Lake of 7 Colors

Bacalar is a 50 km freshwater lagoon in southern Quintana Roo — 3.5 hours south of Cancún, 2.5 hours from Chetumal. Seven distinct shades of blue, from near-white sand at the shore to deep sapphire in the center. The locals call it La Laguna de los 7 Colores.

It was a quiet Mayan town until 2019. Then the world discovered it. Boutique hotels, cenote docks, floating yoga platforms, and sail boats now dot a lagoon that 5 years ago had none. Prices are still a fraction of the Caribbean coast — but the distance is closing.