How to Visit Bacalar’s Fort of San Felipe
Discover everything you need to know about visiting Bacalar’s historic fort, the Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar.
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Standing proud in the centre of town, the Fort of San Felipe (Fuerte de San Felipe) is one of Bacalar’s most historic landmarks. Overlooking the lagoon, it was built to defend the town from pirate attacks, and now it serves as both a historic monument and a cultural museum. Spend a few hours here, admiring the architecture, enjoying panoramic views, and exploring the exhibits inside. With well-preserved stone walls, bastions, and a moat, the fort provides an insight into the region’s colonial and pirate-filled past and is one of the best things to do in Bacalar. Discover everything you need to know before visiting, including times, tickets, and tours, in this guide.
Bacalar Fort of San Felipe at a glance
What is the name of the fort in Bacalar?
The official name of the fort in Bacalar is Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar in Spanish (Bacalar’s Fort of San Felipe). It was named in honour of Saint Philip of Jesus, a Catholic martyr. The name has become synonymous with the town’s identity and heritage, often being shortened to simply the ‘Bacalar Fort’.
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What is the history of the Bacalar Fort?
Fuerte de San Felipe was built between 1725 and 1733 under the direction of the Italian engineer Juan Podio. It was commissioned by then-governor of Yucatán, Antonio de Figueroa y Silva, to defend Bacalar from repeated pirate raids.
During the colonial era, Bacalar was a strategic trading post targeted particularly by Dutch, English, and French pirates seeking the region’s valuable palo de tinte – highly valuable logwood from Capeche used to dye cloths black, purple, and blue.
Over the centuries, it played a defensive role during battles between the Spanish crown, pirates, and later during the Caste War of Yucatán.
The fort was later designated as a national historic monument in 1975, before being converted into the Piracy Museum in 1983.
Bacalar Fort
The fort itself is made from limestone and coral, featuring bastions, walls, and ramparts that were once lined with cannons. It was designed in a star-shaped style typical of Spanish military architecture of the time.
Located directly beside Bacalar’s Zócalo (main square), Fuerte de San Felipe is built on a small hill overlooking Bacalar Lagoon.
The structure includes walking paths, lookout points, and a museum. While compact in size, the fort has been carefully preserved and remains in excellent condition.
The fort features 4 bastions: Santa Ana, San Arturo, Santa María, and San Joaquín. It originally housed 34 cannons, of which 11 remain today, surrounded by a 4-metre (13 ft) deep moat and a drawbridge, which were added later for improved defence.
Bacalar Fort Museum
The on-site museum, Museo de la Piratería (Piracy Museum), displays artefacts such as ancient maps, model ships, weaponry, cannonballs, Mayan archaeological items, and even the skeleton of a pirate discovered during excavations. It chronicles the history of Bacalar, its colonial past, and the pirate invasions that shaped the region. The museum is run by the Institute of Culture and Arts of Quintana Roo (Instituto de la Cultura y las Artes de Quintana Roo). Visitors can also explore a mural by Elio Carmichael and interactive exhibits covering Bacalar’s pre-Hispanic era, colonial conflicts, and the Caste War.
Where is Bacalar Fort?
Bacalar’s Fort of San Felipe is located in downtown Bacalar, just off the main square (zócalo). The location is central and walkable from most accommodations and restaurants in town.
Bacalar itself sits in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. The fort itself is perched on a hill overlooking Bacalar Lagoon, directly across from Pirates’ Channel (Canal de los Piratas), a historic waterway connecting the lagoon with the Hondo River.
Bacalar Fort Map
We’ve pinned Fuerte de San Felipe on our interactive Bacalar Map below.
How to visit the Bacalar Fort
Visiting the Bacalar Fort is easy thanks to its central location, and most travellers simply walk from nearby sights in town. Many top hotels in Bacalar are within walking or cycling distance of the fort, too.
You can walk around the outside of the fort for free or enter to explore more deeply and to visit the museum.
The entrance is through a small ticket booth at the front. You can tour the fort independently or hire a local guide at the entrance for a deeper understanding of the fort’s history.
Allow 30-60 minutes to explore the grounds and the museum at a relaxed pace. It’s especially beautiful in the morning or late afternoon, when the golden lighting is ideal for photography.
Bacalar Fort Tours
While many visitors explore the fort on their own, there are also guided tours available that include the fort as part of a broader introduction to Bacalar’s history and downtown highlights. Some Bacalar Lagoon boat tours and cultural packages offer a stop near the fort or provide context about its past while viewing it from the lagoon. Local guides often wait near the entrance, offering short historical tours for a modest fee.
Bacalar Fort Tickets
You can only buy tickets for Bacalar Fort in person. The ticket booth is located between the fort and the Mango y Chile restaurant, one of the top restaurants in Bacalar.
Once you’ve purchased your ticket, you can enter through the gate and cross over the moat into the site.
You can book a tour of the fort online with local companies, but not directly with the fort.
Tickets cost 110 pesos for visitors (~$6 USD), 55 pesos for locals (~$3 USD), and a special rate of 30 pesos for teachers, students, and children (~$1.60 USD).
Bacalar Fort Opening Hours
Bacalar’s Fort of San Felipe is open from Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays), between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. The last entry is often around 6:30 PM.
Holiday hours may vary, so it’s a good idea to check locally or with your hotel if visiting around public holidays.
The best time to visit the Bacalar Fort is around golden hour, an hour or two before sunset or at sunrise. Its position gives it stunning views over the lagoon.
Is Bacalar Fort worth visiting?
Bacalar’s fort is well worth visiting for its historical significance, architecture, and scenic views of the lagoon. It offers a unique glimpse into the region’s colonial and pirate-era past, and its compact size makes it an easy, informative stop.
It’s a very small site, but the entrance fee is equally small. To make the most of your visit, we’d recommend combining the fort with exploring the town or visiting other famous sites in Bacalar, like sailing on the lagoon or visiting top sites like Bacalar’s cenotes, Los Rápidos, Ecoparque Bacalar, and Cenote Coclitos.
Read next:
28 Best Things to Do in Bacalar
Where to Stay in Bacalar: 14 Top Hotels
Bacalar Lagoon of 7 Colours Guide
How to Visit Los Rápidos Bacalar
A Comparison of Bacalar’s 4 Cenotes
How to Visit Cenote Cocalitos Beach Resort
