Service: 9.6
Its highest score on Expedia. Guests mention warm, helpful staff and good tips on tours and places to eat.
Downtown Bacalar · Quintana Roo · Mexico
Poza Clara Sanctuary Hotel
★★★
A handful of rooms with hammock balconies and palm-thatched roofs around a small pool and a jungle-like garden, two blocks from Bacalar Lagoon and the main square. Breakfast is included, and guests also get a quiet lagoon club with a dock and kayaks a short walk away.
- 9.2on Expedia · 123 reviews
- 4.5on Google · 155 reviews
- 3min walk to the lagoon
Secure booking on Expedia · Rates change by date
A small sanctuary of palms and thatch in the heart of town
Poza Clara is on Calle 26, between Avenidas 3 and 5, in the center of Bacalar. It isn't on the waterfront, but it's close: Expedia puts the lagoon 3 minutes away on foot, and the San Felipe Fort, the main square and the ecological swimming area about 5. It sits on a side street, so it's calmer than the main drag, with plenty of restaurants and tour operators a few blocks away.
The hotel is built around a garden of palms and tropical plants, with wooden walkways, palm-thatched roofs and a small pool that glows blue at night. Reviews praise above all the staff (9.6), the breakfast at the on-site restaurant and the feeling of being in a green oasis. To swim in the lagoon, guests use the hotel's own club on the shore, about 10 to 15 minutes' walk away.
See availability →What makes it special
Six concrete things, all taken from the listing and from guest reviews.
A private lagoon club
About 1 km from the hotel: a dock, loungers and swings by the water, with kayaks that several guests used at no extra cost.
A garden like a little jungle
Stone paths among palms and plants, wooden walkways and thatched roofs: "a green oasis," as one guest puts it.
Breakfast included
Served every day from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at Bahareque, the hotel's restaurant. Many reviews single it out as delicious and generous.
A small pool to cool off
Surrounded by stone walls and plants, with loungers and blue lights at night. Ideal for a dip at sunset.
Walk to everything
Two blocks from the lagoon and the main square: you don't need a car to eat, book a boat trip or visit the fort.
Hotel photos
The rooms
Three room types, for two to four guests. All have air conditioning, a ceiling fan, free wifi, a 32-inch smart TV with Netflix, a coffee maker, a safe and a private bathroom with a shower and toiletries. Some rooms also have a kitchenette with a small fridge, and many have a balcony or terrace with a hammock.
Standard room, pool view
The option for families or friends: two double beds and a view of the pool. Rated 9.2 by guests who stayed in it.
See price →Superior room, Queen bed, balcony
For couples who want their own balcony; guests describe hammocks, wooden railings and a very peaceful spot to read.
See price →Deluxe room, King bed, pool view
The largest room in the hotel, with space for a third guest and a view of the pool.
See price →Hotel amenities
A small hotel with a pool, restaurant and bar, plus a club on the lagoon: what you'd expect from a bigger place, on a much more intimate scale.
- Breakfast includedDaily from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at the on-site restaurant.
- Outdoor poolSmall, with loungers and umbrellas; open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
- Lagoon clubThe hotel's own spot on the shore, with a dock and loungers, about 10–15 minutes on foot.
- Restaurant and barBahareque serves local and international food; there's also a bar with cocktails.
- Free parkingOn site but limited; when it's full, you park on the street.
- Free wifiIn the rooms and some common areas.
- Pet friendlyOne dog or cat up to 15 kg, for an extra fee; food and water bowls provided.
- Garden and terracePlus a picnic area and plenty of shaded corners.
- Tour tipsThe front desk recommends boat trips and places to visit.
- Daily housekeepingIncluded, according to Expedia.
- Luggage storageHandy on your last day if you leave in the afternoon.
- Smoke-freeSmoking is not allowed anywhere on the property.
Breakfast and where to eat
Breakfast is included and served at the hotel's restaurant; for dinner, central Bacalar has plenty of options within a few minutes' walk.
Breakfast at Bahareque
Included from 8:00 to 11:00 AM: fruit, fresh orange juice, coffee and hot dishes such as eggs or pancakes. The restaurant also serves brunch and lunch, and guests often get a discount.
The hotel bar
For a drink by the garden before heading out to dinner.
La Playita · 3 min
A popular lagoon-side restaurant, the closest one to the hotel.
