Heather's Laguna Bacalar Trip Report: Nov. 28-Dec. 6

**Heather** · 12-08-2005

My boyfriend and I, along with our good friends Sara and Steve (of Playa Maya News fame) took a week and drove to Laguna Bacalar. Bacalar is a tiny little town about 3 hours or so south of Playa, located on a beautiful fresh water lake, nicknamed the "Lake of seven colors." The lake's colors change throughout the day, and I was only able to count 5 colors at any given time, but my eyesight's not so good, so I'll give 'em a break.

The town of Bacalar is very small and very, very sleepy, just what I needed. I've never been more relaxed or happy on a trip than I was in Bacalar. I truly enjoyed the silence.

This report will be heavy on photos and short on text, so if you get any questions, let me know and I'll post the answers on this thread. Hope you enjoy!

Here's Sara, loaded up in the van at 7.30 am, ready to take off. Notice the 3 cases of beer? Well, we had to buy a case of beer every single day we were there. The maids were astounded at the quantity of empty beer cans each morning (of course, I only had one or two) (really. I drank the vodka).

Since Santa Claus has such a hectic schedule ahead of him for the upcoming holiday season, we decided to let him come along:

First stop, the awesome Stop 'n Go in Tulum. Weirdly, they have all kinds of American snacks that can be difficult to find in other places:

Look what I found! Look what I found! Dr. Pepper AND Spicy Chex Mix!! (no Diet Dr. Pepper, however

):

About 3 hours later (or so), we finally pull up at our destination: Hotel Laguna Bacalar. I fell head over heels for this place, as I'm hard-wired to appreciate kitsch. Built in 1972 and with a single owner since that time, it is incredibly well-maintained. The design and whimsical touches totally remind me of American Route 66-ish motels and the sort of charming attractions that unfortunately don't exist any more in the US.

The four of us rented Bungalow #1, a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite that had a kitchenette with fridge, dining table and couch, and a good-sized patio with lounge chairs. We hung out on our patio quite a lot.

View of hotel grounds from the rooftop deck:

Pink, cement, hand-painted flamingos. Does lawn design get any better?

View straight ahead from our patio:

I think I could handle this view full time:

The swimming pool is filled with fresh water that is pumped in from the lake. Every few days, they drain the water, clean the pool, then refill it.

That's it for the first installment. More soon, but I suspect I better get some "real" work done before I'm on a permanent vacation. Hey...now there's an idea...

jx2 · 12-08-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

That's it for the first installment. More soon, but I suspect I better get some "real" work done before I'm on a permanent vacation. Hey...now there's an idea...

Excellent start I love photos

What's the matter Heather dont you want to be reached at Heather@Bacalarinfo.com

Andiline · 12-08-2005

More pics, more pics... pleeeeeeeeeez...

**sctx** · 12-08-2005

keep it coming Heather, Bacalar is one of our eventual side trips I keep planning and never make happen

Thor Henning · 12-08-2005

Great photos Heather!

Sara was our guide to Coba, August 2004 (great trip), and I met her at the post Hurricane peep meet in August 2005. Great girl! Give her a hug from me.

And a hug to you too.

myhappyplace2 · 12-08-2005

Looking at the inside of the van you guys sure know how to road trip. Great pics! More please

Jacko · 12-08-2005

Mucho kitsch! VERY "state road", non-expressway looking place! Looks like a great place! How's the fishing in the lake?

TnJ · 12-08-2005

Great pics Heather!!! - looks like relaxin fun!!. Tj

mckinzie · 12-08-2005

Nice pics Heather

angelhouston819 · 12-08-2005

glad you had a good vacation, Heather. thanks for posting!!

A'ndrea

vacationstar · 12-08-2005

Thanks for posting this. This is one of the places on my list to see "one day soon" but I didn't know anyone that had been there. I can't wait to see and hear more. That hotel looks like a great place to stay. My kind of hotel. I think its even the one on my list to stay at but then there aren't many options in that area from what I've read. Details on resturants and any side trips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Heather!

jflattracker · 12-08-2005

Awsome pictures! Looks like a great place to take a vaction! Can't wait to see more of your pictures!

roni · 12-08-2005

Heather,

Thank You!!! I look forward to more installments and to visiting the place someday

**james** · 12-08-2005

if Heather is as slow to follow-up on this as she was to return to work, you guys are in for a long wait.

cuffedlinks · 12-08-2005

Great report Heather...looking forward to more...!!

