How to Visit Fort San Felipe in Bacalar, Mexico
Fuerte de San Felipe Bacalar, or Fort San Felipe Bacalar in English, is a striking colonial fortress in downtown Bacalar. It overlooks the gorgeous Bacalar lagoon of seven colors and was built in the 1700s to defend against pirate attacks.
It’s easy to observe the fort from outside since its located right next to Bacalar’s Zócalo (main square) and the Mango y Chile, one of the most popular restaurants in Bacalar.
But is Fuerte de San Felipe worth visiting? And what do you need to know before going inside? Keep reading, this Bacalar Fort San Felipe travel guide will answer these questions and more!
👋🏽 Note from the author: Did this article impact the way you planned your trip? Have any questions? Please comment at the end of the article! It helps this blog grow and helps me know what types of articles to write more. 💛
☀️ My Bacalar Favorites 🌺
⛵️ Bacalar Boat Tour: Cruising through the lagoon of seven colors on a boat tour is one of the most popular things to do here, and my favorite boat tour only costs about $43 USD per person and includes a free kayak rental after the tour!
🌊 Los Rápidos: Float down a natural lazy river beside breathtaking stromatolites (believed to be the oldest living organisms on earth!!) Read my guide to ethically visiting Los Rapdios.
🌅 Sunrise Paddle Board: Pull yourself out of bed early for an unforgettable guided SUP experience with early-morning star gazing, a gorgeous sunrise, and a floating breakfast (Details here).
🌮 Best Food in Bacalar: My favorite places to eat in Bacalar include Mango y Chile (incredible vegan burgers with a lagoon view!!) and Mr. Taco (cheap delicious tacos).
🌴 Where to Stay: Lagoon view cabana at Habitas Bacalar, waterfront suite at Puerta del Cielo Hotel Origen, or a poolside suite at Blue Palm Bacalar in the heart of Bacalar town.
Pirates & Fort San Felipe Bacalar’s Historical Significance
Fuerte de San Felipe was built in 1733 by the Spanish to defend the town of Bacalar from smugglers and pirates. Over the next four decades, modifications were made to strengthen its defense, such as adding a watchtower.
Believe it or not, Campeche wood (pale de tinte in Spanish) is what the pirates and smugglers were after. This wood could be used for dying clothes black, purple, and blue. Europeans, whose clothes were usually brown or grey, created a demand for these natural dyes.
Apparently, a ship of Campeche wood was worth more than a years worth of other cargo, so it is no wonder that places like Bacalar where this prized wood was exported attracted smugglers and pirates.
The fort was designated as a national historic monument in 1975 and became a public museum in 1983. Today it is the main historical site in Bacalar, and houses an interesting museum about Bacalar’s history and the pirates.
Also See: Best Bacalar Boat Tours
Where is Fuerte de San Felipe Bacalar?
Fuerte de San Felipe is located in downtown Bacalar, a town in the state of Quintana Roo on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The fortress is situated on a hill overlooking Bacalar lagoon, directly across from Pirates’ Channel, a canal connecting the lagoon to the Caribbean Ocean.
What to Expect When Visiting Fuerte de San Felipe Bacalar
To visit Fort San Felipe in Bacalar, first head to the ticket booth, which is located between the fort and Mango y Chile restaurant.
Then you can enter the fort by showing your ticket, crossing through the gate, and over the moat. As a visitor you can explore all the open areas, and the small watchtower. You can also visit the small museum, which in my opinion, is the highlight of the fort.
It is important to note that there really isn’t much to see at the fortress. Although it is small, the museum is the best in town to learn about Bacalar’s history, and of course, the real pirates of the Caribbean!
In my opinion, the best time to visit the fort is around golden hour, an hour or two before sunset. The fort is the perfect place to watch the sunset over Bacalar lagoon!
Is Fort San Felipe Bacalar Worth Visiting?
If pirates and colonial history interest, Fort San Felipe is worth a visit! However, I will be honest — there isn’t much to see inside the fort that you can’t see from outside, beside the museum.
$110 pesos a somewhat nominal cost, but it is a bit more than the entry fee other historical sites and museums in Mexico.
With this all in mind, whether Fort San Felipe is worth visiting will be completely based on your own interests. I would not consider it a must-visit place in Bacalar, but you should at least see it from the outside!
Note: The grassy hills next to the Fuerte de San Felipe are a nice spot for a picnic at sunset if you decide not to go in the fort!
Final Thoughts: Fort San Felipe Bacalar
If you visit Bacalar Centro, Fuerte de San Felipe is impossible to miss! But whether you end up buying a ticket to enter the fort depends on your level of interest in the Fort San Felipe museum since the fort itself is quite small.
Whether you visit the fort or not, I hope this article helped you plan your Bacalar vacation! Be sure to check out my other Mexico travel guides, too!
