LakeBacalarRentals.com 

What We Offer:

  Accommodations

    Manatee-in-the-Moon

    Xcalakarma Reservations

FAQs

    Groceries
    Banks & ATMs
    Restaurants
    Phone, FAX, Internet
    Mayan Ruins
    Shopping in Chetumal
    Solar Power
    Gas Stations
    Where do I Check In
    Maid Service
    Grocery Service
    Credit Cards
    Nearest Airport

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Frequently Asked Questions

img_0085.jpg (129194 bytes)1. Where can I buy groceries and liquor?
 Two miles away in Pedro Santos. There are six stores in Pedro Santos where you can buy basic food items.

  • El Ranchito. Best for meats. Check the chest freezer behind the deli counter. For sour cream and cream cheese, check the refrigerator nearest the deli counter. Good selection of vegetables. Best overall grocery store in town.
  • Harvest Bakery. Delicious and fresh breads, cookies, cakes, donuts and sandwiches.
  • Aborrates Imelda. Buy beer, liquor, ice and a variety of canned foods here. Fair selection of paper, glue, pencils, tape, and pens.
  • Tortilleria. Buy freshly made corn tortillas. If you prefer flour tortillas, go next door to Aborrates Imelda.
  • Aborrates Terisita. Good smoked pork chops usually available and some hardware like nails, bike parts, plastic buckets and dishes. Also buy fish food here in the big garbage cans behind the counter (“alimentos para pollos”).
  • Galeria de Artesanias y Manualidades. Souvenir and gift shop with home made paper towel holders, candle holders, animal wood carvings, boxes carved from tropical hardwoods, hammocks, Mexican style wall decorations.

2a. Where is the nearest bank or ATM? (going South) :

  • Bacalar: The closest ATM is the town of Bacalar, 45 minutes by car. The ATM machine is located on the town square. There is no bank or money exchanger (“Cambio”) in Bacalar. Just past “km 22" turn left at the sign “Bacalar Salida 500m.” Turn left one street past the big white church downtown. Make the first left again and you will see the town square and the ATM kiosk on the right.
  • Chetumal: If you are going to Chetumal, every bank has an ATM machine. The following are easy-to-find banks and ATM’s in Chetumal:
    • Bus Station. There is an ATM at the big bus station near the San Francisco grocery store.
    • The Big Mall on Insurrengtes Ave. Bank & ATM located in the center of the mall. Access is from the outside (front) of the Mall.
    • San Francisco Grocery Store. Next to the bus station. Inside, you will find a bank and ATM.
    • Obregon at Juarez. There are two banks where Juarez crosses Obregon. The Bital bank has an ATM.

There are lots of banks and money changers in Chetumal, too numerous to list. Most of the money changers are on Heroes Ave., the main street going through town, connecting Insurrengtes and Obregon.

img_0132.jpg (183386 bytes)2b. ATM’s and Banks (going North):

Felipe Carrillo Puerto. There’s a bank and ATM at the Pemex station on the left as you are entering Felipe Carrillo Puerto, about an hour’s drive from Manatee-in-the-Moon.

Tulum. There is also a bank & ATM and “Cambios” in Tulum (about 2 hours north of these accommodations).

Mahajual. There is no bank, ATM or Cambio yet at Mahajual.

3. What restaurants are nearby?

  • Laguna Azul. Ten minutes away by walking from Manatee-in-the-Moon. You can kayak there and tie your boat to one of Fritz’s docks. Enjoy American-style food. Delicious, thick T-bone steaks with Fritz’s fried potatoes and salad for $95 pesos. Enjoy wonderful margaritas, mixed drinks, and Mexican beer. Soft, romantic lighting, great host. Enjoy the sounds and sights of the jungle while you dine on great food.
  • Vieja Bavaria. (3 miles) Outstanding German style food is yours at this little gem. Go south on Hwy. 307. Make the first right on the road to Merida and go about 350 meters. It’s the first restaurant on the right. Bratwurst and goulash, delicious salads and potatoes. Also serving shrimp dinners and cerviches. Enjoy your favorite Mexican beer or a mixed drink with your meal.
  • Los Mayas del Caribe. Fantastic pork with rice and salad. Ask for “puerco” or “chuletas.” Also Mexican style beef and chicken dishes. Beer only. Meals are $30-$40 pesos. This little restaurant is next to the Tortilleria in Pedro Santos.
  • Pollo Asado. This is a small restaurant without a sign as yet. Follow the delicious smell of grilling chicken to the north end of town across from Aborrates Imelda. Shares the building with the tire repairman (“Vulcanizadora”). Buy a chicken to go or eat it there. You won’t be disappointed.

img_0138.jpg (166015 bytes)4. Where is the nearest Phone, Internet & Fax?

  • In Pedro Santos two miles away you can make a phone call from Aborrates Terisita. Write the number in large, clear-to- read numbers on a piece of paper and give it to the store keeper. He/she will dial the number for you. When you are done talking, hang up. The store keeper will call the operator for the charges. It’s easy.
  • Limones (10 km). You can make a phone call or send a fax from “Telephonica Casita” which is also a grocery store. This store is located on the south side of the town square on Highway 307.
  • An Internet Café is located on the north end of Limones near the third and last tope next to the mechanic’s shop. The cost is $10 pesos per hour. The room is air-conditioned.

We are working hard to get a satellite dish installed for internet and phone in 2006.

