Hotel Tuparenda Bacalar

Breakfast was great, and we loved having free drinking water to refill our bottles. The family-run hotel was clean and comfortable, with working AC and a lovely rooftop spot where you can see the lake in the distance. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the center, with bars and restaurants along the way. The towels were worn, and the curtains were hard to close all the way.

The staff made our stay at Hotel Tuparenda wonderful. Breakfast was fantastic, and the cooks were gracious and accommodating. The front desk gentleman gave accurate, helpful information, shared tour options and drinking water, and two of the front desk gentlemen helped us find taxis. The room was clean, the facilities were lovely, and we especially liked the beautiful third floor and the decor. Public lagoon access is just down the street, next to an entrance that costs only 20 MXN Pesos. We'd love to stay again. We did have a serious problem with one taxi arranged by the front desk. We understood that the driver had agreed to take us to Laguna Bonanza, right next door to Los Rapidos de Bacalar, for 200 MXN Pesos. When we arrived, the driver's brother, also a taxi driver, aggressively demanded 320 MXN Pesos, almost twice what we thought had been agreed. We were shocked and shaken, and felt we had no choice but to pay. We thought Laguna Bonanza would save money, but it ended up costing more than going straight to Los Rapidos. We told the front desk, and the gentleman apologized profusely and said the driver had scammed us. We learned to confirm both the fare and destination ourselves, even when the hotel helps arrange a taxi. Most drivers, though not all, seemed super sketchy to us, so don't trust them blindly.

For a budget-friendly price, this was a good deal. The hotel was clean, the staff friendly, and breakfast was homemade. There’s a nice lake view from the top floor, plus a modern split-type AC and a safe in the room.

The hotel was spotless, welcoming, and well placed for exploring Bacalar. The service was excellent, with fresh sheets and towels every day and really nice breakfasts. My only suggestion is to add a chair to the rooms. I had laptop work to do and could have used one. Otherwise, nothing to complain about, and I’d recommend staying here.