Habitas Bacalar Review: The Yucatan’s Most Relaxing Escape

Considering booking a stay with Habitas in Bacalar? I’m sharing everything you need to know to decide if it’s the right fit for you.

I’ve visited Bacalar, Mexico twice now, and one of the best aspects of this area is that there’s not a TON to do, which makes it the perfect place for a relaxing getaway. With that however comes more importance on the hotel you choose to stay at as you’ll likely be spending a lot of time there.

If you’re considering Our Habitas for your trip to Bacalar, than you’re already ahead of the game.

On my first trip to Bacalar, I stayed at a more budget-friendly hotel in town away from the Bacalar Lagoon, but staying directly on the lagoon this time at Habitas made a world of difference for our trip.

In this post I’m going to share what you can expect from a stay at Habitas Bacalar so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your trip. You can also check out my post on the best hotels in Bacalar Mexico to explore more options, but know that Habitas really is the best of the best.

Just like all of Habitas’ properties, this 5-star, One Michelin Key rated stay follows the brand’s ethos of holistic wellness and sustainability.

Pair that with the most tranquil setting directly on the Bacalar Lagoon (also known as “The Lagoon of Seven Colors” for its many shades of blue) and you’ve got yourself a recipe for a vacation that truly feels like a reset.

Keep reading for my honest review of Habitas Bacalar’s top-rated boutique lodging and learn what you can expect from a stay here. Plus, don’t miss my other Bacalar guides including my ultimate Bacalar Lagoon Travel Guide and my post on Bacalar’s Best Restaurants.

Habitas Bacalar Review

Though I’ve had my eye on several of Habitas’ amazing properties around the world, their Bacalar location was the first time I was able to stay overnight at one of their hotels and experience the true Habitas way of life.

I’ve always connected with the brand’s ethos of minimalist luxury where an essential piece of that luxury lies in the experiences they offer to foster growth, health and wellness, along with their desire to build spaces that enhance their natural surroundings instead of negatively impacting them.

At Habitas Bacalar, I had high expectations, but I left with an even greater desire to explore more of their stunning locations around the world. So let’s get into what you can expect from visiting their Bacalar locale.

Where is Habitas Bacalar

Bacalar is still a bit of a hidden gem, as it’s located in one of the most southern points in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, just 15 miles from the Belize border. As the area shares a border with Belize, it’s quite untouched and rugged and a remote location south of Cancun.

To get to Bacalar, you have a few different options depending on the flight routes available to you.

In the past, I’ve paired visits to Bacalar with Tulum to break up the trip which makes the distance from Tulum or Cancun Airport a bit more manageable.

Airports Closest to Bacalar:

• 30 minutes from the Chetumal International Airport
• 2.5 hours from Tulum Airport
• 4 hours from Cancun International Airport

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Travel Tip

If you’re traveling from Cancun or Tulum down to Bacalar, renting a car is the most affordable way to get down there and have the flexibility to see and do everything. Discover Cars is my go-to for renting cars in Mexico as they allow you to compare cars from global and local agencies, making it easy to find the best deals. For the best experience, make sure to select full coverage insurance and choose a reputable rental company when booking.

Book your rental car with Discover Cars here

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What You’ll Love About Habitas Bacalar

• Stunning lagoon front location on a private part of the lake, so you feel like you have it all to yourself.
• In line with the Habitas brand, their Bacalar property focuses on luxury accommodations in nature that are eco-friendly. All rooms were built on raised platforms so as not to disturb the surrounding landscape and they always strive for zero impact.
• The hotel is adults-only, making for the ultimate relaxing getaway for couples.
• From the moment you check in, you’re integrated into their holistic wellness mentality with a copal cleansing ritual that really sets the mood.
• Every guest room is its own stand-alone hut, so you never have to worry about sharing walls with other guests.

Property and Amenities

With just 35 total rooms, Habitas Bacalar is relatively small, but the property feels spacious enough to avoid feeling like you’re on top of other guests.

Other than the individual guests rooms, there’s only a few real communal spaces throughout the property. The main ones are the lagoon-facing patio deck which is where most of the activity happens throughout the day—there are sun loungers, cabanas, a trail that leads to kayaks and paddle boards, direct lagoon access, and the patio bar.

The other main area is the restaurant, Siete, which is set slightly further back in the jungle and is where guests congregate for meals.

There’s also a yoga shala, small wellness spa, and some unique little seating moments throughout the property. Everything was intentionally built to provide guests an immersive nature experience to keep the lagoon and the surrounding jungle the star of the show of any stay here and I feel like they definitely accomplished that goal.

Habitas Bacalar Dining Experience

Dining at Habitas Bacalar is definitely a highlight of the whole experience and the hotel has two main dining areas on property. Siete is their signature kitchen where all food comes from on property.

For dinner, the menu is more upscale Mexican cuisine, with gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. Most guests gather for dinner in the jungle restaurant location that has an indoor/outdoor setting and feels like you’re dining in a treehouse.

For dinner, Siete serves up classic Mexican dishes like shrimp aguachile and wood-fired Yucatan pork alongside more plant-based dishes like heirloom spiced carrots and green mango salad.

For breakfast and lunch, many guests opt to eat on the lagoon-facing patio for a delicious meal with a side of unmatched views.

