Cleanliness: 9.6
Guests use words like "spotless" and "pristine" again and again; it ties for the highest score on Expedia.
Bacalar · Quintana Roo · Mexico
Casa Zazil
★★
A small single-story guesthouse run by its owners, with a leafy inner patio, spotless rooms and a home-cooked breakfast made to order. The ADO bus station is a few minutes' walk away and the lagoon about 15.
- 9.4on Expedia · 82 reviews
- 4.7on Google · 155 reviews
- 15min walk to the lagoon
Secure booking on Expedia · Rates change by date
A family guesthouse that feels like staying with friends
Casa Zazil is on Calle 26, between 17 and 19, in the Gonzalo Guerrero neighborhood, on the highway side of Bacalar. It's a handy base if you travel by bus: the ADO terminal is about a kilometer away, and there's a 24-hour Oxxo convenience store a block from the door. The lagoon, the San Felipe Fort and the main square are around 15 minutes on foot.
It's not a resort: there are only a few rooms around a garden patio with palms and flowers, and the owners look after guests themselves. That's exactly what reviews praise most: cleanliness (9.6), service (9.6), tips on what to do in Bacalar, help booking boat trips on the lagoon, and a breakfast that changes every day.
See availability →What makes it special
Six concrete things, all taken from the listing and from guest reviews.
Breakfast made to order
No buffet: they cook for you at the time you agree on and serve it in the garden, with a menu that changes daily.
Run by the owners
Service scores 9.6. Reviewers describe warm hosts who share honest local tips and go out of their way to help.
Help with lagoon trips
They help you arrange boat tours on the lagoon and other excursions; several guests booked through them.
Easy by bus
The ADO terminal is a short walk away, which several guests found ideal for early or overnight buses.
A quiet garden patio
Palms, flowers and shaded tables in the middle of the house: a calm spot for breakfast or the evening.
Hotel photos
The rooms
Two room types on a single floor, for two or four guests. All have air conditioning, a ceiling fan, free wifi, a 40-inch flat-screen TV with cable, a safe, a desk and a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries. Housekeeping is daily.
Comfort Quadruple Room
The option for families or friends traveling together. Most guests find the rooms roomy; one German family thought they were on the snug side for four.
See price →Comfort Double Room
For couples: a King bed, a desk with a TV and a decorative stone-framed mirror.
See price →Guesthouse amenities
A small, simple place with no pool or restaurant: its strengths are cleanliness, breakfast and the personal attention of the owners.
- À la carte breakfastServed daily; Expedia lists it with a surcharge, though some rates include it.
- Free parkingOn site and limited; guests mention it is right in front, with security cameras.
- Free wifiIn every room and in some common areas.
- Air conditioningPlus a ceiling fan in every room.
- 24-hour front deskThe staff welcome you on arrival.
- Daily housekeepingIncluded, according to Expedia.
- Tour and ticket helpBoat trips on the lagoon and other excursions.
- Coffee and teaAvailable in the common areas.
- SafeIn the room and at the front desk.
- Terrace and gardenAn inner patio with plants and shaded tables.
- Ramp accessWheelchair ramp and accessible parking; the house is all on one floor.
- Designated smoking areasSmoking elsewhere may result in a fine.
Breakfast and where to eat
Breakfast at the house is the highlight; for lunch and dinner, the restaurants of central Bacalar are 13–15 minutes away on foot.
Breakfast at Casa Zazil
Cooked to order: eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, homemade fruit waters and coffee. They adapt it for vegetarians and food allergies if you ask.
Oxxo · 1 block
A 24-hour convenience store for water, snacks and basics.
I Scream Bar · 13 min
An ice-cream stop on the way to the lagoon.
Wingman · 13 min
A casual option in town for lunch or dinner.
El Trompo de K'los · 14 min
Tacos al pastor for a simple dinner.
Asadero El Establo · 14 min
Grilled meats, also within walking distance.
