Bacalar is the Riviera Maya’s best-kept secret — a small town on the shore of the Lagoon of Seven Colours, a 42-kilometre freshwater lagoon so beautiful that it stops you mid-sentence the first time you see it. The water shifts between shades of turquoise, sapphire, emerald, and crystal-clear depending on depth, time of day, and the white limestone bottom beneath it. It looks fake. It is not.

The town sits about 3.5 hours south of Playa del Carmen, in the state of Quintana Roo near the Belize border. It is further than a casual day trip, but well worth an overnight stay or a two-night stop. Bacalar has grown from a sleepy lakeside village into a destination in its own right, with boutique hotels, waterfront restaurants, and a growing scene that attracts travellers looking for something beyond the Caribbean beach towns.

The lagoon is the attraction. Swimming in the warm, crystal-clear freshwater is unlike any beach experience. Boat tours take you across the lagoon to the Canal de los Piratas — a narrow channel with water so clear you can see every pebble on the bottom — and to the cenote at the lagoon’s centre, where the depth drops dramatically and the water turns from turquoise to deep blue.

The Fuerte de San Felipe, a small colonial-era fort built to defend against pirate attacks, sits on the waterfront in the town centre and houses a small museum. The town’s central plaza is a pleasant gathering point with restaurants and market stalls.

Bacalar is best experienced with at least one night. The lagoon at sunrise and sunset — when the colours shift through their full range — is something you cannot experience on a rushed day trip. Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and simply floating in the warm water with a drink in hand are the primary activities, and that is more than enough.