Its own pier on the lagoon
With a palapa, loungers, swings and hammocks over the water. Many guests sum it up the same way: the best part is the access to the lagoon.
Bacalar lakeshore · Quintana Roo · Mexico
Hotel Aldea 19 Bacalar
★★★
A small, adults-only hotel with its feet in the lagoon: a palm-lined path leads down to a pier with a palapa, sun loungers and hammocks over the turquoise water. It sits on Avenida Costera, about 2 km from the town center, with breakfast included, a waterside bar and sailing trips that leave from its own pier.
- 9.2on Expedia · 64 reviews
- 4.6on Google · 158 reviews
- 9.8for cleanliness and staff (Expedia)
Secure booking on Expedia · Rates change by date
The lagoon as your backyard, away from the town bustle
Aldea 19 is on Avenida Costera, the road that follows the lagoon south from the center of Bacalar toward Cocalitos and Cenote Azul. San Felipe Fort and the main square are about 2 km away (5 to 6 minutes by car, according to Expedia), and the stromatolites at Cocalitos are less than 2 km south. Guests describe the area as quiet and safe, but there's little around it: for dinner you'll usually take a taxi into town.
What sets it apart is direct access to the water. From the white two-story building with wooden balconies, a path through the palms leads down to a terrace with loungers, an open-air bar and a pier ending in a palapa over the lagoon, a great spot for sunrise or watching the moon come up. Expedia reviewers give it 9.8 for cleanliness and 9.8 for staff; the one complaint that keeps coming up is that the restaurant and bar close early.
See availability →What makes it special
Six concrete things, all taken from the hotel listing and from guest reviews.
Sunrise over the water
Guests recommend the pier for watching the sun come up over the lagoon with your first coffee and, at night, for seeing the moon rise.
Cleanliness: 9.8
Together with staff and service (also 9.8), it's the hotel's highest score on Expedia.
Tours from the pier
The hotel helps you book trips on the lagoon, and sailboat outings leave right from its own pier, with sunsets guests rave about.
A bar by the water
An open-air counter among palms and string lights; several reviews single out the cocktails.
Adults only
No guests under 18: the atmosphere is calm and geared to couples and friends.
Hotel photos
The rooms
Three types, for two to four adults. Each room has its own furniture, and all have air conditioning, free 50+ Mbps wifi, a 43-inch smart TV, a desk, an in-room safe, a private bathroom with a rainfall shower and daily housekeeping. There's no mini-fridge.
Deluxe room with lagoon view
The one to ask for: big window and a balcony facing the water. It scores 9.6 on Expedia and, as one guest put it, it's the room that makes the stay worth it.
See price →Traditional room, king bed
For two, with a desk, wall-mounted TV and white-and-turquoise decor; no direct lagoon view.
See price →Family duplex
The option for a group of four adults, on two levels, with a stone accent wall and beige-and-blue bedding. One guest notes the space is snug for four.
See price →Hotel amenities
A simple, well-kept three-star: there's no pool, but there's something better, the lagoon right below the terrace.
- Continental breakfastIncluded, daily from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
- Direct lagoon accessA pier with a palapa for swimming and sunbathing.
- Loungers and hammocksOn the terrace and on the pier, facing the water.
- Waterside barOpen-air, with cocktails; closes in the afternoon.
- Raíz Bacalar restaurantBreakfast and brunch; à la carte dishes at extra cost.
- Lagoon tripsTours and sailboat outings from the hotel's pier.
- Free wifi50+ Mbps in the rooms and in some common areas.
- Air conditioningIn every room.
- Daily housekeepingIncluded in all rooms.
- In-room safeIn every room.
- On-site shopFor the basics without leaving.
- Spanish and EnglishStaff speak both languages.
Breakfast and where to eat
The hotel covers breakfast and an early lunch; for dinner you'll head into town, 5 minutes away by car.
The included breakfast
Continental, from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a couple of choices. It's simple, but most guests find it tasty and filling enough to last until lunch.
Raíz Bacalar, on site
The hotel restaurant serves brunch and à la carte dishes (extra cost). It's open until early afternoon, around 2:00 p.m.
The bar by the water
Lagoonfront cocktails that get a lot of praise; it also closes in the afternoon, so don't count on it at night.
