Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar is an 18th-century Spanish fort on the main square, facing the Bacalar Lagoon and the canal that pirates once used. Spain built it to guard the town and its trade, and it now holds a small museum with labels in Spanish and English. The walls are the main draw, with wide views over the water and a small tower to climb. Allow about an hour for the walls and the museum, then spend the rest of your time on the plaza outside, where a breeze comes off the lagoon.
Why Spain built the fort
Spain built the fort in the 18th century to guard Bacalar from pirates who sailed the Caribbean and used the calm waters of the lagoon. Antonio de Figueroa y Silva, governor of Yucatán, is named as the man behind the project. Ships from Britain, the Netherlands and France were among the threats the fort was meant to keep out.
The defence also protected trade. Dyewood was valuable at the time and passed through Bacalar, and the fort helped watch that traffic. The town exported mahogany, sugar, fruit and dyewood, and the fort's position on the water supported that trade.
Walls, moat and later history
The fort is built from volcanic and marine rock, bound with limestone. A deep moat once surrounded the stone structure, and it is still there to see. The design is credited to the Italian architect Juan Podio.
Wars damaged the fort badly. It was restored at the end of the 20th century and opened to the public. It was declared a National Historic Monument in 1975 and has been a museum since the 1980s.
Inside the museum
The museum uses labels in Spanish and English. Its displays run from the Maya communities that lived here before the Spanish arrived through to the early 20th century. They cover the colonial period, piracy, and the roles of Spain and England in the region.
The collection includes artifacts and a striking mural. A small lookout tower can be climbed for a wider view of the town and the water. Some QR codes and animated displays may not work, and a few objects are missing from their cases, so read the labels closely.
The museum is small, and most visitors can cover it in less than an hour along with the walls.
Around the fort
The fort sits on the main square, the zócalo, with the lagoon on one side. Outside, a tree-lined plaza catches a breeze from the water. The painted BACALAR sign is a short walk away, with letters decorated with lagoon wildlife and Mayan symbols.
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, dating from the 1700s, is also downtown. Across the lagoon from the fort lies the pirates' canal that the fort was built to watch.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee?
Yes. Tourists pay 110 pesos, and reduced prices apply to Mexican visitors, children, teachers and older visitors.
How long do you need?
About an hour covers the walls and the museum.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
The entrance is wheelchair accessible, and the parking lot has wheelchair spaces. Parking is free.
Is it good for children?
Yes, the fort is a good place to take children.
Should I buy tickets in advance?
Advance tickets are recommended.