# Bacalar

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Town in Quintana Roo, Mexico

For other uses, see [Bacalar (disambiguation)](/source/Bacalar_(disambiguation)).

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City and municipality in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Bacalar City and municipality Left to right: San Felipe de Bacalar Fort · Kiosk · Natural cenote · San Joaquín parish · Monumental letters · View of Laguna de los Siete Colores Bacalar in Quintana Roo Show map of Quintana Roo Bacalar (Mexico) Show map of Mexico Coordinates: 18°40′37″N 88°23′43″W / 18.67694°N 88.39528°W / 18.67694; -88.39528 Country Mexico State Quintana Roo Municipality Bacalar Population (2020)[1] • Total 12,572

Aerial photograph of Bacalar Lagoon, next to vacation homes

Tropical jungle near Bacalar

**Bacalar** (Spanish: [\[bakaˈlaɾ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Spanish) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BacalarPronunciation.ogg)) is the municipal seat and largest city in [Bacalar Municipality](/source/Bacalar_Municipality) (until 2011 a part of [Othón P. Blanco](/source/Oth%C3%B3n_P._Blanco%2C_Quintana_Roo) Municipality) in the [Mexican state](/source/List_of_states_of_Mexico) of [Quintana Roo](/source/Quintana_Roo), about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of [Chetumal](/source/Chetumal). In the 2010 census the city had a population of 11,084.[2] At that time it was still part of Othón P. Blanco, and was its second-largest city (locality), after Chetumal.

## Etymology

Bacalar Lagoon seen from Bacalar

The name most likely derives from [Mayan languages](/source/Mayan_languages): *bʼak halal*, (Sian Ka'an Bakhalal) meaning "surrounded by reeds",[3] the name of the locality attested at the time of the 16th century arrival of the [Spanish](/source/New_Spain).

[Lake Bacalar](/source/Lake_Bacalar), a lagoon, is on the east side of the town.

## History

Fortress of San Felipe Bacalar

Bacalar was a city of the [Maya civilization](/source/Maya_civilization) in [Pre-Columbian](/source/Pre-Columbian) times, and was founded in 415 A.D. with the name of "Sian Ka'an Bakhalal". It was the first city in the region that the [Spanish](/source/Spain) [Conquistadores](/source/Conquistador) succeeded in taking and holding, in 1543 (during the [1543–1544 Pachecos entrada](/source/1543%E2%80%931544_Pachecos_entrada)). In 1545 Gaspar Pacheco established the Spanish town here with the name **Salamanca de Bacalar** with the help of [Juan de la Cámara](/source/Juan_de_la_C%C3%A1mara). The southern half of what is now Quintana Roo was governed from Bacalar, answerable to the Captain General of [Yucatán](/source/Yucat%C3%A1n_(state)) in [Mérida](/source/M%C3%A9rida%2C_Yucat%C3%A1n).

After pirates sacked the town in the 17th century, the Fortress de San Felipe Bacalar was completed in 1729, and may be visited today.

In 1848 Bacalar had a population of about 5,000. In 1848, during the [Caste War of Yucatán](/source/Caste_War_of_Yucat%C3%A1n), rebellious [Chan Santa Cruz](/source/Chan_Santa_Cruz) Maya conquered the town. It was retaken by the Mexicans in 1902.

Bacalar was named a "[Pueblo Mágico](/source/Pueblos_M%C3%A1gicos)" in 2006.

Between 2005 and 2010 [Russian Mennonites](/source/Russian_Mennonites) who speak [German](/source/German_language) established a colony in Salamanca that had 967 inhabitants in 2010 and 1.175 in 2020. All inhabitants were [Protestants](/source/Protestantism) and only one of those aged 15 and over was illiterate.[4]

## Transportation

Bacalar is also served by a station of the [Tren Maya](/source/Tren_Maya),[5] which opened on October 6, 2024, alongside the [Chetumal Airport railway station](/source/Chetumal_Airport_railway_station).[6][7]

Additionally, the nearby [Limones](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Limones_(archaeological_site)&action=edit&redlink=1) [[es](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limones_(sitio_arqueol%C3%B3gico))] and [Chacchoben](/source/Chacchoben) archeological sites are served by a separate Tren Maya station, called the [Limones-Chacchoben railway station](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Limones-Chacchoben_railway_station&action=edit&redlink=1) [[es](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estaci%C3%B3n_de_Limones-Chacchoben)] (*Estación de Limones-Chacchoben*).[8]

Services at Limones-Chacchoben station [es] Preceding station Tren Maya Following station Bacalar toward Palenque Tren Maya Felipe Carrillo Puerto toward Cancún Airport Services at Bacalar station [es] Chetumal Airport toward Palenque Tren Maya Limones/​Chacchoben toward Cancún Airport

