New Bus and Train Station Coming to Bacalar as Tourism Continues to Increase
Grupo ADO has announced the construction of a new bus terminal in Bacalar.
The new facility will replace the nearly 20-year-old station, which is not much more than a ticketing booth.
Currently, buses to and from Bacalar park on the side of the highway to load and unload passengers — a situation that has become outright dangerous.
The new terminal will have dedicated passenger loading zones and amenities like free WiFi, benches, and bathrooms.
The location of the Tren Maya terminal in Bacalar is yet to be officially disclosed, but President Lopéz Obrador recently stated that it would cover 7.5 acres.
Given the difficulty of laying train tracks along Quintana Roo’s coastline, the Maya Train’s Line 6, which includes Bacalar, will likely be the last to be open to the public — likely not until next year.
The small town of Bacalar and its stunning so-called “lagoon of seven colors” are popular with travelers wanting to get away from crowded resorts such as Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
Earlier: Valladolid’s Tren Maya Station to Open in January 2024
Aside from hotels, the lagoon’s shores are also full of luxurious private residences, some of which are available for rent.
But not everyone is happy with the boom in tourism Bacalar has experienced over the past decade.
In 2020, countless dead sea snails began to wash ashore on the lagoon’s banks. The death of the snails is particularly concerning as they are an important source of food for the many birds in the region.
“A decade or so ago, Bacalar really started to grow. All of a sudden, it went from being a sleepy little town with a gorgeous lagoon to a major attraction with tons of hotels and restaurants. And now, the lagoon itself is paying the price for all the activity. It’s still nice, but it’s not quite the same,” said Raúl Lopez of nearby Chetumal.
The rapid growth of Bacalar has also brought with it an increased strain on the power grid, which in recent years has been more prone to fail.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a journalist, photographer, and expedition leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada, and Norway.
