If you're staying in downtown Tulum and want a day that's different from beach and ruins, Bacalar is the getaway most people recommend, and for good reason. Its lagoon, known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors, has water so clear and with so many shades of turquoise that it looks edited. The catch is that it's far: about two hours each way. It's not a twenty-minute hop like a nearby cenote, so it pays to plan ahead. In this guide we'll walk you through how to get there, what to do, and when it makes sense to spend the night.
Is it worth going to Bacalar from Tulum?
Honest answer: yes, but with clear expectations. Bacalar is a quiet town, genuinely magical, without Tulum's party scene or its hotel-zone prices. The lagoon water is out of this world. The downside is the distance: four hours round trip eats up a good chunk of the day. If you leave late, you arrive tired, get two or three hours at the lagoon, and head back in the dark. That's why our advice is simple: either leave very early (before 7 a.m.) or stay the night. One night in Bacalar completely changes the experience: you get to see the sunrise over the lagoon, which is about as beautiful as it gets.
How to get from Tulum to Bacalar
There are three main ways to get there, each with its own price and comfort trade-offs. All of them run along federal highway 307 toward Chetumal, a straight, well-maintained road that's easy to drive.
| Method | Approx. time | Approx. cost (MXN, per person) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental / own car | ~2 h | $400-600 in gas round trip (split among passengers) | The most flexible option; ideal for groups of 3-4 |
| ADO bus | ~2.5-3 h | $250-450 one way | Comfortable and safe; fixed schedules, book ahead |
| Colectivo / shared van | ~2.5 h | $150-250 one way | Cheapest option; frequent departures from the downtown stop |
| Organized tour | Full day | $900-1,600 including transport and boat tour | Everything handled for you, but less schedule freedom |
If you're traveling as a group, a car is almost always the better deal: you split the gas and set your own schedule. If you're traveling solo or as a couple and don't want to drive, ADO is the safest, most relaxed option. The colectivo is the cheapest and leaves frequently from downtown Tulum.
Getting around Tulum to catch your transportation
A practical detail that trips up almost everyone who arrives: in Tulum, Uber and Didi don't work. The app that does operate is InDrive, where you propose the fare and a driver accepts it; it's the cheapest way to get around town. There are also taxis, but they tend to charge more and don't use a meter, so agree on the price before getting in.
For colectivos and vans, the departure point is the stop next to the Super AKI, on the main avenue downtown. That's where you'll find the combis heading south; ask for the ones going to Bacalar or Chetumal (Bacalar comes before Chetumal). Get there early to grab a spot. If you're staying downtown, all of this is within walking distance, which is another advantage of basing yourself there instead of on the hotel-zone road. If you want to get oriented before heading out, check out our guide to downtown Tulum.
What to do in Bacalar
The star of the show is the lagoon, and the best way to experience it is from the water. Here are the activities worth every peso:
- Boat or sailboat tour: the classic. A two-to-three-hour ride takes you through the lagoon's different shades of blue, with stops for swimming. It runs about $350-600 per person on a shared boat; the sailboat is pricier but quiet and gentler on the water.
- Cenote Azul: right on the edge of the lagoon, this is a deep cenote with dark, cold water, perfect for jumping off the dock. Entry is around $50-80.
- Pirates' Channel: a narrow stretch of shallow water and white sand where boats used to pass through. Note: it's protected today, and in several seasons you're not allowed to touch the bottom, so as not to damage the stromatolites.
- Fort San Felipe: an 18th-century fortress built to defend against pirates, with a museum and a view of the lagoon. Cheap admission, good for a bit of history.
- Swim spots and kayak/paddle: there are public and private swim spots where you can rent a kayak or paddle board (around $150-250 per hour) and paddle around on your own at sunrise, when the water is like a mirror.
Take care of the lagoon: it's fragile
Bacalar isn't a swimming pool; it's a living ecosystem. At the bottom there are stromatolites, some of the oldest life forms on the planet, and ordinary sunscreens and oils damage them. So please use only biodegradable sunscreen (free of oxybenzone and octinoxate), skip creams and repellents before getting in the water, and stay out of the marked zones. The lagoon has already suffered from careless tourism; keeping it beautiful is on all of us.
Your ideal home base: downtown Tulum
Bacalar makes a perfect day trip, but most travelers do it as a there-and-back and return to sleep in Tulum. Basing yourself in downtown Tulum gives you the best of both worlds: you can walk to the colectivo stop, you've got supermarkets, local restaurants, and reasonable prices, and you're close to everything else on your itinerary. At Hacienda Tuk we rent a boutique two-bedroom apartment with a pool right in the heart of downtown, ideal for groups or families who want to leave early for Bacalar and come back to somewhere comfortable. Check out everything nearby in our guide to what to do in Tulum and cenotes, ruins, and beach near downtown, or check availability directly at rentarentulum.com.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from Tulum to Bacalar?
About two hours by car on federal highway 307. By ADO bus or colectivo it can take between 2.5 and 3 hours depending on stops. Plan on roughly four to five hours of travel for the round trip.
Can you visit Bacalar in a single day from Tulum?
Yes, but it's best to leave very early, before 7 a.m., so you have enough time at the lagoon and don't head back in the dark. If you can, staying one night makes the experience much better and lets you catch the sunrise.
Do Uber or Didi work in Tulum to reach the transportation?
No, Uber and Didi don't operate in Tulum. InDrive does work, where you propose your own fare, and there are also taxis (agree on the price beforehand). The colectivos to Bacalar leave from the stop next to the Super AKI, downtown.
What's the best thing to do in Bacalar?
The boat or sailboat ride around the Lagoon of Seven Colors is a must. Add to that Cenote Azul, the Pirates' Channel, Fort San Felipe, and renting a kayak or paddleboard at sunrise.
What sunscreen should I use at the lagoon?
Only biodegradable sunscreen, free of oxybenzone and octinoxate. The lagoon is home to extremely fragile stromatolites, so avoid creams and oils before getting in the water and respect the protected areas.