The Laguna de Bacalar, also known as the Laguna de los Siete Colores (Lagoon of Seven Colors), owes its name to the stunning array of blue hues visible during sunset. But beyond its picturesque appearance, this body of water holds geological significance. Formed from a geological fault in the late Miocene period, the lagoon stretches for 42 kilometers in length and only 2 kilometers at its widest point. Its central canal, with depths of up to 15 meters, ensures the continuity of its waters.

The interconnected system of lagoons, along with the nearby river and sea, attracted the attention of English buccaneers turned traders, known as baymen, in the early 18th century. Their incursions northward, fueled by the lucrative trade in logwood, a key ingredient in producing a red dye highly valued by the English textile industry, posed a threat to Spanish control of the region. San Felipe de Bacalar was strategically positioned to monitor and counter these incursions.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Yucatan Peninsula faced constant attacks from buccaneers and privateers. The fort of Bacalar became a key bastion in Spain’s efforts to safeguard its territorial interests against British expansionism in the Caribbean. One notable example was during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), when England, seeking territorial gains, occupied Havana and Manila. The Treaty of Paris in 1763, which ended the war, saw Spain cede Florida to Britain in exchange for the return of Havana and Manila. This treaty also legitimized British operations in the logwood-rich region between the Rio Hondo and the Laguna de Bacalar.