Best Hotels in Bacalar: Casa Hormiga

I’m happy to report that after my *beyond* glowing review of Lake Bacalar (located in Bacalar, Quintana Roo), that so many of you out there are finding your own reasons to love this southern Mexico jewel. 

Up until recently, the hotel options in Bacalar, Mexico were mostly backpacker-style in town, and eco-friendly Bacalar hotels on the water. But because of rising interest in this southern Mexico destination (and a new direct flight from Miami to nearby Chetumal), new life is being breathed into the hotel scene here — and Casa Hormiga is one of them.

This boutique resort opened in 2020, billed as a jungle sanctuary, and a place for rituals and healing. I must report that it is one of the most beautifully designed hotels I’ve seen in Mexico. The cohesive design is able to capture that adventurous energy and backpacker spirit, and elevate it to a decidedly chic and sophisticated level. 

Any world traveler will get the sense that they’ve been here before as they step through the carved wooden doors and into the Casa Hormiga world. The design takes cues from places like Morocco, Central America, and, of course, Mexico. The quality of the design and materials used is on par with resorts that I’ve seen in Mexico that cost seven times more. Fortunately, the price point here ranges between $150 to $250 per night. It is approachable, but still very much luxury.

With all that said, I break down my experience at Casa Hormiga with my patented ranking system below. Read on for the intel.

Note: If you book Casa Hormiga through my blog, I will earn a small commission.

Casa Hormiga Overall Score: Above Average

Hotels in Bacalar: The Vibe of Casa Hormiga

Overall Score: Above Average

The moment you step into Casa Hormiga, you’ll be soaking up bougie bedouin vibes. Every design element here has been selected with intention, and you really feel it. From the yoga “Nest” to the living room-style honor bar, the casual dining room, and the impeccably designed pool experience, the vibe here is, without question, defined. You know what you’re getting the second you step through the doors.

If you’re looking to be social, however, this is not the hotel for you. The guests at Casa Hormiga like to keep to themselves and like their privacy. While sections of the hotel have been designed with community in mind, I found that socialization was not top of mind for people here.

Best Bacalar Hotels: The Amenities at Casa Hormiga

Overall Score: Extremely Memorable

While Casa Hormiga is not one of the Bacalar hotels on the water, you probably won’t miss the lake very much once you see the pool here. It is one of the most beautiful pools I’ve ever seen. The design of the pool gives off a crumbling, “ruins” vibe, but in the chicest way. The snaking pool is hidden behind soaring, slate-colored walls, with accent walls constructed of stone. The entire pool area is shrouded in thick, jungle foliage, as well. It’s like discovering a secret pool in a forgotten Mayan city — probably the exact vibe they were going for.

Hotels in Bacalar: The Rooms at Casa Hormiga

Overall Score: Above Average

The bungalow-style rooms all come with their own small porches with hammocks. Inside, the cozy, modern design is kept perfectly cool with nice, strong AC, which you’ll be thankful for after stepping in from the hot, humid jungle heat.

The materials used here focus on a lot of natural wood, stone, and thatch, all the while remaining high-end and thoughtful in design. The rooms here are a perfect match for the rest of the hotel’s overall aesthetic. 

Outlets are abundant, as well, which you know is a prime determining factor in whether or not I like a room.

Best Bacalar Hotels: The Dining at Casa Hormiga

Overall Score: Pretty Standard/Above Average

The dining experience at Casa Hormiga is pretty good, but not spectacular. It’s not bad food - not at all, actually. But the emphasis here is not so much on the kitchen — at least not yet. At time of writing this, the pandemic was still raging, so if a broader menu is part of the plan it may not have happened yet.

Breakfast is included, and it’s a very nice inclusion, with a small buffet of scrambled eggs, build-your-own chilaquiles, and delicate pastries. A full breakfast menu is available if you want something fancier, but we opted to stick with the simple breakfast.

Come dinner, the menu has a selection of sandwiches and salads, but nothing stood out as “must try.” That said, the concept for the restaurant may be evolving. Still, the location of Casa Hormiga puts you at the doorstep to some of the best dining in Bacalar, all within walking distance. 

In fact, guests of Casa Hormiga are reserved an exclusive spot at La Playita, which is a lakefront beach club. This is one of my favorite places to eat in Bacalar. The menu serves everything from tacos and tostadas to abundant salads, wraps, burgers, pizzas — you name it. I was absolutely over-the-moon for the tuna tostada, as well as the steak tacos.

Hotels in Bacalar: The Wellness at Casa Hormiga

Here, my friends, is where I failed you. The wellness offerings are what you are coming to Casa Hormiga for. Rituals, after all, are part of the ethos of the hotel. That said, I never actually experienced anything, so I can’t really tell you what it’s like. What i can tell you is that Casa Hormiga calls itself a self-love sanctuary, and has everything from therapeutic tarot reading to temazcal, tribal baths, sacred crystals skin treatments, reiki, and water meditations.

Some of that is a little too next-level for me, personally, but if this sort of energy-invigorating style is up your alley, Casa Hormiga is absolutely the best place to disconnect to reconnect on this high-vibrational level.

Book Casa Hormiga

Are you ready to get to Bacalar? You can book Casa Hormiga here. Note that I do make a small commission if you book through my blog.