Bacalar

Founded in AD 435, Bacalar (pronounced baa-ka-lar) is one of Quintana Roo's oldest settlements. There's a mix of freshwater and salt water in Laguna de Bacalar because it's fed by cenotes. This mixing 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 crystal clear cenote that's 300 feet deep and 600 feet in diameter. The water is clean and the diving is excellent here. Drive along the lake's southern shores to enter the affluent section of the town of Bacalar, with elegant waterfront homes.