A four-hour drive from super-touristy Cancun, Our Habitas Bacalar feels like a world away from some of the overcrowded resorts on the Yucatan coast. A small town in the southeast of Mexico near the border of Belize, Bacalar is known for its beautiful lagoon, also called the Laguna de Siete Colores (the lagoon of seven colours). Our Habitas Bacalar is right next to the lagoon, meaning you’re never far away from incredible views.
A quick journey in a golf buggy gets you from reception down to the main part of the hotel, which is made up of 34 A-frame rooms. You can choose between a jungle room, a lagoon breeze room and a lagoon room.
We stayed in a lagoon room, which, as well as having beautiful views over the water, is also a prime spot for watching the sunrise if you don’t mind getting up a little early. Alternatively, you could also just pull the curtains open and watch it from your bed. The beds are big and comfy, and each room has an outdoor shower. You’re also given a biodegradable insect spray to try and fend off the mosquitos and midges. (You’re by a lake, after all.)
Winding paths connect the rooms to the decking area next to the lagoon, where you can grab a spot on a sunbed, or one of the four cabanas, if you’re lucky. This is also where you’ll find paddleboards, which you can use at any time (except for Wednesdays, as that’s a rest day for the lagoon), as well as the main bar, which is great for lunch and drinks. The hotel’s main restaurant, Siete, is set back from the lagoon, and serves up creative dishes that celebrate local produce—don’t miss the Campeche shrimp or the wood-fired Yucatan pork.
The hotel’s lakeside position means it’s a seriously picturesque spot, but the lagoon isn’t just pretty to look at. It’s also home to stromatolites, a special type of reef that’s incredibly rare and easily damaged. With that in mind, guests are encouraged to wear sun-protective clothing rather than sunscreen.
If lazing by the lagoon and swimming in its clear blue water waters isn’t enough to get you feeling zen, there’s also a spa where you can get everything from massages to mud wraps. For something more unusual, try the temazcal ceremony, an ancient ritual in a traditional sweat lodge. (Spoiler: it gets really hot, but that’s kind of the point.)
Bacalar still feels like a relatively under-the-radar spot—and Our Habitas is the ideal place to make the most of this brilliant location. If you don’t fancy the four-hour drive from Cancun, you may also be able to fly into the tiny airport in Chetumal, which is about 25 minutes away. However you get there, it’ll be worth the effort.
Neighbourhood
Part of what makes Our Habitas so special is that it’s out of the main town and isn’t surrounded by other hotels. That said, if you’re staying a few days, it’s worth taking a trip into Bacalar (it’s about 10 minutes in a cab) to mix it up.
Nearby
Los Rapidos: Take it easy and float down this ‘lazy river’—a narrow part of the lake that’s lined with mangroves and stromatolites and has a natural current, hence the name.
Mr Taco: If you’re in the mood for cheap, delicious tacos, this no-frills spot in Bacalar is the place to go. There are loads of options, but don’t miss the fish tacos.
Lake Bacalar: Obviously, you’re right next to the lagoon at Our Habitas, but it’s worth venturing further afield to explore it in more depth. The hotel offers boat trips and paddleboard tours (for an extra charge), or try one of the many boat operators closer to town, like DayTour Bacalar.
Time Out tip
Make the most of the free activities at Our Habitas Bacalar. The daily programme includes yoga classes, gong baths, meditation sessions, mezcal tastings, cinema screenings and more. You'll need to book certain activities, but for most of them, you can just turn up.