Discover Calderita

Calderitas is approximately 8 km from the city of Chetumal. If you specifically want to stay in Calderita, select Calderita as your search location; Chetumal remains a separate point of reference for your decision. Other cultural and activity-related attractions are located at different geographic levels: Oxtankah in the nearby area, and the fort and lagoon in the wider Bacalar travel region.

Oxtankah: Maya City and Early Church

Oxtankah, a pre-Hispanic Maya city with archaeological remains and one of the first Catholic churches built after the arrival of the Spanish, is located near Calderita. The entrance to the archaeological zone is 6 km from Calderitas. The term “pre-Hispanic” places the Maya city in the period before the arrival of the Spanish; the early church points to a later period. Oxtankah thus brings together archaeological remains and an early church building. This offers a more specific basis for weighing your interests than a general focus on history: the city and the church represent different historical aspects that can be considered together at one destination.

Understanding the Distances

The two distance figures have different reference points: Calderitas is about 8 km from the city of Chetumal; the entrance to the archaeological zone is 6 km from Calderitas. For orientation, it therefore matters whether you are considering the town of Calderita or the entrance to Oxtankah. The figures do not describe the same route, but two distinct geographic relationships.

Historic Architecture in Bacalar

In the wider travel region, in Bacalar, Fuerte de Bacalar was built in 1733 on the shore of Laguna de los Siete Colores. It is one of the notable works of historic architecture and part of the cultural heritage of Quintana Roo. The year 1733 refers to a specific construction date; by contrast, “pre-Hispanic” places Oxtankah in an era before the arrival of the Spanish. The historical perspectives therefore differ too: the fort is a dated structure, while Oxtankah is a Maya city with archaeological remains and an early church. Its recognition as part of the cultural heritage of Quintana Roo adds a regional cultural dimension to the architectural perspective.

Activities on the Lagoon

On Laguna de los Siete Colores in Bacalar, you can explore the waters by kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). Both activities focus on exploring the lagoon, offering a different emphasis from archaeological remains or historic architecture. The fort and water activities also share a geographic setting: Fuerte de Bacalar stands on the shore of the same lagoon whose waters you can explore by kayak or SUP. Historic architecture and water-based activities thus offer different interests connected to a named body of water in Bacalar.

Discover more destinations: Blanca Flor, Punta Allen, Palmul, Majahual, Holbox Island, Chacalal, Boloyuc, Xcalak

For the wider travel overview: Quintana Roo.