12-08-2005	#1 (permalink)
Heather Staff Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 9,042	Heather's Laguna Bacalar Trip Report: Nov. 28-Dec. 6 My boyfriend and I, along with our good friends Sara and Steve (of Playa Maya News fame) took a week and drove to Laguna Bacalar. Bacalar is a tiny little town about 3 hours or so south of Playa, located on a beautiful fresh water lake, nicknamed the "Lake of seven colors." The lake's colors change throughout the day, and I was only able to count 5 colors at any given time, but my eyesight's not so good, so I'll give 'em a break. The town of Bacalar is very small and very, very sleepy, just what I needed. I've never been more relaxed or happy on a trip than I was in Bacalar. I truly enjoyed the silence. This report will be heavy on photos and short on text, so if you get any questions, let me know and I'll post the answers on this thread. Hope you enjoy! Here's Sara, loaded up in the van at 7.30 am, ready to take off. Notice the 3 cases of beer? Well, we had to buy a case of beer every single day we were there. The maids were astounded at the quantity of empty beer cans each morning (of course, I only had one or two) (really. I drank the vodka). Since Santa Claus has such a hectic schedule ahead of him for the upcoming holiday season, we decided to let him come along: First stop, the awesome Stop 'n Go in Tulum. Weirdly, they have all kinds of American snacks that can be difficult to find in other places: Look what I found! Look what I found! Dr. Pepper AND Spicy Chex Mix!! (no Diet Dr. Pepper, however ): About 3 hours later (or so), we finally pull up at our destination: Hotel Laguna Bacalar. I fell head over heels for this place, as I'm hard-wired to appreciate kitsch. Built in 1972 and with a single owner since that time, it is incredibly well-maintained. The design and whimsical touches totally remind me of American Route 66-ish motels and the sort of charming attractions that unfortunately don't exist any more in the US. The four of us rented Bungalow #1, a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite that had a kitchenette with fridge, dining table and couch, and a good-sized patio with lounge chairs. We hung out on our patio quite a lot. View of hotel grounds from the rooftop deck: Pink, cement, hand-painted flamingos. Does lawn design get any better? View straight ahead from our patio: I think I could handle this view full time: The swimming pool is filled with fresh water that is pumped in from the lake. Every few days, they drain the water, clean the pool, then refill it. That's it for the first installment. More soon, but I suspect I better get some "real" work done before I'm on a permanent vacation. Hey...now there's an idea... __________________ Need a Villa or Condo?? Fill this out and let Caribe Sunrise find your perfect spot.

12-08-2005	#14 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,615	if Heather is as slow to follow-up on this as she was to return to work, you guys are in for a long wait. __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image! Thanks for taking the time to read the announcement!

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12-08-2005	#3 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 7,433	More pics, more pics... pleeeeeeeeeez...

12-08-2005	#4 (permalink)
sctx political anarchist Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Body in San Marcos Tx....Tankah in my mind Posts: 27,153	keep it coming Heather, Bacalar is one of our eventual side trips I keep planning and never make happen

12-08-2005	#5 (permalink)
Thor Henning añejo Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Drammen, Norway Posts: 3,268	Great photos Heather! Sara was our guide to Coba, August 2004 (great trip), and I met her at the post Hurricane peep meet in August 2005. Great girl! Give her a hug from me. And a hug to you too.

12-08-2005	#6 (permalink)
myhappyplace2 añejo Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The big D with some other kool peeps> Posts: 2,745	Looking at the inside of the van you guys sure know how to road trip. Great pics! More please

12-08-2005	#7 (permalink)
Jacko añejo Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 17,972	Mucho kitsch! VERY "state road", non-expressway looking place! Looks like a great place! How's the fishing in the lake?

12-08-2005	#8 (permalink)
TnJ añejo Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: vuelo corto al PDC Posts: 2,044	Great pics Heather!!! - looks like relaxin fun!!. Tj

12-08-2005	#9 (permalink)
mckinzie lightweight Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Highland Village,Tx (Kinz Standard Time) Posts: 13,551	Nice pics Heather

12-08-2005	#10 (permalink)
angelhouston819 añejo Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tyler, Texas Posts: 4,929	glad you had a good vacation, Heather. thanks for posting!! A'ndrea

12-08-2005	#11 (permalink)
vacationstar beachaholic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Maple Grove, MN Posts: 415	Thanks for posting this. This is one of the places on my list to see "one day soon" but I didn't know anyone that had been there. I can't wait to see and hear more. That hotel looks like a great place to stay. My kind of hotel. I think its even the one on my list to stay at but then there aren't many options in that area from what I've read. Details on resturants and any side trips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Heather!

12-08-2005	#12 (permalink)
jflattracker añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Loveland,Co Posts: 11,347	Awsome pictures! Looks like a great place to take a vaction! Can't wait to see more of your pictures!

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12-08-2005	#13 (permalink)
roni Happy Curmudgeon Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 25,466	Heather, Thank You!!! I look forward to more installments and to visiting the place someday

12-08-2005	#15 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 16,003	Great report Heather...looking forward to more...!!