Bacalar Launches Digital Registry to Certify Vacation Rentals

Bacalar, Quintana Roo — The municipal government of Bacalar has launched a digital lodging registry designed to certify the properties advertised on vacation rental apps, part of an effort to give owners legal certainty and give guests a way to verify their accommodation is regulated.

The platform, known as the Padrón Municipal de Hospedaje Digital, requires participating properties to hold a Special Operating License and to display an official QR verification code in plain view of visitors. Hosts register through hospedajedigital.municipiobacalar.gob.mx, a step officials say formalizes their activity and gives them a competitive edge.

Demand for lodging in the Pueblo Mágico has climbed steadily. According to the Quintana Roo Tourism Department (Sedetur), Bacalar received 251,995 tourists in 2025, and had already recorded 133,759 visitors between January and June of 2026.

The town’s lodging sector currently comprises 144 hotels and other accommodation centers with more than 1,500 rooms, alongside more than 500 active vacation rentals.

Beyond the commercial benefit, officials said registration links each property to the municipal response network so authorities can react quickly to emergencies or accidents. For travelers, scanning the QR code on arrival confirms they are staying in a space that complies with local safety, order and service standards.

Municipal authorities said bringing informal rental listings into the formal system is key to sustaining Bacalar’s competitiveness as a destination. Bacalar sits in the southern Mexican Caribbean and forms part of the Grand Costa Maya brand alongside Chetumal and Mahahual.