Los Rápidos de Bacalar — Restaurant in Quintana Roo

The review to this place is divided into two. On one side, the rapidos, the attraction itself. On the other, the restaurante, staff and organization that runs the place

The best:

the rapidos themselves are amazing. You really need to visit this place as it is incredible. You need to pay 200 mxn per person as entrance fee and that entitles you to a life vest, bathrooms and parking

To improve:

(Rapidos) this place is breath-taking and it is all thanks to certain micro organisms that inhabit the river that you will swim in. Although there are a many signs asking people to protect them, not to walk or sit on them, many people dont care. There is a "security guard" meant to be checking on this but majority of the time he is sitting away from the catwalks, so people ignore any sort of rule. It would be great if the organization running the place would be a bit more mindful about this. It is important for mother earth to look after this place as much as it is for their own business

(Organization)

The rapidos are located in a private facility run in an extremely commercial way. Basically you need to pay for everything:

You are not allowed to bring your own food or drinks, not even the ocasional water for the day. Food is expensive (example: 250 mxn for a one person pizza / 85 mxn for a tiny capuccino) want to leave your stuff safe?, 50 mxn pesos for a locker there are tables closer to the water than others. The closer you are, the higher the obliged consumption per table (example: the closest one to the water is 1000 mxn pesos). We tried to have a coffee at 17:30 (almost empty place since they close at 18:00) on a coffee table that was close to the water and were informed that those tables had a min 300 mxn obliged consumption life jackets provided are moldy. It would be great if they would bleech them every now and then for the hygene lf...

I kayaked from town to get here, a two-hour journey that was filled with incredible sights along the way, which gave me a much different appreciation for the area. In my opinion, kayaking is the only real way to experience this place without harming the environment—if you follow Leave No Trace principles. For example, don’t run your kayak onto the stromatolites, avoid touching or anchoring in the mangroves, and just float without disrupting anything. However, arriving at the rapids felt underwhelming and disappointing due to how the place is managed.

You pay an entry fee for a bar with loud music and access to the rapids, but the natural beauty is overshadowed by poor stewardship. This time of year, after the rains, the flow is gentle and chill, not the exciting experience some might expect. What really detracts from the experience is the over-commercialization—there are signs everywhere (showing example of human stupidity), disrupting the natural landscape, and the focus seems to be on maximizing profit rather than preserving this unique environment as there also doesn’t seem much education about it.

What’s more concerning is the lack of sustainable tourism practices. I saw boats anchoring near the end of the lagoon, with people walking directly on the stromatolites to reach the rapids. This kind of behavior damages the fragile ecosystem, and it’s clear that the captains and guides either aren’t educated or simply don’t care about their role as custodians of this land.

Bacalar is at risk of becoming like other overdeveloped tourist spots, losing its natural charm and authenticity. There are plenty of other places in the area to enjoy fresh water without harming this delicate environment. I hope the management and guides take steps toward more sustainable practices before...

We had the best day ever floating along the blue lagoon at Los Rapidos! It was much better than anticipated. We arrived at 10am and there were a few cars ahead of us but once that morning rush was over there was plenty of room for all. $200 pesos per person, cash or credit card, life jackets optional but no extra charge. The rapids were not overly strong, but the channel was deep in many places so we were glad to have them. We discovered the trick of putting the jacket on upside down, like a diaper. This left arms free for picture taking and prevented the vest from riding up too high. It became a trend. Be sure to have a waterproof cover for your phone. The water is so clear and the views are stunning in the changing light as you float along. Another tip - locker rental isn't really necessary. We rented - 50 pesos, but soon noticed most folks put their towels and backpacks on wooden chairs and benches in the dining area to hold a spot while floating. Bringing outside food is not allowed. Bathrooms were clean, staff friendly.

We did not order food so can't comment. We floated 3 times. There is a narrow wooden walkway that takes you upstream where you'll pass several stairs to enter the water. Then, floating down to the restaurant area can take maybe 20-30 mins. At the very end there is a lovely calm mangrove pool with fish and a hammock area. That's also where the kayaks/canoes can be rented.

Please be respectful of the ecosystem and DO NOT WEAR SUNSCREEN OR STAND ON THE STROMOLITES. If you are sensitive to sun, wear a protective long sleeve top.

I think I enjoyed this activity more than the lagoon boat tour. I would put this at the top of your must...