Yes — day to day, it feels that way.
Yes. Bacalar is one of the quieter corners of Quintana Roo, and day-to-day it feels that way.
Walk in the town, rent a bike, drive the highway — all normal. The road from Chetumal is well-trafficked and maintained. The road from Cancún is a four-lane most of the way.
A few normal precautions: avoid long rural drives after dark (animals on the road more than anything), don't leave valuables in a parked car, and keep an eye on the weather in September.
The lagoon itself is calm. No currents, no tides, no jellyfish. Swimmable from most of its edges, with the usual common sense around boats and stromatolites.
