At dawn on Lake Bacalar, I spotted one of the oldest life forms on Earth—a stromatolite. These lumpy, cauliflower-like structures are over 12,000 years old and help keep the lake clean. Kayaking through Bacalar, also called the “lagoon of seven colors,” felt like floating on glass, with clear turquoise water and birds gliding overhead.
Bacalar is becoming more popular with tourists thanks to the new Tren Maya railway, which connects towns, Mayan ruins, nature reserves, and beaches across the Yucatán.
The Tren Maya is opening up remote areas for tourism, creating jobs but also raising environmental concerns. While visiting, I explored Mayan cities like Ichkabal, quiet cenotes, and traditional craft workshops at Xcanchacán, where locals like Soledad still make henequen products sold worldwide.
We also visited Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, home to hundreds of bird species and visiting dolphins, where careful tourism is helping protect the delicate ecosystem.
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