It is warm all year round in Bacalar, and you can swim in the lagoon in January just as easily as in August.

When choosing a time to visit, the most important factor isn’t the difference between 29 °C and 32 °C, but rather the amount of sunshine, rain, humidity and wind.

The weather is also important because of the very appearance of the Lagoon of Seven Colours. The individual shades of blue stand out best on a clear day in direct sunlight. Under an overcast sky, the lagoon is still beautiful, but the famous ‘seven colours’ effect will be significantly less pronounced.

Daytime temperatures usually range between 28 °C and 33 °C throughout the year.

December, January and February are the coolest months, whilst the hottest weather is expected in April and May. From June to October, temperatures aren’t much higher, but the humidity makes the weather feel much more stifling.

Compare trips around the Bacalar Lagoon

Weather throughout the year

December to April: the driest season

It rains the least from December to April. The days are usually sunny, the air is less humid, and the weather is ideal for swimming, boat trips on the lagoon and excursions into the surrounding area.

February and March usually bring the most stable conditions. Daytime temperatures are typically around 29 to 31 °C, evenings are pleasant, and there is little risk of rain lasting several days.

From December to February, a colder northern front may pass over the Yucatán. This brings more clouds, wind and cooler evenings for a day or two. However, even in winter, temperatures do not usually drop so low that you cannot swim in the lagoon.

The downside is higher prices and greater hotel occupancy, particularly at Christmas, over the New Year and during Easter. If you want to stay right by the water, check out accommodation in Bacalar on Booking.com well in advance.

May and November: the transition between seasons

May tends to be very hot, with showers becoming more frequent. There are still plenty of sunny days, but the air is already significantly more humid and afternoon plans may be disrupted by a thunderstorm.

ℹ️ We were in Bacalar in May. Yes, it was very muggy and hot, but otherwise the weather was brilliant!

November works the other way round. During the first half of the month, it can still rain quite often, whilst towards the end of November the weather tends to be more stable. I consider the second half of November to be an interesting compromise between the weather, hotel prices and the number of tourists.

May makes sense mainly if Bacalar is one of the stops on a longer trip around Mexico. For a holiday focused mainly on swimming and relaxing by the lagoon, I’d prefer to choose the end of November or the period from January to March.

June to October: rain, humidity and thunderstorms

The rainier season lasts from June to October. Showers tend to be very intense, but they often clear up within an hour and the sky clears again. The rain icon in the forecast therefore does not automatically mean a day of continuous rain.

Rain lasting several days mainly occurs when a tropical wave or storm passes through. In such cases, the lagoon may be closed to boat traffic, and the bad weather may also affect roads and bus services.

Expect the heaviest rainfall and the greatest risk of prolonged bad weather in September and October. If you’re travelling during this period, book accommodation and activities with a cancellation option, and don’t leave your lagoon cruise until the very last day of your stay.

A hire car will make it easier to adapt your itinerary to any sudden showers and, for example, head to Los Rápidos at a different time of day. Most travellers collect their car at Cancún Airport.

• 👉 Compare car hire prices at Cancún Airport
• 👉 Compare car hire prices at Chetumal Airport

Hurricanes in Bacalar

The official hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. The peak activity occurs in August, September and October.

Although Bacalar is not situated directly on the coast, it is not sheltered from tropical storms. The main complications tend to be strong winds, heavy rain, flooded roads and disruption to lagoon tours.

The likelihood of a direct hit during a specific stay remains low. However, the aftermath of a storm could disrupt plans for several days, so I would avoid making non-refundable bookings between August and October.

Does it rain all day in Bacalar?

Usually not. A typical rainy day might start with a sunny morning, followed by a sudden downpour in the afternoon, and then clear up again in the evening.

Long-term forecasts are not very accurate in the tropics. It makes much more sense to check the hourly forecast two to three days in advance and monitor the progress of any tropical storms.

During the rainy season, it’s best to plan your boat trip, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding for the morning. Afternoon thunderstorms are more common and can arrive very quickly.

Could the weather cause a lagoon trip to be cancelled?

A brief tropical downpour is not usually a reason to cancel a boat trip. The main issues are strong winds, storms or the lagoon being closed by the local authorities.

We booked our trip via GetYourGuide about 14 days in advance. Once there, we realised that outside the peak season, booking that far in advance wasn’t necessary. Even so, we would have booked the same way – on GetYourGuide we could see reviews of individual trips and the deals were cheaper than at some of the stalls in Bacalar.

If the weather forecast is uncertain, choose a trip with free cancellation and schedule it for the very first full day of your stay.

Can you swim in the lagoon all year round?

Yes. The water in the lagoon remains suitable for swimming throughout the year.

In winter, strong winds can make it feel colder when you get out of the water, but even January and February aren’t too cold for swimming.

Bacalar is a freshwater lagoon, so it is not affected by sargassum, which can significantly complicate swimming along the Caribbean coast of the Riviera Maya from spring to autumn.

When are the lagoon’s colours at their most vivid?

The best light is usually from late morning to early afternoon, when the sun is high in the sky. The various shades of blue are more pronounced at this time than in the early morning or before sunset.

Mornings, on the other hand, are ideal for kayaking or paddleboarding. It is usually less windy, the water is calm, and during the rainy season there is less chance of a storm.