I recently visited Los Rapidos Bacalar and it exceeded my expectations! After learning how to visit Los Rapidos Bacalar on my own, I have put together this complete and detailed guide so that you can get there with ease.
Located in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, the small town of Bacalar is known for its stunning natural beauty and the lagoon of seven colours. It is often referred to as the Maldives of Mexico and is home to the natural wonder – Los Rapidos Bacalar.
If you’re the type who finds bliss in unique water adventures and off-the-beaten-path experiences, then Los Rapidos is going to blow your mind. In this complete guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about visiting Los Rapidos Bacalar, ensuring you make the most of your trip to this extraordinary lazy river.
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A Detailed Guide on How to Visit Los Rapidos Bacalar
What is Los Rapidos Bacalar?
Los Rapidos is a natural lazy river with shimmery turquoise waters, palm trees swaying overhead, and ancient “living” fossils called Stromatolites on either side of the banks. The shallow water is incredibly clear with a gentle current running through a narrow channel that connects two parts of Laguna Bacalar. There are different shades of blue water as you progress down the river and the stunning nature of it all makes it one of the most popular things to do in Bacalar.
There is somewhat of a beach club attached to Los Rapidos, where you pay an entry fee to access the natural wonder. They have a wonderful boardwalk to walk you far upstream to float back down the river, hammocks in the water, a restaurant on site, lounge chairs and picnic tables, and shallow inlets to swim in without the current. This attraction alone makes Bacalar worth visiting and it is a great spot to spend a day by the crystal clear waters.
What are Stromatolites? These stunning natural phenomena are often referred to as living fossils. Stromatolites are the oldest living lifeforms on the planet, predating humans, dinosaurs, and even plants. They look like giant rocks along the shore of the lazy river, however, they are actually large colonies of living cells. Over 1,000 million years old, Stromatolites are incredibly rare to find in the world and Bacalar is home to many of them. They are truly special to witness. Make sure you do not touch them, step on them, or brush up against them with your kayak if you rent one!
How Much Is the Entry Fee to Los Rapidos Bacalar?
The entrance fee to Los Rapidos is 200 pesos per person. This includes entry to Los Rapidos and a life jacket. If you want to rent a locker (which I recommend), there is an extra cost of 50 pesos and a 50 pesos key deposit that you get back when you return the key.
They do accept credit cards, although I recommend bringing cash because it is not always reliable.
The tables are typically reserved for those who are purchasing from the restaurant, but there is a deck over by the hammocks that you can sit on and I was able to read my book and relax on the deck by the hammocks.
There are kayak rentals available for 200 pesos.
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Hours of Los Rapidos Bacalar
Los Rapidos is open to explore from 10 am until 6 pm.
You’ll want to spend at least a couple hours there so make sure you plan when to visit accordingly.
How to Get to Los Rapidos From Bacalar?
Los Rapidos is located about 15 km outside of Bacalar town. There are three different ways to get there.
By Rental Car:
Driving in a car rental is the easiest way to get to Los Rapidos. It is a 15 minute drive and there is a parking lot on site.
By Taxi:
The best way to get to Los Rapidos if you don’t want to rent a car is by taxi. It is a short 15 minute drive and costs 200 pesos each way. You can hire a taxi by walking into the town square and simply approaching one of the many taxi drivers.
You can get the Whatsapp number from your taxi driver to pick you back up or ask your accommodation for the number of the local taxi service.
By Bus:
There is technically a bus route you can take to get to Los Rapidos by bus/colectivo, although it is a bit complicated. This is the cheapest way to do it. Catch a colectivo from the main ADO bus station on the main road in the direction of Chetumal. You’ll ride it until you reach the intersection with the turn-off for Los Rapidos. From there, you’ll walk 2 km (about 23 minutes) to Los Rapidos. It’ll cost you about 30 pesos to do it that way.
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Visiting Los Rapidos From Laguna Bonanza
Laguna Bonanza is another beach club that is up the road from Los Rapidos and is much less commercialized. Entering Laguna Bonanza and renting a kayak from here is another way that you can visit Los Rapidos. You are able to kayak down stream to visit Los Rapidos without having to pay entry into Los Rapidos too (although you won’t be able to enter the beach club/restaurant portion).
The cost of entry to Laguna Bonanza is just 30 pesos and you can rent a kayak for the day for 200 pesos. You’re also able to bring your own food in, which helps make it cheaper as well. You can treat it as a day trip visiting both Laguna Bonanza and Los Rapidos.
How to Get to Bacalar
Bacalar is far south in the Yucatan Peninsula near the Belize border. There are no airports in Bacalar, the nearest one is located in Chetumal, which is 45 minutes from Bacalar. Therefore, the best way to get there is to fly into Cancun airport and then take a bus or rental car the 5 hours to Bacalar. The popular bus routes from arriving from elsewhere in Mexico are:
- Cancun to Bacalar – 5 hours
- Tulum to Bacalar – 3 hours
- Playa del Carmen to Bacalar – 3.5 hours
- Valladolid to Bacalar – 3 hours, 45 minutes
If you are bussing from these destinations, ADO is the best bus company to travel with. Their coach buses are spacious and comfortable. If you are bussing from Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, the bus will be direct. The bus from Cancun will stop in Playa del Carmen and Tulum, but you just stay on the bus until the final destination. If you are bussing from Valladolid, you’ll have to change buses in Valladolid and the journey will take 5 hours instead.