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Cuántas habitantes tiene...](https://www.inegi.org.mx/app/cpv/2020/resultadosrapidos/?texto=Bacalar)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [2010 census tables: INEGI](http://mapserver.inegi.org.mx/mgn2k/?s=geo&c=1223) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130502025339/http://mapserver.inegi.org.mx/mgn2k/?s=geo&c=1223) May 2, 2013, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Bak Halal](http://www.famsi.org/reports/96072/b/bak.htm), Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Bolles (1997), based on the *Cordemex* Mayan–Spanish dictionary (Barrera Vásquez *et al.*, 1991).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Salamanca in Bacalar (Quintana Roo)](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/mexico/quintanaroo/bacalar/230100279__salamanca/) at www.citypopulation.de

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** SIPSE.com (7 June 2023). ["Mara Lezama comparte cómo lucirá estación del Tren Maya en Chetumal"](https://sipse.com/novedades/mara-lezama-comparte-como-lucira-estacion-del-tren-maya-en-chetumal-448387.html). *sipse.com* (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 October 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-OperationalOpening_6-0)** ["Chetumal Tren Maya station officially up and running"](https://riviera-maya-news.com/chetumal-tren-maya-station-officially-up-and-running/2024.html?cn-reloaded=1). *Riviera Maya News*. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024. Train travelers can also visit Bacalar, a Magic Town, from where they can enjoy the Fort of San Felipe, the Piracy Museum, the Bacalar Lagoon and the Blue Cenote.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Llega el Tren Maya a Chetumal"](https://diariocambio22.mx/llega-el-tren-maya-a-chetumal/). *Diario Cambio 22 – Península Libre* (in Spanish). 29 September 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024. Este convoy llegó hace dos días a Bacalar, segunda ocasión desde que el presidente llegó en un tren para realizar la supervisión de la zona arqueológica de Ichkabal a principios del mes de septiembre. Esta mañana, ciudadanos dieron cuenta del primer recorrido del tren desde la estación Bacalar hasta la estación Chetumal, difundiendo principalmente imágenes de su paso por el puente de Xul-Ha.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["El Heraldo de Tuxpan - Tren Maya: qué destinos del Mar Caribe puedes conocer"](https://elheraldodetuxpan.com.mx/cultura/152003-tren-maya-que-destinos-del-mar-caribe-puedes-conocer.html). *El Heraldo de Tuxpan* (in European Spanish). 12 September 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

## Further reading

- [Barrera Vásquez, Alfredo](/source/Alfredo_Barrera_V%C3%A1squez) (1991). Juan Ramón Bastarrachea Manzano; William Brito Sansores (eds.). *Diccionario maya Cordemex: maya-español, español-maya*. with collaborations by Refugio Vermont Salas, David Dzul Góngora, and Domingo Dzul Poot (2nd ed.). México D.F.: Editorial Porrúa. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [968-452-487-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/968-452-487-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [26611093](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/26611093). (in Spanish and Yucatec Maya)

- Bolles, David (1997). ["Combined Dictionary–Concordance of the Yucatecan Mayan Language"](http://www.famsi.org/reports/96072/index.html) (revised 2003). Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. (FAMSI). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080331001149/http://www.famsi.org/reports/96072/index.html) from the original on 31 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-20.

- INEGI [Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática] (2005). ["Principales resultados por localidad 2005 (ITER): Quintana Roo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070328224939/http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/). *II [Conteo de Población y Vivienda](/source/Conteo_de_Poblaci%C3%B3n_y_Vivienda) [2005]*. INEGI. Archived from [the original](http://www.inegi.gob.mx/est/contenidos/espanol/sistemas/conteo2005/localidad/iter/) ([XLS](/source/Microsoft_Excel) spreadsheet) on 2007-03-28. Retrieved 2008-04-20.

## External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for ***[Bacalar](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Bacalar#Q1709140)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Bacalar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bacalar).

- [Municipio de Bacalar](http://www.bacalar.gob.mx/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110811071659/http://www.bacalar.gob.mx/) 2011-08-11 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Official website of Bacalar Municipality

- [Bacalar Mosaico](http://www.bacalarmosaico.com/)

- [Ayuntamiento de Othón P. Blanco](http://www.opb.gob.mx/) Official website of Othón P. Blanco Municipality

v t e State of Quintana Roo Chetumal (capital) Municipalities (seats) Bacalar (Bacalar) Benito Juárez (Cancún) Cozumel (San Miguel de Cozumel) Felipe Carrillo Puerto (Felipe Carrillo Puerto) Isla Mujeres (Isla Mujeres) José María Morelos (José María Morelos) Lázaro Cárdenas (Kantunilkín) Othón P. Blanco (Chetumal) Puerto Morelos (Puerto Morelos) Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen) Tulum (Tulum) Places of interest Caves Sistema Dos Ojos Sistema Nohoch Nah Chich Sistema Ox Bel Ha Sistema Sac Actun Islands Isla Contoy Isla Holbox Isla Mujeres Maya sites Chacchoben Chakanbakán Coba Dzibanche El Meco El Rey Ichkabal Kohunlich Limones Muyil Noh Kah Pok Ta Pok Rancho Ina San Gervasio Tulum Xcaret Xelha Yamil Lu'um Yo'okop Reefs Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park Banco Chinchorro Other Akumal Hotel Zone Mahahual Punta Allen Punta Sur Riviera Maya Sian Kaʼan Xcalak Yum Balam

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Israel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bacalar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacalar) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacalar?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.