Yucatan, Mexico Here we are passing Fortress San Felipe de Bacalar, which stands below Bacalar town. Bacalar was originally a Mayan city but it was captured by the Spanish in 1545 who established their first permanent settlement in this region of Mexico there. But during the 17th century while Spain was at war with Britain and other European countries Bacalar was raided many times by pirates often encouraged by the governments of Spain's enemies! The pirates sailed from the Caribbean sea,up the River Hondo and gliding through the mangrove swamps that connected the river to the lagoon were able to reach the town! And so eventually in 1733, the Spanish governor of Yucatan Province ordered construction of the fortress to protect Bacalar and its citizens!