5. Where are the closest Mayan Ruins?

  • Chacchoben. (12 kilometers) Due to its proximity to the new cruise ship dock in Mahajual, this is the second most visited ruins in the Yucatan (Chichen Itza, located between Cancun and Merida, is #1). Go south on highway 307 and make the first right to Merida (Hwy. 293). Follow the signs. On the left.
  • Kohunlich. Drive time approx. 1 ½ hours. Go south on highway 307 about 35 miles (57km) and turn right on the road to Escarcega (Hwy. 186). Go another 30 miles (50km) and turn left. Watch for the signs. Very beautiful setting. Usually very few people. You might be the only one there. Often you will see monkeys.
  • Dzibanche. Drive time approx. 1½ hours. Go south on highway 307 about 35 miles (57km) and turn right on the road to Escarcega (Hwy. 186). Go another 38 miles (62km). On right. Watch for signs.
  • Kinichna. About 1km past Dizibanche.
  • Calakmul. About three hours away but well worth the drive. Follow the directions to Kohunlich. Keep going. On the left. Watch for the signs.

img_0141.jpg (98801 bytes)6. What are the best places to shop in Chetumal?

  • The Market. The “old Mercado” in Chetumal is located beside the Mayan Cultural Museum and across the road from the Holiday Inn on Heroes Ave. You can buy T-shirts and hammocks, blenders and shoes, papayas and fresh pork in this big indoor market. There are also plenty of little restaurants inside serving typical Mexican fast foods. Try the “salbutes” and the “empanadas.” Delicious!
  • Chedraui. Big store at “the mall” with a good selection of vegetables, meats and canned goods. They might have soy milk. Ask for “leche de soya.” Also has a farmacia. Sells dishes, towels, clothes, and electronics as well.
  • San Francisco. Another big grocery store except not as big and not as busy as the Chedraui. The bank and ATM are conveniently located inside this store.
  • The Bodega. This new store has the look and feel of a Walmart. Includes a grocery store with a great selection of cheeses. You can buy everything from washing machines to underwear here. Located on Insurrengtes not far from the big Mall with the MacDonald’s.
  • The Big Mall on Insurengtes Ave. MacDonalds, Office Depot, Liverpool (high price department store with everything from electronics to dishes), Kodak store with kiosk for printing photos from CD’s or flashcards, bank and ATM, Chedraui (groceries and misc.), movie theatre, restaurants, gift shops and many others.

7. How does solar power work?

Your lights (and 12-volt receptacles at Manatee-in-the-Moon) are powered by a single 12 volt, “deep-cycle” battery. Each day the sun hits the solar panel and charges this battery. Unlike the 110 volt A/C system you have at home, this system does not provide unlimited electricity.

If you leave the lights on all the time, you will run down the charge on the battery, your lights will dim and eventually go out completely.

The following morning, as soon as the sun hits the solar panel, you will have electricity to operate your computer and lights; however, some of that electricity is necessary to recharge the battery or your lights and computer will not work after the sun goes down that evening.

IF you ran down the battery the night before (your lights dimmed and went out), give your battery a chance to recharge the following day for at least four hours. This means don’t use your lights, computer or other electronics for at least four hours during the day. A normal day usually provides eight hours of sunlight on the solar panel.

img_0202.jpg (140510 bytes)8. Where can I buy Gas for my Car?

  • Two miles away in Pedro Santos at the house near Abarrotes Terisita. Ask for“vente litros, por favor”. This is about 5 gallons (20 liters), enough to get you to Bacalar, Chetumal, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, or Mahajual. You will pay $13 to $15 USD, only slightly more than at Pemex stations.
  • Mahajual at the Pemex station. Mahajual is about 50 km from Pedro Santos (45 minutes by car).
  • Bacalar at the Pemex station on Highway 307.
  • Chetumal at the Pemex station on the left just past the glorietta to Belize. About 50 miles from Pedro Santos.
  • Felipe Carrillo Puerto at the Pemex station about an hour’s drive north from Pedro Santos.

9. Where do I check in?

For Manatee-in-the-Moon and Casa Maya as well as Laguna Azul, check in at the restaurant at Laguna Azul. Ask for Fritz “Federico” Vatter, the owner and operator of Laguna Azul. If Fritz is not in the restaurant, check around Laguna Azul. He lives in the 5th wheel by the lake. He knows you’re coming. He shouldn’t be far away. Check to see if he left a message with your keys on the bar. Let yourself in. It’s that easy!

10. Is there daily maid service?

Not at this time. If you need clean sheets or run out of hot water, see Fritz at the Laguna Azul restaurant. Fritz is the owner and operator of Laguna Azul and is the manager and caretaker of Manatee-in-the-Moon and Casa Maya.

11. Can I get groceries stocked in my house before I arrive?

Only if you are renting Manatee-in-the-Moon. The cost is $45 per person per day. To request a menu or order service before your arrival, contact info@lakebacalarrentals.com. After your arrival, contact Fritz at Laguna Azul.

12. Does LakeBacalarRentals.Com take credit cards?

Only on the internet. Once you are in Mexico, you cannot charge food, accommodations or services at any of these accommodations. Pesos are preferred. It’s best to change your currency into Pesos in Cancun or in Playa del Carmen or Tulum on your way down from airport.

13. Where is the nearest airport?

Chetumal, about 50 miles from these accommodations, is the nearest airport. The Chetumal airport is lengthening its runways in preparation to becoming an international airport sometime in 2006. Cancun is currently the nearest international airport. Cancun is about a four-hour drive from these accommodations.