The gorgeous Bacalar Lagoon—Laguna de los Siete Colores—just inland from Chetumal, has recently evolved from a quiet backpacker stop into a trendy escape from the coastal Riviera Maya, attracting a hippie-chic crowd seeking boutique wellness retreats.
Akalki Hotel y Centro Holístico was one of the first properties here and remains among the very best, featuring Bacalar’s only overwater bungalows.
These are the cheapest overwater bungalows in Mexico, with an earthy, back-to-nature design.
They’re nothing like over-the-top opulence of the luxury bungalows farther up the coast, near Cancun.
True to its eco-resort ethos, you will forgo heavy modern luxuries like air conditioning and televisions in the overwater rooms, relying instead on natural lagoon breezes and ceiling fans.
Overall, we think Akalki delivers an unmatched rustic-romantic lagoon experience defined by holistic wellness, organic farm-to-table dining, and some particularly serene natural beauty.
Akalki Hotel y Centro Holístico at a Glance
- Location: Shores of Bacalar Lagoon, inland from Chetumal, Mexico
- Accommodation: 441 sq. ft. rustic-chic overwater bungalows and secluded on-land garden rooms
- Best for: Couples, wellness seekers, and travelers looking for an eco-friendly holistic retreat
- Meals: Included continental breakfast and organic, locally sourced dining at La Botika
- Activities: Daily wellness programs, yoga, sound healing, kayaking, spa treatments, and full moon gatherings
- Getting there: Approximately a 40-minute taxi or bus journey from Chetumal
Overwater Bungalows & Other Accommodation
The 441-square-foot overwater bungalows, listed as Superior King Rooms, are rustic, bright, and airy, featuring giant thatched roofs, dark and light wood furnishings, king-size beds, sofa beds, and large furnished terraces overlooking the lagoon.
While omitting air conditioning and mini-bars, they provide premium comforts like 350-thread-count sheets, feather pillow choices, water dispensers, yoga mats, and kayaks.
On-land rooms offer similar earthy aesthetics with slightly more space and air conditioning, surrounded by tropical garden vegetation.
For booking options, you can check details via Booking.com or Expedia.
Food, Facilities & Things to Do
Guests come to Akalki to disconnect, unwind, and participate in daily holistic programs including meditation, yoga, dance, sound healing, and cooking classes spread across spaces like the evocatively or pretentiously named depending on your mood, Temple Madre Tierra and Shala on the Lagoon.
The on-site spa center offers massages, a steam room, and a sauna.
Dining mainly centers around La Botika, which serves fresh, organic Mexican and international cuisine with many ingredients grown directly on site, farm to table style, and they have numerous vegan options available.
Location: Getting There & Away
Akalki is situated directly along the shores of the Bacalar Lagoon of Seven Colors, located inland from Chetumal near the border with Belize.
Travelers typically arrive via Chetumal’s daily bus services or a local taxi, with the scenic journey taking approximately forty minutes.
What Guests Say
“The Holistic atmosphere was amazing, the staff superb with their attentiveness to your comfort. The setting on the Laguna was also superb….”
See all the reviews right here
Our Verdict
Akalki Hotel y Centro Holístico is a peaceful, back-to-nature wellness sanctuary offering Mexico’s most affordable and, we might say authentic, overwater bungalow experience.
We think it will suit wellness-focused travelers; anyone who likes the sound seeking a quiet, holistic escape on a gorgeous freshwater lagoon.
You’ll have to deal with a lack of usual resort mod-cons like air conditioning in the overwater units, though we think the fans and breezes from the lake do the job nicely.
If natural beauty, organic food, and daily wellness programs sound good to you, choose an overwater bungalow at Akalki, and you’ll also save a fortune compared to those super swish resorts up the coast near Cancun.
