Lake Bacalar is an attractive Mexican getaway for investors and retirees, convenient to the Caribbean but without the hype. This gem on the Yucatan Peninsula is home to expatriates who come for the affordable lakefront property and stress-free lifestyle. See the following article from International Living for more on this.
Recently I visited Lake Bacalar, one of my favorite places on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. For me, the lake’s tranquil, multi-colored waters and the area’s laid-back simplicity are pure magic.
You won’t find trendy restaurants or sports bars here; rather, the area is almost rustic, with small, family-run restaurants and B&Bs. The largest town, also called Bacalar, has less than 10,000 people. For kicking back and getting away from it all, this area is hard to beat.
The lake’s clear waters look and feel like the Caribbean, but they’re not—Lake Bacalar is Mexico’s second-largest freshwater lake.
Swimming, sailing, kayaking—or just sitting on a dock having a cold one—are great ways to pass the time here. Lake Bacalar has few fish (this is a natural phenomenon), so snorkeling is less common. But for that there’s the Caribbean. Mahahual—the heart of the Costa Maya—is only about an hour and a half away by car.
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And though Lake Bacalar feels blissfully far from everywhere, the southern end of the lake is only half an hour from Chetumal, capital of the state, and the Belize border. This makes shopping easy. Chetumal has a big shopping mall, restaurants, and even a Cineplex with movies in English.
On this latest visit I did notice a few changes since my last trip six months ago. In Bacalar town, a few For Sale signs were up, and a small new hotel has been built.
Several miles from Bacalar town, a lakefront lot that is just under an acre is listing for $120,000.
Bacalar town has the most restaurants and other amenities of anyplace on the lake. It’s also home to a small expat community. If you want to be near other expats or town amenities, right now Bacalar town is the place to be. And while prices here are relatively higher than elsewhere on the lake, they’re still a bargain compared with most beachfront.
About a mile from Bacalar town, a half-acre lot with 63 feet of lakefront has a retaining wall and a staircase to the water already in place. The asking price is $135,000.
This article has been republished from International Living.