The lagoon-facing deck is where we personally ate breakfast every morning and we loved the chia pudding, Turkish eggs and chilaquiles (always my fave breakfast when in Mexico)! The lunch menu includes Yucatan staples like ceviche, guacamole, fish tacos, and healthy options like a quinoa bowl and cucumber and watermelon salad.

Note that breakfast is included in your stay, but other meals are an additional charge.

What I appreciated most about the dining at Habitas is their focus on locally sourced ingredients that are native to the region. The chefs even utilize traditional Mayan techniques in their cooking to honor the local culture.

The Rooms at Habitas Bacalar

The tented rooms at Habitas Bacalar aren’t for those who expect every creature comfort to be at their fingertips. Rather, they take a minimalistic approach to luxury with eco-friendly rooms that feel more like a luxury safari tent with thoughtful design touches.

You won’t find TVs, phones or coffee machines inside the rooms either. Instead, you’ll enjoy feeling at one with nature in your outdoor shower, and feel encouraged to spend more time outside the room by the lagoon than locked indoors with room service.

There are several different room types at the hotel: Lagoon Rooms which sit directly facing the “Lake of Seven Colors”, Jungle Rooms, which are more private and tucked in the jungle, and then Lagoon Breeze Rooms which feel like a combo of the two.

All rooms are individual freestanding huts, so you never have to worry about sharing walls with other guests, and each room is pretty much the same inside with king beds, air conditioning, a small closet, desk and an outdoor shower. The main difference in the room categories is just their location throughout the property.

Things to Do While Staying at Habitas Bacalar

One of the best parts about staying at Habitas is their menu of daily experiences and activities to choose from that foster connection and holistic wellness. While I absolutely recommend getting off property and exploring other parts of Bacalar, this really is the kind of place where you can hunker down and never leave as there’s plenty to do to fill your time.

Habitas offers a weekly complimentary activity schedule with things like yoga classes, meditation, their “Pinto and Tinto” painting sessions and even temazcal ceremonies. However, there are also private activities available for booking as an additional charge to your stay including a catamaran sailing tour, sunrise paddle board excursion, and more.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the activities you can enjoy during your time at Habitas.

Art Classes

During our stay at Habitas, we participated in this fun art class that involved creating unique prints using natural elements like leaves. The best part was the class took place in the yoga shala, so we had prime lagoon views and a great breeze sweeping through class as we got in touch with our inner artist.

Mezcal Tasting

We were also able to take part in a mezcal tasting as a group with other guests during our stay at Habitas which was held at their lagoon-side deck Tree Bar. This is a great way to meet other guests and learn about the mezcal production process.

Water Sport on Bacalar Lagoon

Off of the lagoon deck, there are paddleboards and kayaks that guests can take out on the lagoon in their free time. There are also more involved water sports like a catamaran tour and paddleboard tour that guests can book for an additional cost.

Spa and Wellness

While I sadly didn’t get to experience the spa during our stay, the menu of offerings looks incredible, with ingredients like honey and cacao and techniques that are inspired by traditional Mayan culture. Their spa menu includes treatments like massages, facials, body wraps and even herbal aromatherapy treatments.

Swimming off the Dock

For easy access to swimming in the lagoon, Habitas has a cute little dock where you can jump right off the end into the water or descend gently in via stairs. This was a daily afternoon occurrence for us.

Traditional Yucatan Ceremonies

For guests that want to experience more of traditional Mayan culture, Habitas offers traditional ceremonies like a temazcal and cacao ceremony. For anyone that’s unfamiliar, a temazcal is a sweat lodge that is said to have both spiritual and physical healing benefits, cleansing the body of toxins.

A cacao ceremony is a bit more gentle and involves drinking a non-hallucinogenic cacao beverage that is said to open the heart and foster connection.

I’ve participated in both types of ceremonies in the past (though not at Habitas), and I highly recommend experiencing each at least once in your life if you are curious.

Helpful Notes for Your Stay

• For the best photos of the lagoon, keep in mind that the water is typically smooth and glassy in the mornings, however the color of the lagoon really pops mid-day when the sun comes out.
• Signage is super discrete entering into Habitas, so make sure you have offline maps downloaded properly so you can navigate to the correct turn-off from the highway.
• Due to many wooden walkways and steps throughout the property, I wouldn’t say this is the best stay for those with injuries or disabilities. Hopefully they will work to improve accessibility around the property in the future.
• The hotel is adults-only, so anyone under age 16 is not able to check in.
• The best time to visit Bacalar is between November and June for the best weather and least amount of rain.
• Make sure to pack items like mosquito repellent, yoga pants, clothes for water sports and eco-friendly or reef-safe sunscreen so that you can protect the eco-system of the lagoon.
• If this will be your first time traveling to Mexico, make sure to check out my essential Mexico travel tips post to stay informed ahead of your trip.

So is a Stay at Habitas Bacalar Worth it?

Absolutely! If you’ve been curious about the Habitas hotel brand, then their Bacalar location is a great entry point in as it’s one of the more affordable global locations in their portfolio.

It’s also the perfect place to unwind and experience a unique side of Mexico that many people haven’t discovered. Bacalar is still a hidden gem and a bit off-the-beaten path, so if you’re into those kinds of adventures but still want a luxurious experience, you’ll love it here.

Have questions about staying at Habitas Bacalar? Let me know in the comments.

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