BACALAR + MAHAHUAL, MEXICO
Anything with a *, I highly recommend.
Bacalar:
Getting there:
We flew into Chetumal International Airport and rented a car. It was about a 40 minute drive to our hotel. Lake Bacalar, also known as The Lake of Seven Colors. It’s fresh water and the water color is absolutely stunning, it almost feels like you’re at the ocean.
Where we stayed:
Casabakal* - Located right on the lake, a little south from the town center. There was a pool and they also had paddle boards and kayaks available which we used to explore the lake. Highly recommend. Rooms were clean, spacious and comfortable.
Where we ate and drank:
Casabakal* - The restaurant at our hotel was great, so we did have several meals there. Shrimp tacos, shrimp cocktail, veggie burrito, chilaquiles, caprese omelette, tikin-xic style fish, hibiscus taco, veggie burger, seared tuna taco.
La Playita* - Short walk towards town from Casabakal. Really food. Organic flatbread, papas brava, corn salad with shrimp.
Barbanegra* - Really cool spot in town with GREAT tacos and drinks. Cauliflower taco, el pastor taco, fish taco, classic margarita, spicy margarita.
What we did:
Used the kayaks and paddle boards at the hotel to explore the lake. Highly recommend. Even out in the middle of the lake
Mahahual:
Getting there:
It took us about an hour and half to drive to Mahahual from Casabakal in Bacalar. Pretty easy drive.
Where we stayed:
Almaplena Beach Resort - On paper this place looked and sounded amazing. The property was nice and the rooms were spacious, however there is NOTHING else around (about 30 minutes from the actual town of Mahahual), which would have been fine, but the food at the restaurant wasn’t that great and the service was very ‘meh.’ At the time we were there, the beach was covered in seaweed so swimming wasn’t really an option. We only stayed for one night and found somewhere else to stay further up the coast and in the town of Mahahual.
Noah Beach Hotel & Suites* - MUCH better than Almaplena. On the southern end of town, right across the walkway from the beach and the rooms were great.
Where we ate and drank:
Almaplena Beach Resort - Shrimp tacos, shrimp + zucchini pasta, seafood risotto, pescado italiano, spaghetti bolognese and margaritas. All just ok.
Panderia La Tarteleria - Grabbed a coffee and a pastry for breakfast.
Blue Kay Beach Resort - Chicken taco, chicken burrito. Both were just ok.
Malecon 21 Beach Club* - The restaurant at Noah Beach Hotel & Suites. Everything we had was so good, we ended up eating most of our meals here. Drinks were also great. Bis de mar, seafood pasta, pork tacos, eggs Benedict, chilaquiles, tacos caribe, margaritas, spicy mango margaritas, pineapple mezcal sour, Malecon 21.
40 Cañones - Palomas
What we did:
We rented bikes and cruised down the beach. There is a “road” (not for cars, just walking and for bikes) the separates the beach from the hotels, etc. We rode north up to the cruise ship terminal (Costa Maya) and did some exploring.