San Felipe Fort stands right in the centre of Bacalar and adds a lovely touch to a stroll between the main square and the lagoon.

It dates back to the first half of the 18th century, when it was built to protect the town from pirate attacks. In our opinion, the view from the outside is the most beautiful part – the stone walls seem almost out of place in the otherwise colourful and laid-back town of Bacalar.

Find a hotel in the centre of Bacalar

Inside, there is a small museum dedicated to the town’s history, pirates and the colonial period.

However, our lagoon guide didn’t recommend visiting it, saying it wasn’t really worth the entrance fee, so we ended up giving it a miss. Unless you’re a big history buff, you can simply admire the fortress from the outside.

You can view the exterior for free. Don’t forget to take a photo with the traditional colourful “Bacalar” sign, which is at the top of the square right next to the fortress.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 9.00 and 19.00; foreign visitors pay 110 mxn.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Bacalar.