Bacalar or Holbox? Which is better?

Both Bacalar and Isla Holbox are top spots adjacent to the Rivier Maya in Mexico. Both of these places are probably not your whole vacation plan, but rather part of the places you will visit when you are in the Riviera Maya or Quintana Roo State. It also might be a good weekend trip to one of these areas if you are new to living here. So, what are the differences between the two? Which one is better? We will break it down for you and make some recommendations. First, we will describe the two and mention what they have to offer. 

What is Bacalar all about?

Bacalar (refers to the whole area and lake) is the second largest lake in Mexico, but it is unlike any lake you are familiar with. Lake Bacalar (or Laguna Bacalar) is a long, narrow freshwater lake in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico near Mexico’s border with Belize. It is approximately 60km (37 miles) long measured from north to south, and 2km (1.2 miles) at its widest. It is filled with unground fresh water and is actually not that deep. The limestone and sand bottom make the lake look like a turquoise ocean rather than a lake. The different depths and bottom of the lake make it appear many shades of blue. That is how Bacalar got the nickname, the lake of 7 colors. 

Because of the size and the beautiful turquoise colors, people have been making this a weekend getaway for decades. It is also a stopover for people coming or going to Belize (since it is close to the Mexico-Belize border). There is one main town, called (you guessed it) Bacalar. The town feels like there is only a few thousand people but is home to over 12,000 people. 

The main activity in Bacalar is the lake and water-based attractions. There are however incredible Mayan ruins nearby that make for 1/2 day and day trips. 

In the past 7 years or so, this area has seen a slow trendy upward swing. It is nice to see this is not going gangbusters like the growth in Tulum. Bacalar has been adding chill boutique hotels, gourmet restaurants, and local artisan galleries and shops. Most of which are respecting the delicate natural beauty of the area. 

What is Holbox like?

Isla Holbox is a small narrow island at the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is well known for beautiful shallow beaches and a laidback atmosphere where people drive golf carts around on sand streets. It is removed from mass tourism because it is a little harder to get to and it takes about 3 hours to get to from most large population centers.

Over the years, Holbox (as it is known locally), has become trendier and even though the old cinderblock hotels have tuned into trendy chic Tulum style hotels, it still retains most of its charm. Holbox is home to about 1,900 people and people visiting often can double the population. 

Holbox offers a handful of eco tours but mainly is about the beach and relaxing on the island with dinners in town at unique restaurants that are not chains or over commercialized places. 

What does Bacalar have that Holbox does not have?

• Bacalar is a little more accessible than Holbox. It is connected to the Riviera Maya by the 307 Highway, ADO buses, and the Tren Maya. 
• Hotels in both locations can be upscale, but Bacalar does have a wider price range and more budget options. 
• Since Bacalar is a lake, it never has sargassum. 
• Both the town of Bacalar and the area is larger than Holbox. This gives a chance to offer more services and a little more options for people visiting. It also is a little cheaper since this is not an island and there is a working town there where locals need to shop as well. 
• Besides being a tourist driven economy, there is a lot of agriculture in the area of Bacalar. Ther area is more fertile than many parts further north on the Yucatan Peninsula. 

What does Holbox have that Bacalar does not have?

• Holbox offers beaches. Most of the water is very shallow on the beach side. You can walk out a few hundred feet and only have water up to your knees in some places. Holbox often is seaweed free when other beaches in the Riviera Maya have sargassum. 
• The entire visitable part of Holbox is more compact. There is the main town and parts west and east of it with hotels.  The main area covers about 2.5 km of beach front with a total of about 5.5 km in length. 
• There is a small noncommercial airport on Holbox. This is used for charter flights that are up to 12 people. 
• The streets of Holbox are a little more densely populated with tourists’ shops, restaurants and places to stay. 

What are our recommendations for visiting Holbox and Bacalar?

Both destinations are well worth a visit and offer a connection to the unique natural landscape where they existe. Since both Bacalar and Holbox are about 5 1/2 hours apart, any person coming to the area for a week to week and a half probably will not include both locations in one vacation. So, you will have to decides between Holbox and Bacalar which is best for you. Here is where we hope to be able to help you. 

Visiting Bacalar

Bacalar is nice for about 3-4 days. There are no “beaches” on the lagoon, so it is more about hotels with docks and taking a boat across the lake to the pirate canal which is a famous swimming area. Hotel selection is important in Bacalar. If you are doing a budget trip, staying in the center will give you walkability to most restaurants and attractions. If you intend on staying for a longer than a few days, you will want a hotel that offers a nice place to rest and relax. 

Since there is not a ton of things to do in the town of Bacalar, booking a tour or having a rental car is good to do. There are some nice nature tours offered around the lake, and other parts of the lake that are especially beautiful. The other main attractions are Mayan ruins. Most of these get only a few hundred visitors per day, if that. You will probably want to include a day trip or two to these Mayan ruins:

• Kohunlich. These ruins are 65km from Bacalar and are famous because there are large stucco masks of the sun god on the face of a pyramid.  
• Dzibanché & Kinichná.  These ruins are 85km (1.5 hours from Bacalar). There is not as much noteworthy that makes these ruins different, but still good examples and nice setting to walk around. 
• Chacchoben. These ruins are 50km north fo Bacalar on the 307 Highway (about 45 minutes).  This is a decent size example of a Mayan city. There are bus tour groups that come here from the nearby cruise port of Mahahual. So, if you plan to go to these ruins, check the cruise ship schedule so you are not sharing the experience with hundreds of other people. 
• Ichkabal. These are the latest ruins to open in the area. they have been in restoration for the past two decades. These ruins are older and larger than Chichen Itza. These ruins are 40km west of Bacalar.
• Calakmul. 3.5 hours west of Bacalar. These ruins are buried deep in the jungle, and you are sure to see and hear some wild animals when visiting here. The two main temples (pyramids) are some of the tallest in the Maya world 45 meters (148 feet). 

Visiting Holbox

If you want to get away from mass tourism and have a relaxing beach vacation, Holbox is right up your alley. An overnight trip does not do it justice, and you do need a few days at least to fall into the vibe of the island. Some people stay here for a week, usually at a hotel that offers services like meals. If the weather is rainy, you will find there is not much to do except walk in the rain and go out to eat. If you want a relaxed vacation, 3-7 days is a good amount of time to spend on Isla Holbox. 

Since you have to arrive by ferry, you are not going to want to go the mainland to go see something and then come back to the island at the end of the day. There are a few tours on Holbox like the three points tour, swimming with the whale sharks, and visiting on the points and snorkeling. 

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Mr.Yucatan

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