Episode 32: Escape to Bacalar - Mexico’s Lakeside Oasis

The International Living Podcast

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This week, Jim Santos talks to International Living Mexico Correspondent Bel Woodhouse about her article in the March 2023 issue of International Living magazine ‘Escape to Bacalar—Mexico's Lakeside Oasis’.

Mexico’s Riviera Maya—the stretch of coastline and tropical forest from Cancún in the north to the border with Belize to the south—is, for many, their first experience of Mexico. It’s a heavenly part of the world, with the wavelets of the Caribbean Sea lapping against fine sand beaches which are almost unbelievable in their whiteness. Truly, it’s like walking on icing sugar.
Inland, the land is hedged by dense, low forest, in which the ancient Maya people constructed pyramids and temple complexes which are still a mystery to this day. Freshwater cave lakes—cenotes—punctuate the landscape, many of which are open to the public for swimming. Spanish Colonial towns and cities add a historic flavor to the experience
It's a superb place for a vacation, whether your interests lie in cocktails on the beach and late-night dancing, eco-tourism, luxury wellness resorts, local color, or a combination of all the above.
But where do you go when you want a vacation from the vacationers? Bel Woodhouse, who lives on the island of Cozumel, just off the coast from Playa del Carmen, knows the secret spots and hidden getaways. In this episode of Bigger, Better World, she talks us through the details and directions for a slice of Old Mexico hidden in plain sight just south of the main tourism locations. And it sounds tempting indeed.
Join host, Jim Santos, as he meets Bel Woodhouse—expat, writer, videographer and International Living correspondent.
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Chapters

1. Episode 32: Escape to Bacalar - Mexico’s Lakeside Oasis (00:00:00)

2. Bacalar: ‘The Lagoon of Seven Colors’ (00:01:58)

3. Rent an Entire Apartment For $30 a Night (00:04:12)

4. Excursions, Activities, and a Natural Lazy River Ride (00:08:36)

5. ‘The Best Pizza I’ve Ever Had’… $30 For Two, With Wine (00:13:33)

6. Places to Stay: From the Cheap to the Luxurious (00:17:09)

7. Shuttle Bus and Transport Options From Tulum and Playa Del Carmen (00:22:23)

8. All About Tulum—Party Paradise or Workman’s Town? (00:24:45)

9. An Easy Way to Meet Expats on the Riviera Maya (00:27:50)

10. Wellness, Food and Fitness on the Beaches of Tulum (00:29:24)