How to experience the best of Central America in 50 days solo and overland – Stop 16 Bacalar, Mexico

5-6th April 2024  It wasn’t my plan to go to Mexico but here I was, on a boat from the island of Caye Caulker in Belize straight to Chetumal, a coastal town just across the border. I then walked for more than half an hour to the bus station and took another hour for the bus to arrive at Bacalar in Mexico.   

Bacalar, what a monumental surprise; a place I had not read about before coming and had not planned to come. When I ventured out to see the waterfront on the first morning, I was stunned by the colors of the water. The water displayed an array of hues: turquoise, green, blue, crystal clear, and subtle variances of these colors. Twenty meters from the shore, people stood waist-deep, frolicking in the water. Piers at different spots extended from the shoreline for boats to call, and for the people to be out in the lagoon. Near the shore, the white sand beneath the water sparkled, making the water crystal clear. As I walked from Calle 1 to 31, whether by the shoreline or atop a nearby hill, the mesmerizing colors stretched for kilometers. Regrettably, some spots remained inaccessible due to private ownership, leaving me yearning for more.  

Bacalar is undeniably one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world. You do not have to be in the water to enjoy it. It is so magical you want it to cast its spells on you.

My original plan was to see Central America, starting from Panama in the south to Belize in the north, then go from there to the Caribbean islands. After arriving in Belize, I still had not found a good way to go to the Caribbean islands. I thought I would go to Cancun to see if there may be cruises departing there for the numerous Caribbean islands. It looks now to be unfeasible. After more than 50 days on the trot, this trip around Central America will end here. The Caribbean islands will have to wait. The consolation is I get to go home to lick my wounds, and then plan my next assaults. I will not be discontinued. The stories will continue.

Click here to start from Stop 1 – Stop 16 of this trip: How to experience the best of Central America in 50 days solo and overland, and other trips