Albahaca · 13 min walk
The closest option on foot, according to Expedia.
Noru · 16 min walk
Another choice within walking distance along the Costera.
La Trattoria 46 · 4 min drive
In town, recommended by a guest; Navieros and Pizzeria Bertilla are close by too.
The lagoon of seven colors, cenotes and Mayan ruins
Bacalar is a laid-back Pueblo Mágico on the shore of a freshwater lagoon more than 40 km long. The hotel is south of the center, right on the shore, so Cocalitos and Cenote Azul are closer than they are from town. Distances are in a straight line from the hotel.
The lagoon · right in front
Warm, clear fresh water that shifts from turquoise to deep navy depending on the depth. From the hotel's pier you can swim without waves almost all year.
San Felipe Fort · 2 km
An 18th-century stone fortress built to stop the pirates who sailed up the lagoon. It houses a small museum, and its walls look out over the lagoon from end to end.
Cenote Azul · 2.2 km
A huge, very deep open cenote by the highway just south of town. The water is an intense blue, you swim among fish, and there's a restaurant on the edge.
Stromatolites · 1.8 km
Living formations, among the oldest on Earth, that grow along the shore of the lagoon, for example at Cocalitos, very close to the hotel. They're fragile: don't step on or touch them, and use biodegradable sunscreen.
Piers and sunset sailing
Sailboat and boat trips head to the Pirates' Channel, Bird Island and the lagoon's cenotes; some leave from the hotel's own pier. Watching the sunset from the water is the favorite.
Mayan ruins · 41.6 km
Chacchoben, with its temples in the jungle, is about 40 minutes north; Kohunlich (in the photo), known for the large masks on its temple, and the recently opened Ichkabal also make easy day trips.
When to go to Bacalar
Average high temperature and rainfall in Bacalar, month by month (approximate values).
29°Jan
30°Feb
32°Mar
33°Apr
34°May
33°Jun
33°Jul
33°Aug
33°Sep
32°Oct
30°Nov
29°Dec
Dry (Nov–Mar) Hot (Apr–May) Rainy (Jun–Oct) · mm
- ☀️ November to March is the best time: dry, sunny and with the lagoon at its most colorful. The town fills up at Christmas, New Year's and Easter, so book early.
- 🌡️ April and May are the hottest months (34 °C or more) with less wind; the lagoon feels even better then.
- 🌧️ June to October brings more rain, usually in afternoon showers. After heavy rain the lagoon can look less clear for a few days.
- 🌀 Hurricane season runs from June to November; September and October carry the highest risk. Travel insurance and flexible rates are a good idea.
- 🌿 Sargassum seaweed doesn't reach the lagoon, which is fresh water; it only affects sea beaches such as Mahahual, mostly in spring and summer.
- 🦟 With all the greenery and fresh water there are mosquitoes, especially at dusk and in the rainy season: bring repellent.
How to get here
From Chetumal Airport (CTM)
The closest airport: about 35 minutes by car or taxi to the hotel, according to Expedia. It has direct flights from Mexico City and other Mexican cities.
From Cancún Airport (CUN)
About 340 km away. By car it's 4 to 4.5 hours on federal highway 307; ADO buses leave from the airport or the downtown Cancún terminal and take around 5 to 6 hours.
ADO bus
Bacalar's bus terminal is on the highway at the entrance to town (3.3 km from the hotel). There are daily departures to Chetumal, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancún; from there a local taxi gets you to the hotel in about 10 minutes. The hotel doesn't offer transfers.
From Tulum and the Riviera Maya
Tulum is about 200 km north, 2.5 to 3 hours by car or bus. The Tren Maya also stops in Bacalar, at a station on the edge of town.
Getting around
From the hotel, the town center is 5 to 6 minutes by taxi and Cenote Azul and Cocalitos are just down the road. If you rent a car, keep in mind the hotel has no on-site parking; gas stations and ATMs are scarce outside Bacalar and Chetumal.
What's nearby
From Avenida Costera, south of downtown Bacalar, on the lagoon.
