Bacalar with two small kids
Looking for rest after the prior weekend’s busy exploration trip in the busy Merida city, we decided on a last minute trip to Bacalar. The husband has been dreaming of going ever since we moved to Mexico and even found what appeared to be a luxurious hotel. Availability of the hotel and dog walker all worked out magically and so we left.
The drive was about 3.5 hours from Playa del Carmen and half of it was in the dark - a big no no for us, but nothing was stopping us! Arriving to Mia Bacalar around 8pm, we were greeted with friendly security and hotel staff.
The rooms were designed sort of like glamping- super modern cabins in a forest feel, but its Mexico, so more like jungle haha. About half were were standalone units and the other half, were two floor - one unit on bottom with the other unit on top. We had a second floor unit. Perfect for us - we appreciate the extra security a second floor provides.
The next day, we ventured on a boat tour and OH MAN. This is probably the most beautiful place on earth. Shhhhh dont tell anyone!! The mangroves, in the aqua-green blue water, nature, still, quiet. Not sure what else can be more beautiful! The most beautiful water our family has seen in real life. It was magical and inspiring and gave me a hunger to stay there forever (real estate anyone? .. maybe).
Bacalar feels like a safe haven with smiling locales and calm life. A
The center of the town (8 minute drive from our hotel) brings you fantastic restaurants. We only went to one, Waah, inside of another hotel) for dinner one night and lunch on our last day. They promote their self sustainable practices and true farm to table food with animals and produce raised with love - the old school way. While the restaurant is kid friendly and certainly the staff are - and we cant wait to eat there again when we return back to Bacalar, the hotel itself has some intense cliffs/edges.
The review of the hotel, Mia Bacalar
The room was outstanding. Dirty floor, inside and out (dirty sock under the bed! yuck). But oh well, the water didnt work that night, they fixed it quickly. We’d still return if we didnt have anymore issues.
Set on just north of the center part of the lagoon, not quite considered north yet, this hotel was still experiencing dark waters, instead of the electric blue/green (the 7 color lagoon!) people are promised to see. Apparently, we had no idea, in mid 2020, a tropical storm caused the entire lagoon to turn dark. Took several months before the south part returned to its electric color. The other half has yet to return, and its been 18 months. No one knows if that part of the lagoon will return back to the color, or when.
What doesn’t help? This hotel using OFF bug spray and not educating guests on using reef safe sunscreen (despite their being no reef there, only reef safe sunscreen minimizes impact to the microbes necessary to keep the light blue color that people venture out there for). I was disappointed to see the lack of ecological effort this hotel that promises eco everything on their website, puts forward in reality.
The food at the hotel was mediocre, missing the love and creativity we look for.
Super kid friendly!! They loved the kids, even watched them for a bit while my husband and I jetskiied for 10 minutes! (I later learned that isnt good for the water either :( )
