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Fuerte San Felipe Bacalar

History museums ·Bacalar ·Closed
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#2History museums in MexicoMost reviewed in Bacalar
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About

Fuerte San Felipe Bacalar is an 18th-century military fort in Bacalar, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

More photos 7

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Fuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Broad exterior fort wall beside a sunny lawn and trees

Fuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Broad exterior fort wall beside a sunny lawn and treesFuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Curving ramparts and green lawn beside Bacalar LagoonFuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Fort walls above the roadside entrance and grassy slopeFuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Long stone fort wall along the tree-lined streetFuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Close view of the fort's stone bastion framed by palmsFuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Stone bastion rising behind the fort's low outer wallFuerte San Felipe Bacalar — Cannon atop a weathered stone bastion inside the fort

Why go

  • The fort and its walls were expanded in 1733.
  • Its role in organizing the capture of Cayo Cocina during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1779.
  • Cruzo'ob forces occupied the fortress during the Caste War in 1858.

Opening hours

Today09:00 – 19:00Show all
MondayClosed
Tuesday09:00 – 19:00
Wednesday09:00 – 19:00
Thursday09:00 – 19:00
Friday09:00 – 19:00
Saturday09:00 – 19:00
Sunday09:00 – 19:00

Don't miss

  • Moat and drawbridgeMilitary engineer Rafel Llobet built the fort’s moat and drawbridge in 1796.

Know before you go

  • Practical information: Tuesday–Sunday, 09:00–19:00.

What's inside

  • The fort houses the Museo de la Piratería de Bacalar.

Tips for your visit

  • Plan your visit Tuesday through Sunday; the fort is closed on Mondays.

Interesting facts3

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  1. Captain Juan Podio, who was of Italian origin, oversaw the fort’s first structure.

    Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar - Wikipedia

  2. The original complex included barracks, a storehouse, a chapel and areas for the captaincy.

    Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar - Wikipedia
  3. 1770

    Works completed in 1770 prepared the fort for artillery.

    Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

  1. 1754Engineer Juan de Dios González Dávila began consolidation and improvement works.
  2. early 20th c.The fortress deteriorated significantly after falling out of use.
  3. 1965A museum opened in one of the bastions.
  4. 1983After major renovation, the Museo de la Piratería opened as a cultural and tourist attraction.

Sources: Fuerte de San Felipe de Bacalar - Wikipedia · checked 10 Oct 2026

Where
Av 3 Centro, Bacalar

Plan from here: A day out →

Questions and answers

Who ordered Fuerte San Felipe Bacalar built?

Antonio de Figueroa y Silva ordered its construction in 1725 while governing Yucatán, amid English threats and timber smuggling.

Why was Fuerte San Felipe Bacalar first proposed?

Viceroy Juan de Acuña proposed the fortification in response to English expansion from Jamaica.

Where is Fuerte San Felipe Bacalar?

Av 3 Centro, Bacalar.

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