I Scream Bar · 4 min
Ice cream for the walk down to the water.
Xoloitzcuintle Bacalar · 4 min
Another option just around the corner.
La Guapachosa · 5 min
Also within walking distance, near the main square.
The lagoon of seven colors, cenotes and Mayan ruins
Bacalar is a laid-back Pueblo Mágico on the shore of a freshwater lagoon more than 40 km long. Distances are in a straight line from the hotel; the rapids, Chetumal and the archaeological sites are a short drive away.
The lagoon · 3 min walk
Warm, clear fresh water that shifts from turquoise to deep navy depending on the depth. From the town's public swimming spots and piers you can swim without waves almost all year.
San Felipe Fort · 0.4 km
An 18th-century stone fortress built to stop the pirates who sailed up the lagoon. It houses a small museum, and its walls look out over the lagoon from end to end.
Cenote Azul · 4.5 km
A huge, very deep open cenote by the highway just south of town. The water is an intense blue, you swim among fish, and there's a restaurant on the edge.
Stromatolites · 4.1 km
Living formations, among the oldest on Earth, that grow along the shore of the lagoon, for example at Cocalitos. They're fragile: don't step on or touch them, and use biodegradable sunscreen.
Piers and sunset sailing
Sailboat and boat trips leave from the town's piers for the Pirates' Channel, Bird Island and the lagoon's cenotes. Watching the sunset from the water is the favorite.
Mayan ruins · 39 km
Chacchoben, with its temples in the jungle, is about 40 minutes north; Kohunlich (in the photo), known for the large masks on its temple, and the recently opened Ichkabal also make easy day trips.
When to go to Bacalar
Average high temperature and rainfall in Bacalar, month by month (approximate values).
29°Jan
30°Feb
32°Mar
33°Apr
34°May
33°Jun
33°Jul
33°Aug
33°Sep
32°Oct
30°Nov
29°Dec
Dry (Nov–Mar) Hot (Apr–May) Rainy (Jun–Oct) · mm
- ☀️ November to March is the best time: dry, sunny and with the lagoon at its most colorful. The town fills up at Christmas, New Year's and Easter, so book early.
- 🌡️ April and May are the hottest months (34 °C or more) with less wind; the lagoon feels even better then.
- 🌧️ June to October brings more rain, usually in afternoon showers. After heavy rain the lagoon can look less clear for a few days.
- 🌀 Hurricane season runs from June to November; September and October carry the highest risk. Travel insurance and flexible rates are a good idea.
- 🌿 Sargassum seaweed doesn't reach the lagoon, which is fresh water; it only affects sea beaches such as Mahahual, mostly in spring and summer.
- 🦟 With all the greenery and fresh water there are mosquitoes, especially at dusk and in the rainy season: bring repellent.
How to get here
From Chetumal Airport (CTM)
The closest airport, about 40 km by road: Expedia estimates 37 minutes by car. It has direct flights from Mexico City and other Mexican cities.
From Cancún Airport (CUN)
About 340 km away. By car it's 4 to 4.5 hours on federal highway 307; ADO buses leave from the airport or the downtown Cancún terminal and take around 5 to 6 hours.
ADO bus
Bacalar's bus terminal is on the highway at the entrance to town (1.1 km from the hotel). There are daily departures to Chetumal, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancún; from there a local taxi gets you to the hotel in a few minutes.
From Tulum and the Riviera Maya
Tulum is about 200 km north, 2.5 to 3 hours by car or bus. The Tren Maya also stops in Bacalar, at a station on the edge of town.
Getting around
From the hotel you can walk to the lagoon, the fort and the restaurants. For Cenote Azul, the rapids, Mahahual or the ruins, a rental car, taxi or tour with transport is best; the hotel has free but limited parking, and gas stations and ATMs are scarce outside Bacalar and Chetumal.
What's nearby
From Calle 26 between Avenidas 3 and 5, Mario Villanueva Madrid neighborhood (downtown Bacalar).
- Bacalar Lagoon3 min walk
- Ecological swimming area (Balneario Ecológico)5 min walk
- San Felipe Fort0.4 km · 5 min walk
- Main square (zócalo)5 min walk
- Ecoparque Bacalar8 min walk
- Municipal swimming area0.9 km
- ADO bus terminal1.1 km
- Cenote Cocalitos (stromatolites)4.1 km
- Cenote Azul4.5 km
- Los Rápidos11 km
- Chetumal Airport20 km · 37 min by car
- Chacchoben ruins39 km
What guests say
9.2 out of 10 on Expedia from 123 reviews (84 rated it 10) and 4.5 out of 5 on Google from 155 reviews. The most common complaints: noise at night from the thatched roofs and nearby parties on weekends, uneven breakfast service and, for some, the walk to the lagoon club in the heat.
