unique lagoon a sight to behold, but it is also a place to get the heart racing, too, should you feel adventurous. You can do a wide range of aquatic activities on the lagoon, including kayaking, and you can even do guided tours around the body of water.Cenote Azul for cavern diving
Cenote Azul looks like a large deep blue well of water in the earth, surrounded by trees. Within this well, you can go deep cavern diving and eat at the nearby restaurant for a truly unique dining experience.It was given the name ‘Pueblo Magico’
One Google Images search is all it takes to see why Bacalar was given the name ‘Pueblo Magico,’ or ‘Magic Town.’ This town is home to one of the earth’s true natural beauties in the lagoon, and due to its Caribbean coast, it seems like a real-life paradise.Work in Bacalar
While you might be hard-pressed to find employment in the town of Bacalar itself, due to its small size and lack of job opportunities other than those in the tourism sector, you might have to broaden your search to the whole Quintana Roo state. Within the state of Quintana Roo, some of the top employers are construction company Power Home Remodeling, hotel chain Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, and cinema exhibitor Cinepolis.
How good is Bacalar for Digital Nomads or Remote Work
Remote work is changing how the global workspace operates. In a trend that is showing no signs of slowing down, remote work is rapidly on the increase all around the world—especially in a place like Bacalar. And about 25% of remote workers describe themselves as digital nomads—those who like to travel or stay in cities around the world while they work. So, how good is Bacalar for both of these growing movements?
Average Internet Speed
Since there isn’t much data on Bacalar’s internet speeds, we’re going to go off the data for Cancun, another city in the Quintana Roo state. In Cancun, there is an average of 3.16Mbps download and 1.93Mbps upload speed.Work-friendly Coffee Shops
While the idea of remote work hasn’t yet reached this remote town, you can still set up in one of the local coffee shops to get some work done. Here are the top spots for working in Bacalar: Enamora Bacalar: Enamora Bacalar is the place to go if you need delicious fuel to kickstart your workday. This cafe has some of the best breakfast and lunch food around, so make sure to stop by if you need to do some afternoon work with a bite to eat. Madre Masa: Madre Masa is an excellent cafe-cum-bakery with amazing pastries and great coffee. There’s also outdoor seating, so you can feel the sun on your skin as you plug away at work. Yerbabuena Smoothie Bar: As you may have already assumed, Yerbabuena is more about delicious and healthy smoothies than coffee, but it does a great job at both. Come here for some long-lasting energy to get you through an arduous afternoon of work.Coworking Spaces
As we already mentioned, remote work hasn’t quite made it to Bacalar yet, but the good news is that there are some coworking spaces in nearby towns and cities. Here are the best reachable coworking spaces: NEST Coworking: Located on the Playa del Carmen of the Quintana Roo state is NEST Coworking. NEST offers various plans for using its spaces depending on what type of room you need and how many people you want to work with. COWORK-IN: Another coworking space on the Playa del Carmen with reliable internet and friendly customer service. It’s a great place to connect with like-minded people and network with other freelancers or digital nomads in the area. While neither of these coworking spaces is in Bacalar, they are in the state of Quintana Roo. Provided you have a means of transport; you should be able to reach a nearby coworking space without too much hassle.Suitable Level for Digital Nomads
While Bacalar might not be the best place for fast internet or remote work spaces, what it does offer is an idyllic way of life with a magical lagoon that will cast its spell over you and make you fall in love. Not only is there plenty to do in the town, but there’s also the potential to travel up and down the Playa del Carmen and Quintana Roo state, stopping off at all the popular spots along the way. The Caribbean coast of Mexico is renowned for its beauty, so if you’re looking to spend your days truly unwinding and disconnecting from work, then there are few better places to do so. If you live on the wild side, that’s fine too, as there are plenty of aquatic activities to get stuck into, like kayaking and cavern diving.Visa Requirements
For moving to Mexico, you will either need to obtain the Temporary Resident Visa or the Permanent Resident Visa. While both types of visas will allow you to live full-time in the country, there are different conditions to be met for each one. If you only plan on spending a period of 180 days in Mexico or less, then a passport is all you need, as there is no visa required. However, any longer than that and you will need to apply for a visa. To complete the visa process, you will have to produce several documents and meet the criteria listed for the specific visa you are applying for, which will revolve around how you intend to make money and other such matters.Food and Drink in Bacalar
There aren’t a lot of restaurants and bars in Bacalar, but still more than enough to find the perfect local. CATCH Marisqueria de Barrio is exactly the kind of casual eatery you’d expect to find in a magical holiday destination like Bacalar, with its unique beach bar vibe, typical Mexican bar food, and all the cocktails you can handle. Barbanegra Bacalar is an excellent restaurant with a distinct vibe and exquisite Mexican cuisine. Navieros Bacalar is a local restaurant that offers up huge portions of fresh seafood and giant cocktails to give you a taste of the exotic. For drinks, most of the bars and restaurants you go to in Bacalar will serve you up an array of cocktails and other refreshments due to the place’s coastal resort feel. For drinks and a bite to eat with a view, though, there’s nothing quite like Balneario Ejidal Magico Bacalar, which offers breathtaking views over the lagoon with its outdoor terrace. There’s also Cerveceria Bacalar, which serves up an exciting array of beers, and even offers up flights so you can taste a variety while overlooking the lagoon.
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