- Bacalar Lagoon1 min walk
- Balneario Municipal1.5 km
- Cenote Cocalitos and stromatolites1.8 km
- San Felipe Fort2 km
- Bacalar main square6 min drive
- Cenote Azul2.2 km
- ADO bus terminal3.3 km
- Los Rápidos8.7 km
- Chetumal Airport18.5 km
- Downtown Chetumal20.5 km
- Chacchoben41.6 km
- Mahahual73 km
What guests say
9.2 out of 10 on Expedia from 64 reviews, and 4.6 out of 5 on Google from 158 reviews.
9.8Cleanliness
9.8Staff and service
9.4Amenities
9.2Property condition
«Quiet, cozy atmosphere, clean rooms, good space, friendly staff.»
«An incredible place: the service, the rooms, breakfast, all perfect. And the most incredible view.»
«The lagoonfront location is simply outstanding, perfect for enjoying the sunrise and connecting with nature.»
«It has an excellent spot on the lagoon and offers several tours you can take right from its pier.»
«Excellent view of the lagoon. I didn't like that the restaurant and bar close very early.»
«It's important to remember it's a 3-star hotel. We would definitely book this hotel again.»
Good to know before you book
Check-in 3:00–10:00 p.m.
The front desk has limited hours: if you'll arrive later, let the hotel know. Check-out is before noon.
Adults only
No guests under 18. Government-issued photo ID is required at check-in.
Cards only
The hotel accepts credit and debit cards, not cash. A hold for incidentals may be requested.
Early closing
The most common complaint: the restaurant serves until around 2:00 p.m. and the bar closes in the afternoon. For dinner, take a taxi into town.
No mini-fridge
Rooms don't have a refrigerator; several guests missed one.
Stairs, no elevator
The entrance has 15 steps and there's no luggage help: not the best choice if you have limited mobility.
No on-site parking
According to Expedia, the hotel has no parking on the property.
No pets
Pets and service animals aren't allowed. And pack repellent: mosquitoes come out by the lagoon at dusk.
Things to do from Bacalar
Highly rated tours on Viator: sailing on the lagoon, sunrise kayak and paddleboard, cenotes, Mayan ruins and snorkeling in Mahahual. Check each tour's meeting point or whether it includes hotel pickup; cancellation terms vary by tour.
Sailing Tour through the Laguna de los Siete Colores
See the tour →
Pirate's Channel & 3 Lagoons Kayak or SUP/Paddle Tour +Meditation
See the tour →
Bacalar Boat Tour and Visit to Cenotes
See the tour →
Bacalar: Ichkabal Mayan Ruins & Los Rápidos with Hotel Pickup
See the tour →
Private Tour Pyramids of Chacchoben and Mahahual with Transportation
See the tour →
Snorkel Tour on the Costa Maya with experienced Guid
See the tour →Tour texts and photos: Viator.
Where it is
Avenida Costera, 77933 Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Book your stay at Hotel Aldea 19 Bacalar
See today's rates and availability on Expedia. Many rates can be cancelled for free; check the conditions of each one before you book.
See availability →Frequently asked questions
Where in Bacalar is Aldea 19?
On Avenida Costera, south of the town center, right on the lagoon. The fort and main square are about 2 km away (5 to 6 minutes by car), and Cocalitos and Cenote Azul are less than 2.5 km south.
Can you swim in the lagoon from the hotel?
Yes. The hotel has direct access to the water, with a pier and palapa, sun loungers and hammocks. There's no pool: the lagoon takes its place.
Are children allowed?
No. It's an adults-only hotel: guests under 18 aren't accepted.
Is breakfast included?
Yes, a continental breakfast from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. It's simple; the Raíz Bacalar restaurant also serves à la carte dishes at extra cost until early afternoon.
Where can I have dinner?
The hotel's restaurant and bar close in the afternoon, so for dinner head into downtown Bacalar, 5 to 6 minutes by taxi. Albahaca, a 13-minute walk, is the closest option on foot.
Is there parking?
According to Expedia, there's no parking on the property. If you're driving, confirm with the hotel before you arrive.
What time is check-in?
From 3:00 to 10:00 p.m.; the front desk has limited hours, so let the hotel know if you'll be late. Check-out is before noon.
How do I get there from the airport?
Chetumal Airport is about 35 minutes away by car. From Cancún it's 4 to 4.5 hours by car, or about 5 to 6 hours by ADO bus to the Bacalar terminal, 3.3 km from the hotel; from there, take a taxi.