As winter arrives, imagine swapping cold mornings for long sunlit days beside a crystalline lagoon. Make that vision a reality at Habitas Bacalar in Mexico, an eco-conscious sanctuary tucked between the shimmering waters of Lake Bacalar and the lush, mysterious Mayan jungle.
Located on the shores of Lake Bacalar in Quintana Roo, the resort offers three distinct accommodation types: eight Lagoon Rooms with A-frame tent design, 18 Jungle Rooms immersed in verdant foliage, and 10 Lagoon Breeze rooms that blend features of both lagoon and jungle settings.
© Tanveer Badal
The property features a Tree House Bar, a Lagoon Deck for relaxing waterfront views, an outdoor cinema, an airy Yoga Shala, Siete Kitchen dining room, a spa and a dedicated wellness center. Siete Kitchen emphasizes fresh, plant-forward meals made from locally sourced produce and ingredients, while traditional regional recipes are applied to meats and seafood—think Yucatecan pork and freshly caught fish prepared with respect for local flavors.
For a deeper seasonal reset, the four-night State of Flow escape provides a curated wellness experience that includes accommodations, a private Temazcal sweat lodge ceremony, and a Janzu Water Meditation—an aquatic relaxation practice akin to Watsu that promotes deep relaxation and release.
Each morning guests are presented with a nourishing breakfast and a signature health elixir. A standout dish is the coconut French toast, prepared with house-made sourdough brioche, pineapple and lemongrass compote, coconut cream, fresh peppermint and a crunchy peanut-and-coconut crumble.
© Tanveer Badal
Daily programming includes movement classes, breathwork and guided meditation sessions, plus an evening herbal tea service to wind down each day. Activity highlights of the retreat include an introductory hour-long E-foiling lesson to learn piloting an electric hydrofoil surfboard; a four-hour blue lagoon cruise to explore the lake; a sunrise paddle boarding excursion; and a Melipona honey “Bee Well Therapy” that celebrates local bee traditions.
Melipona bees, which are stingless, produce a distinctive honey prized for its potential skin-benefiting properties. The spa’s offerings extend beyond honey-based treatments to include sound healing, aroma-stone massage, facials, lymphatic drainage, reflexology and craniosacral therapy—delivering a range of holistic therapies designed to restore balance and well-being.