9.6Service and staff
9.2Cleanliness
9.2Property condition
8.0Location
«The included breakfast is delicious, substantial, with plenty of options. The garden and pool area is beautiful and relaxing.»
«Had a perfect stay here. Lovely staff and location.»
«It has a free beach club where they lend you a kayak to explore Bacalar Lagoon, at no extra cost.»
«Close to the lagoon and the center (2 blocks). A super comfortable bed and a lovely, peaceful balcony.»
«The rooms are spacious and the balcony with hammocks was fantastic. A central yet quiet location, on a side street.»
«A small, cozy hotel in a green oasis in Bacalar. The hotel and the pool are beautifully decorated.»
What to know before you book
Check-in from 2:00 PM to midnight
The front desk is open from 6:00 AM to midnight and check-in isn't possible outside those hours. Check-out before 12:00 PM.
Coming back late
With no night staff, some guests found the gate closed after midnight: if you'll be out late, arrange it with the hotel beforehand.
Minimum age: 21
To check in. Photo ID and a card or cash deposit for incidentals may be requested. Cards and cash are accepted.
The lagoon club isn't next door
It's about 10 to 15 minutes on foot (around 1 km). Guests say bringing your own cooler costs extra.
Light sleepers
Upper rooms have palm-thatched ceilings that let sound through, and some weekends there's music nearby until late. Earplugs help.
Limited parking
Free, but it can fill up; if so, you park on the street.
Pets with a fee
One dog or cat up to 15 kg. Children are welcome, with free extra beds and cribs on request.
No elevator
Some rooms are upstairs, reached by outdoor stairs and walkways.
Things to do from Bacalar
Highly rated tours on Viator: sailing on the lagoon, sunrise kayak and paddleboard, cenotes, Mayan ruins and snorkeling in Mahahual. Check each tour's meeting point or whether it includes hotel pickup; cancellation terms vary by tour.
Sailing Tour through the Laguna de los Siete Colores
See the tour →
Pirate's Channel & 3 Lagoons Kayak or SUP/Paddle Tour +Meditation
See the tour →
Bacalar Boat Tour and Visit to Cenotes
See the tour →
Bacalar: Ichkabal Mayan Ruins & Los Rápidos with Hotel Pickup
See the tour →
Private Tour Pyramids of Chacchoben and Mahahual with Transportation
See the tour →
Snorkel Tour on the Costa Maya with experienced Guid
See the tour →Tour texts and photos: Viator.
Where it is
Calle 26 between Av. 3 and Av. 5, Colonia Mario Villanueva Madrid, 77930 Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Book your stay at Poza Clara Sanctuary Hotel
See today's rates and availability on Expedia. Many rates can be cancelled for free; check the conditions of each one before you book.
See availability →Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Poza Clara Sanctuary Hotel?
In downtown Bacalar, on Calle 26 between Avenidas 3 and 5. The lagoon is about 3 minutes on foot, and the San Felipe Fort and the main square about 5.
Is it in Bacalar or Chetumal?
In Bacalar. Some booking sites list it under the Chetumal region, but the hotel is in the town of Bacalar, about 40 km from Chetumal.
Is the hotel on the lagoon?
Not directly: it's two blocks inland, in the center of town. Guests have access to the hotel's own lagoon club, with a dock and loungers, about 10 to 15 minutes' walk away.
Is breakfast included?
Yes. It's served daily from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at Bahareque, the hotel's restaurant.
Does it have a pool and parking?
Yes to both: a small outdoor pool (open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM) and free on-site parking, though spaces are limited.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. One dog or cat up to 15 kg is allowed per stay, for an extra nightly fee.
What time is check-in?
From 2:00 PM to midnight; the front desk closes at midnight and late check-in isn't possible. Check-out is before 12:00 PM. The minimum check-in age is 21.
Is it good for families?
Yes: children are welcome, the standard rooms sleep four and extra beds and cribs are free. Keep in mind that balconies and terraces may not suit very young children.