Gareth Leonard | WILD ANIMAL Encounter in Xcalak | Bacalar, Mexico Travel Guide @GarethLeonard | Uploaded December 2021 | Updated October 2024, 12 minutes ago.
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Bacalar Lagoon, Mexico - Day two in Bacalar and we’re back on the Bacalar Lagoon for sunrise to kayak along the estromatalitos. Kayaking on the "7 Color Lake" is most definitely one of the best things to do in Bacalar.
It’s crazy to think that this lake in Bacalar, like most bodies of water here in the Yucatán Peninsula, is fed by underground rivers and the colors come out this crystal clear and pristine.
Downtown Bacalar is a calm and quiet little village with thatched roofs and colorful streets. everybody I spoke to for recommendations about this place mentioned I had to stop for breakfast at El Socio, right in the heart of Bacalar for breakfast.
Another amazing things to do in Bacalar is to take a a two-hour drive southeast of Bacalar, past Mahahual, we end up in Xcalak; a sleepy fishing community of less than 400 residents that rests within one of the last “unspoiled” stretches of the Mexican Caribbean.
Xcalak is simple, raw, underdeveloped, beautiful, and to understand why people settled here, we gotta get out on the water. This is one of the best things to do in Xcalak. This is the very southeastern-most tip of Mexico with Belize within eye sight, a tiny nook in this world that very few people explore.
Honestly, my expectations were pretty low for this expedition of snorkeling off the coast of Xcalak. Our travel guide Antonio tells us that manatees are getting harder and harder to spot because they’re leaving these warming rivers for deeper cooler waters of the Xcalak reef.
But as I swim out past the shallow coral reef, towards the blue abyss, two giant objects coming straight towards me. First thought obviously is always shark, then dolphin, then maybe chunky mermaid, but no. it was what we all hoped for. It’s something that i’ve always wanted to see in the wild - two, beautiful, smooth manatees just cruising past. As I dive down to get a closer look, one actually turns around and circles right in front of me. It’s heart-pounding and peaceful.
For a split second, it fell like we share a moment. I know he’s probably just thinking “look at this idiot trying to swim” but I feel it. And as mysteriously as they appeared from the cloudy depths, they disappear the same way. It is the coolest feeling.
We make one final stop in Buena Vista on our way back to Bacalar from Xcalak to sample delicious, authentic Mayan honey from stingless bees.
Finally, we end the day at The Yak Lake House for dinner. A restaurant and hostel in Bacalar, right next to the Bacalar Lagoon.
If you've read this full description please leave a comment so I can thank you directly. 😉
———————
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————————
WHO AM I?
Hi! My name is Gareth Leonard, an American Travel YouTuber with a passion for slow, meaningful Travel. I have spent the past 12+ years traveling around the world while creating travel vlogs to help inspire and educate people to “Travel Deeper.”
If you enjoy my work, please subscribe to this channel and turn on the notifications bell to stay up-to-date with my travel deeper adventures.
Daily updates can also be found on my Instagram Stories (@traveldeeper), so if you’ve read this far, send me a DM with the “🦊” emoji so I know you’re a real one!
Thanks for following along! 🙏
p.s. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notifications bell, it helps a ton!
#TravelDeeper #travelvlog #Mexico #Cancun #Tulum #PlayadelCarmen #Bacalar #BacalarLagoon #GarethLeonard #MexicanCaribbean #Xcalak
🍿WATCH NEXT "Best Tacos in Cancun": youtu.be/WImXab-5Etw
❤️ Travel Deeper Merch ($20 Tees): https://traveldeeper.shop
🙏 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/you-da-best
Bacalar Lagoon, Mexico - Day two in Bacalar and we’re back on the Bacalar Lagoon for sunrise to kayak along the estromatalitos. Kayaking on the "7 Color Lake" is most definitely one of the best things to do in Bacalar.
It’s crazy to think that this lake in Bacalar, like most bodies of water here in the Yucatán Peninsula, is fed by underground rivers and the colors come out this crystal clear and pristine.
Downtown Bacalar is a calm and quiet little village with thatched roofs and colorful streets. everybody I spoke to for recommendations about this place mentioned I had to stop for breakfast at El Socio, right in the heart of Bacalar for breakfast.
Another amazing things to do in Bacalar is to take a a two-hour drive southeast of Bacalar, past Mahahual, we end up in Xcalak; a sleepy fishing community of less than 400 residents that rests within one of the last “unspoiled” stretches of the Mexican Caribbean.
Xcalak is simple, raw, underdeveloped, beautiful, and to understand why people settled here, we gotta get out on the water. This is one of the best things to do in Xcalak. This is the very southeastern-most tip of Mexico with Belize within eye sight, a tiny nook in this world that very few people explore.
Honestly, my expectations were pretty low for this expedition of snorkeling off the coast of Xcalak. Our travel guide Antonio tells us that manatees are getting harder and harder to spot because they’re leaving these warming rivers for deeper cooler waters of the Xcalak reef.
But as I swim out past the shallow coral reef, towards the blue abyss, two giant objects coming straight towards me. First thought obviously is always shark, then dolphin, then maybe chunky mermaid, but no. it was what we all hoped for. It’s something that i’ve always wanted to see in the wild - two, beautiful, smooth manatees just cruising past. As I dive down to get a closer look, one actually turns around and circles right in front of me. It’s heart-pounding and peaceful.
For a split second, it fell like we share a moment. I know he’s probably just thinking “look at this idiot trying to swim” but I feel it. And as mysteriously as they appeared from the cloudy depths, they disappear the same way. It is the coolest feeling.
We make one final stop in Buena Vista on our way back to Bacalar from Xcalak to sample delicious, authentic Mayan honey from stingless bees.
Finally, we end the day at The Yak Lake House for dinner. A restaurant and hostel in Bacalar, right next to the Bacalar Lagoon.
If you've read this full description please leave a comment so I can thank you directly. 😉
———————
🌎 20% OFF MY TRAVEL HACKING COURSE WITH CODE: “YOUTUBE”
traveldeeperbootcamp.com/
👕 TRAVEL DEEPER MERCH
https://traveldeeper.shop
📸 IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOS WITH MY LIGHTROOM PRESETS
bit.ly/TD-Presets
📚 10 BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE
bit.ly/10-Must-Read-Books
🎵 COPYRIGHT FREE MUSIC FOR CREATORS [Music I use for every video]
bit.ly/My-YouTube-Music
⚙️ MY CAMERA GEAR & TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
https://tourist2townie.com/travel-acc...
————————
WHO AM I?
Hi! My name is Gareth Leonard, an American Travel YouTuber with a passion for slow, meaningful Travel. I have spent the past 12+ years traveling around the world while creating travel vlogs to help inspire and educate people to “Travel Deeper.”
If you enjoy my work, please subscribe to this channel and turn on the notifications bell to stay up-to-date with my travel deeper adventures.
Daily updates can also be found on my Instagram Stories (@traveldeeper), so if you’ve read this far, send me a DM with the “🦊” emoji so I know you’re a real one!
Thanks for following along! 🙏
p.s. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notifications bell, it helps a ton!
#TravelDeeper #travelvlog #Mexico #Cancun #Tulum #PlayadelCarmen #Bacalar #BacalarLagoon #GarethLeonard #MexicanCaribbean #Xcalak
