Quinta Mai is a colorful slice of tropical paradise on the southwest shore of Laguna Bacalar in the town of Bacalar. It is perfectly located on the tip of a small peninsula that separates two deep blue cenotes. Because of the crystal clear water, the white sand bottom, the intense sunlight, and the variable depths of water, an incredible play of colors is before your eyes. The locals call it 'The lake of the seven colors' and you can see all seven colors, and more, from the dock at Quinta Mai. It is also excellent water for swimming. Some of the properties on Bacalar have muddy shorelines and other properties have a very steep approach to the water. Others are too low and they tend to get muddy. Quinta Mai is perfect. It's moderately elevated above the waterline so it's easy to get to the lake. The Lake bottom around the shoreline is firm sand and so the water remains clear. Furthermore there are living rocks called stromatolites just off the shoreline which are concretions a blue-green algae and extremely rare throughout the world. At the end of the dock the water is about 5 feet deep and so you can easily dive into the water. The snorkeling on the lake is beautiful because the water is so clear and there are large rocky ledges and drop offs to explore. If you swim out about 60 yards from the dock you will reach the beginning of a deep blue cenote where the water depth drops rapidly down to about 125 feet. Swimming in the other direction the water becomes quite shallow and it gets down to about 2 feet. This creates a play of colors that varies with the time of the day, the wave action and the cloud cover. Sitting on the dock under an umbrella and looking at the clouds and the colorful lake is absolutely mesmerizing!
My name Is Jim Baumgaertner. I am from Wisconsin and I grew up in Minnesota. I know something about lakes! This lake is perhaps the most beautiful lake in the world. It is listed as one of the worlds greatest lakes by the United Nations, right up there with Lake Baikal, Lake Superior and Lake Titicaca. This place is special! Unlike the aforementioned lakes, this lake is warm year-round and the swimming is wonderful. I swam in Lake Titicaca and Lake Superior, and I greatly prefer Lake Bacalar! It is also fine lake to go kayaking, or to go sailing, or to take a tourist lake cruise. If you are a birdwatcher, bring your binoculars and you will be in heaven! Come to Bacalar now before the rest of the world discovers it.
The town of Bacalar is also very special. It has a history that goes back over 1000 years. The Mayans, the Spanish, and the Pirates of the Caribbean have all played a historical role. There is a stone fortress built in 1715 that was used to protect the city from the ruthless pirates. The town has several public swimming areas and a Central Square that's fun to explore. There are plenty of little restaurants some of which are extremely good and all very inexpensive.
Bacalar is also a good central location to explore a different part of Mexico. You can easily visit the Costa Maya, many different Mayan ruins that hardly anyone else has seen, and the capital city of Chetumal that is only a half an hour away. You are also very close to the border with Belize and just a ferry ride from the islands of Belize.
We have two houses on the property. The main casa is about 1400 square feet, with a shower, a second bathroom, a large bedroom with an adjacent smaller bedroom and a total of three beds. Please look at the video for details as it's easier to see than to explain. There's a living room with mahogany furniture, a small office area and there's also a separate kitchen that is in a room to itself just outside the front door to the house. Surrounding the house are three palapa covered terraces. The covered terraces add an extra 1200 square feet of living space. The palapa awnings protect the terraces from sun and rain. You'll probably spend more of your time out door on the terraces than inside the house. See the video for details.
There is a second smaller shelter that is a small thatched roof hut that used to be a little dance area and bar area used by the previous Mexican owners. We call it the casita laguna, the small house by the lake. It is directly on the shoreline and so it receives magnificent cooling breezes from the lake. Great place to hang out.
Our property also has quite a few trees including two small mango trees, some banana trees, an avocado tree, and 4 coconut palm trees.
To really get a view of this property please look at the video that I shot on January 30, 2015. You can click on it from this website.
By the way, the name Quinta Mai refers to a special place that was a happy home to three children named Maria, Andrei and Isabella. Mai is the abbreviation for the names of the children. We chose to keep that name because our property really is a special place for children of all ages. I hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy it. It is very beautiful and very special!
