Bacalar Nears 90% Hotel Occupancy for San Joaquín Fest

Cancún, Mexico — Bacalar is experiencing an 80% hotel occupancy rate on weekends during the current holiday season, with expectations of reaching 90% during the upcoming San Joaquín festivities, scheduled from August 14 to 20, according to Mayor José Alfredo "Chepe" Contreras Méndez.

A Major Equestrian Event and Tourism Boom

The celebrations will feature the Federated Horseback Ride, an event expected to draw over 1,000 riders from across Mexico, as well as international participants from Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

Contreras Méndez emphasized Bacalar’s appeal as a sargassum-free destination in the Mexican Caribbean, boasting 58 kilometers of crystal-clear waters and the famed Seven Shades of Blue Lagoon. Key attractions include Los Rápidos, the Island of Birds, the Black Cenote, and the Ixcabal archaeological site.

The municipality is also strategically connected via two Maya Train stations—one in the municipal seat and another in Limones—as well as the Tulum and Chetumal airports. "We are living our best tourism moment. Bacalar has it all: nature, history, connectivity, and hospitality," the mayor stated.

Addressing Community Needs at Public Hearing

The mayor highlighted the success of the state government’s tenth public hearing, which saw nearly 1,000 attendees, including representatives from all 58 communities in the municipality. Citizens submitted requests related to healthcare, infrastructure, electricity, housing, and other concerns, with direct participation from state and federal agencies.

A key issue addressed was the unstable electricity supply in rural areas. In response, an agreement was reached between the State Government and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to improve service reliability. "The CFE’s southern zone superintendent was present and listened to residents. He committed to enhancing response efforts, especially in areas with frequent outages," Contreras Méndez explained.

Another recurring demand was the rehabilitation of harvest roads, heavily impacted by recent atypical rainfall. The mayor confirmed a joint effort with the Secretariat of Agricultural, Rural, and Fisheries Development (Sedarpe) to allocate resources for repairs, with ejidos contributing materials and the municipality and state providing fuel and machinery.

Additional Services Provided

The hearing also facilitated the distribution of prosthetics, hearing aids, roofing materials, and property titles, along with discounts on vehicle-related procedures and the resolution of various citizen complaints.

Bacalar’s combination of natural beauty, cultural events, and improved infrastructure positions it as a leading destination in Quintana Roo as it prepares to welcome visitors for the San Joaquín festivities.