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 · 1.4 km
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 · 1.1 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 · 4.4 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 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 36 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 km from the hotel, a few minutes on foot). There are daily departures to Chetumal, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and Cancún.
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
The town is easy to explore on foot or by bike, and the guesthouse has free parking. For Cenote Azul, the rapids, Mahahual or the ruins, a rental car, taxi or tour with transport is best; gas stations and ATMs are scarce outside Bacalar and Chetumal.
What's nearby
From Calle 26 between 17 and 19, Gonzalo Guerrero neighborhood.
- Oxxo (24 h)1 block
- ADO bus terminal1 km
- San Felipe Fort1.1 km · 16 min walk
- Main square (zócalo)16 min walk
- Bacalar Lagoon16 min walk
- Municipal swimming area1.4 km
- Cenote Cocalitos4 km
- Cenote Azul4.4 km
- Los Rápidos11 km
- Chetumal Airport21 km · 36 min by car
- Chacchoben ruins39 km
- Mahahual73 km
What guests say
9.4 out of 10 on Expedia from 82 reviews (65 rated it 10) and 4.7 out of 5 on Google from 155 reviews.
9.6Cleanliness
9.6Service and staff
9.6Property condition
8.6Location
«Every morning starts with a made to order breakfast, arranged for the specific time you would like it.»
«Breakfast was the highlight: they don't have a buffet, instead they cook for you and serve in the garden.»
«The room was clean and very comfortable. The breakfast was delicious! Excellent service.»
«The rooms were very spacious and clean. We felt at home. The location is 10–15 minutes on foot from the center, and that was no drawback.»
«Everything is close, very easy to walk or bike to the pier, the market and more.»
«The property was only a 5 min walk to the ADO bus terminal, which was very convenient for us.»
What to know before you book
Check-in from 2:00 PM
The front desk is open 24 hours and the staff welcome you in person. Check-out before 12:00 PM.
Minimum age: 18
Photo ID is required, and a cash deposit for incidentals may be requested at check-in.
Breakfast: check your rate
Expedia lists it as à la carte with a surcharge (8:00 to 10:00 AM); some rates include it.
City tax
A municipal lodging tax is charged per night and paid at the property. Cards and cash are accepted.
Children welcome
There are no extra beds or cribs, and pets are not allowed.
Next to the highway
The house is on the highway side of town. Most guests say it's quiet; one found the road noticeable.
Spanish helps
The hosts speak little English but get by with a translator app and a lot of goodwill.
Walking at night
Some nearby streets lack sidewalks or good lighting: take a flashlight or a taxi after dark.
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 17 and 19, Colonia Gonzalo Guerrero, 77930 Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Book your stay at Casa Zazil
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 is Casa Zazil?
In Bacalar, Quintana Roo, on Calle 26 between 17 and 19 (Gonzalo Guerrero neighborhood), on the highway side of town. The lagoon, the fort and the main square are about 15 minutes on foot.
Is it in Bacalar or Chetumal?
In Bacalar. Some booking pages group it under the Chetumal region, but the guesthouse is in the town of Bacalar, about 40 km from Chetumal.
Is breakfast included?
It depends on the rate. Expedia lists an à la carte breakfast with a surcharge, served from 8:00 to 10:00 AM; some rates include it. Guests rate it as one of the best parts of their stay.
How far is the ADO bus station?
About 1 km, a few minutes on foot. Several guests chose Casa Zazil precisely for early or overnight buses.
Does it have a pool or parking?
There's no pool and no restaurant. Parking is free on site, though spaces are limited.
What time is check-in?
From 2:00 PM, with a 24-hour front desk. Check-out is before 12:00 PM.
Is it good for families?
Yes: children are welcome and the quadruple rooms have two double beds for up to four guests. There are no extra beds or cribs.
Can they help me book tours?
Yes. The guesthouse helps with tours and tickets, and many guests booked their lagoon boat trip through the hosts.