While

While
many flock to Tulum for yoga retreats or to
Cancún for beach bars and nightlife, further south lies a small
corner of paradise as yet undiscovered by the Quintana Roo crowds.
Delve into Mexican culture as you wander round the area’s various
eateries and artisan stores, asking locals for tips as you go. Tear
your eyes away from the colourful street art to find the blue
lagoons and Mayan ruins awaiting you
just outside of the town centre. Bacalar is the tranquil – and
affordable – sanctuary you’ve been searching for.

Don’t miss…

Unlike neighbouring hotspots, this city’s inland location has
become one of its most alluring features. The area’s best-kept
secret, Lake Bacalar, is known locally as the Lagoon of Seven
Colours. Dazzling shades of azure, turquoise and jade create an
aura of calm, enticing sunbathers to paddle in the depths of this
freshwater lake. Give yourself an exfoliating facial with Lake
Bacalar’s mineral-filled mud or rent a jet ski to explore the rest
of this vast blue lagoon. If diving is your thing, don’t miss
nearby Cenote Azul and its illuminated underwater caves. Stranded
between endless blue water and forests of green, you will truly
feel like you’re in Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water (minus
the sea creature).

Who to take with you

A friend equally desperate for some time away from the
crowds.

When to go

Have the place to yourself between April and June, or visit mid-August to catch final dances and
parades of the Festival of San Joaquin de Bacalar.

Most likely to bump into…

Eager archaeologists searching for Mayan ruins. Nearby sites of
Kohunlich, Becan, Chicanna, Dzibanche and Chacchoben are popular
spots for explorers. Take a trip to Fuerte de San Felipe, an
18th-century fort-turned-museum that exhibits weapons and artefacts
with breathtaking views over the lake.

Essentials to bring with you

You won’t be able to tear your eyes away from the picturesque
lagoon, so protect them with big pair of big, dark sunglasses, Brigitte Bardot
style.

How to get there

Fly to Cancún International Airport and get a car transfer to
Bacalar. It’s a long trip, but it’s worth it.