Although Bacalar might not be as big as other popular destinations in Mexico, it is still worthwhile. This town is steeped in ancient history, dating back to the times when Mayans roamed the earth. Despite no Mayan ruins in the town, this ancient civilization frequented it, influencing its growth and architecture.

Interestingly, Bacalar was also the first Mexican town to be conquered by the Spanish during the 16th century. The Spanish were the town's rulers until 1543, but there wasn't much of a reprieve for the locals when the town was later breached and looted in the 17th century by pirates who loved to use its lagoons to hide their ships. With pirates a threat for many years, Bacalar built the Fortress de San Felipe Bacalar, which you can visit today.

With such an intriguing and adventurous history, it's unsurprising that Bacalar is a town for adventurers, explorers, and wanderers. Designated as one of Mexico's most enchanting towns, it is worth adding to your Mexico travel bucket list, especially if you're in the mood for a friendly atmosphere, welcoming locals, beautiful crystalline waters, spectacular food, and cultural activities

You also need to make sure you plan enough time because you might want to stop and sightsee at places like Chikin Ha, a cenote surrounded by a lush jungle, and the astonishing Ruins of Chacchoben that date back to 200 BC.

Pack your swimsuit

During a trip from Cancun to Bacalar, you can expect to swim in some of the cleanest and warmest fresh waters in the Caribbean, so it's important to pack a swimsuit. Along the way, there are several spots you can make your way to when driving with Daytrip to have a quick swim.

We always recommend the Two Eyes Cenote if you want to experience a unique cave system swim, and Aktun Chen if you also want to explore one of the best underground walkways in the world.

Always carry cash

Bacalar and many of the towns like Tulum that you might stop at along the way are not as modern as other parts of the world. Shops, restaurants, and most markets and beachside kiosks don't often accept card payments.

For this reason it's crucial to have cash on you at all times. Not to mention it could come in handy if the ATMs go offline, which is often the case in Bacalar, so ask your Daytrip driver where best to draw out money before you hit the town.

Typically, a bus ticket between these two places costs about $8 to $55, depending on the bus line and when you travel. It's also worth noting that most of these buses offer daily trips, with only ADO offering trips between Cancun and Bacalar once hourly.

Additionally, amenities vary, and you may encounter stopovers and transfers. The average trip takes five hours and 40 minutes.

From Cancun to Bacalar by flight

You can get from Cancun to Bacalar by flight, but the flight won't take you all the way. If you fly, you must take the bus or a taxi to the Cancun Airport and then fly from it to Chetumal Airport. Once you've arrived at this airport, you must take a taxi to the Chetumal bus station and then a bus to Bacalar.

Not only is this time-consuming, with an average trip taking about seven and a half hours, but the costs can be astronomical, upwards of $900. It's just not worth it, especially if you're on a budget, since there are cheaper and faster ways to travel.

From Cancun to Bacalar by shuttle

Another popular option for travelers is to take a shuttle bus from Cancun to Bacalar. A few companies offer shuttles, but one of the most popular is Holbox Shuttle. Usually, a shuttle trip takes about five hours, but the downside is that it can be expensive, and you will likely encounter numerous stops when the shuttle picks up passengers along the way. The typical trip costs about $350.

From Cancun to Bacalar by private car service

Driving from Cancun to Bacalar is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to travel between the two places in Mexico. If you're looking for a door-to-door service with reputable drivers, luxury, well-maintained cars, and friendly service, look no further than Daytrip.

As one of the area's premier car service trip providers, Daytrip has a reputation for excellence. This private car service offers trips according to your travel schedule. Not only is your luggage taken care of, but you can also stop and sightsee along the way if you want to, and you can speak with your driver to get tips and insights about the areas.

Daytrip is also cheaper than flying or taking a shuttle with prices starting at $71. So what are you waiting for? Book with us today.

It's also the perfect spot for snorkeling, with plenty of fish to see and snap pictures of with your underwater camera. And if you're feeling really adventurous, you can book a scuba dive at Cenote Azul and explore its many underwater caverns that are shockingly 295 feet (90 meters) deep!

Bird Island

Nature lovers will definitely want to add Bird Island in Bacalar to their travel list. The town's bird island serves as a migration sanctuary for several species of exotic birds. So don't be surprised to glimpse everything from owls and hawks to parrots and larks when you visit this protected area.

Los Rapidos

You cannot visit Bacalar without swimming in Los Rapidos. Los Rapidos is a lagoon beach club situated on a narrow section of this beautiful lagoon of the same name. Swimming through this lagoon is relaxing and picturesque. You'll catch glimpses of the wildlife and get to view the stromatolites and mangroves that line the bank of the lagoon.

In addition, the lagoon's gentle current allows it to act as a lazy river if you want to lie back and let it carry you downstream. There is also a built-in walkway along the lagoon's shores, so you can easily return to the top for another float downstream.