Casa Shiva Bacalar by MIJ

The one good part was Lorenzo, who was friendly and helpful when we arrived. Everything else was a letdown. The website photos are very misleading. Yes, the hotel is on the lagoon, but the grounds were unkempt, the rooms basic and noisy, and there was very little privacy. We could hear everything, even from other rooms. It looked run down as soon as we got there. We booked three nights and left after the first. There was no food or drink at the hotel, and the staff couldn’t say when a delivery would arrive. Our room had no fridge, so even snacks wouldn’t have been easy to keep. There weren’t any cups, bottled water, or little touches either. The room was clean but basic, and later that evening we found cockroaches in it. They advertise kayaks, but staff told us they no longer had any.

David, the manager, was quick to answer all my questions and help with what I needed. His genuine care and attention to detail made a big difference. He and the whole Hotel Casa Shiva team made the stay memorable for all the right reasons. I highly recommend it for the warm welcome and excellent service.

The rooms and lagoon views are gorgeous, and breakfast each morning was lively. Staff were attentive and friendly throughout my week there. It was the peaceful lagoon getaway I’d only dreamed of. I had a perfect stay. If you can’t enjoy a place like this, something’s wrong with you.

We loved Bacalar, and the receptionists were nice. Being so close to the water was great, too. But our room felt damp and a bit like a garage, so the stay wasn’t comfortable. There was very little comfort in the room, and it didn’t seem as though much care went into the hotel or grounds. We were there in July.