Bacalar

Founded in AD 435, Bacalar (pronounced baa-ka-lar) is one of Quintana Roo's oldest settlements. The mix of freshwater and salt water in the cenote-fed Laguna de Bacalar intensifies the color, which earned the lagoon the nickname "Lago de los Siete Colores" (Lake of the Seven Colors). Marking the entrance to Bacalar (Carretera 307 at Km 34) is Cenote Azul, a crystalline cenote that's 300 feet deep and 600 feet across. The water is clean and the diving is excellent here. Drive along the lakeshore for the affluent section of the town of Bacalar, with its elegant waterfront homes.