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What is There to Do at Los Rapidos?
You can easily spend half a day or slightly more enjoying the natural beauty of Los Rapidos. The best things to do there are:
- Enjoy floating through the turquoise water – walk the boardwalk up
- Relax in the water hammocks
- Relax on the deck with a book and your own snack
- Rent a Kayak to explore the channel
- Eat a snack or drink at the restaurant
When to Visit Los Rapidos Bacalar?
The best time to visit Bacalar is December – March. That is the high season when the temperatures and precipitation are going to be optimal. The nice thing about Bacalar, is that it’s not overrun by tourists yet, so visiting during the high season won’t feel overcrowded.
It is a good idea to get to Los Rapidos right when they open at 10 am. Being the most popular thing to do in Bacalar, it can still feel busy during mid-day. Getting there early ensures you get the newest and cleanest life jackets. Plus, you can enjoy the place and take your pictures before others start to arrive.
Tips for Visiting Los Rapidos Bacalar
- Avoid stepping on or touching the Stromatolites – The beach club is not strict with enforcing this rule so you might see others doing this, but it is really harmful to the natural environment.
- Do not wear sunscreen – There is no sunscreen allowed anywhere in Laguna Bacalar and that includes in Los Rapidos. Even reef safe sunscreen. It has to do with the mineral contamination to the incredibly delicate water ecosystem. You can wear a rash guard instead and other forms of sun protection, plus take lots of breaks in the shade.
- Make a day trip out of it – Make the most of your time there, by arriving early and planning to stay and relax there for the day. Most of what there is to do in Bacalar is hang out at beach clubs by the water. Bring a book and plan to spend time alternating between floating down the lazy river and relaxing in the hammocks and on the sunny deck.
- Pack a snorkel – If you have a snorkel, definitely bring it with you. The bottom of the river is fascinating and you can see the stromatolites in more detail, the rough shapes on the ground, and lots of colourful fish.
- Eat elsewhere – If you want to get a snack and drink as part of the experience, that’s great. However, the food is definitely overpriced and not anything special. Save your money and enjoy your meal at one of the many great restaurants in Bacalar.
- If you can’t visit first thing in the morning, try arriving in the late afternoon to avoid some of the crowds.
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Other Great Things to Do in the Area
The town of Bacalar packs a big punch of amazing things to do for such a small place. While Los Rápidos is honestly worth making the trip to Bacalar alone, there are many other stunning natural wonders and water activities to do while there.
⭐️ Highlights of Bacalar:
- 🚤 Take a Bacalar boat tour of the lagoon to see Cenote Esmeralda, Cenote Negro, and the Pirate Canal
- ☀️ Embark on the famous sunrise paddle board tour
- 💦 Relax at Cenote Cocalitos Beach Club to see more stunning Stromatolites up close and swim in the clear waters
- 🌿 Visit Cenote Azul to swim in the waters and take a picture on the swing
- 🌮 Eat at Mr Taco
I highly recommend checking out this detailed itinerary for how to spend 3 days in Bacalar. It includes all the top activities to do in this small town and even recommends some places to stay.
Final Thoughts on How to Visit Los Rapidos Bacalar
Los Rapidos Bacalar is truly a hidden gem within the already stunning landscape of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The natural lazy river offers an unforgettable experience of floating down the clear turquoise waters and being surrounded by some of Mother Earth’s most stunning natural beauty. As you plan to visit Los Rapidos, remember to get there early, respect the delicate ecosystem, and admire the stromatolites. With this complete guide on how to visit Los Rapidos Bacalar, you are all set for this amazing natural wonder. Happy adventuring!
Plan Your Trip to Bacalar – Logistical Tips:
📱 Stay Connected Without Expensive Roaming Fees
I never travel without an E-Sim now. Stay connected at a fraction of the price of roaming fees, and my favourite part, you can simply down the E-Sim to your phone and don’t have to switch SIM cards around. The service I always use is Airola.
🚍 Book Your Buses in Mexico
The local bus websites are often only in Spanish and are very glitchy. I used Busbud to book all my bus tickets in Mexico because they actually offered the exact same rates as buying them in person with the added bonus of your tickets being secured in advance.
🏠 Book Your Accommodation
Hostelworld is the best place to book hostels, whether you are staying in a dorm or a private room. They offer great environments to meet people and many will also offer activities. If you prefer hotels, Booking.com is great for finding the cheapest rates.
🏄♀️ Book Your Tours and Excursions
The best search tool I use to book tours in Mexico is Viator. It has the largest selection of tours with local operators and offers flexible cancellation.
* Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I receive a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. I only recommend products and companies that I use. Thanks for the support!
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