In Yucatán there is a place with a breathtaking landscape: imagine a combination of a perfectly clear blue sky with stunning pink waters beneath it. We are talking about Las Coloradas, a small town located very close to Río Lagartos and San Felipe, a destination you cannot miss.
This small port presents a scenario that will impact all of your senses, a visual spectacle that can see in Yucatán, as well as similar lakes in Australia and Senegal. In this peaceful place, you can appreciate natural pink waters, a clean horizon, confusing where the sky and the clouds begin? It’s not only posible, it’s within your reach. Las Coloradas is a destination that has attracted many tourists from all over the world.
If you wonder why the color of the water is pink, the explanation is simple: the pigmentation is produced by micro-organisms and algae that are found in the waters of this port due to the high concentration of salt.
Would you like to visit? As a general suggestion, we recommend hirinng a guide. This can be done right in the village, in the neighboring town of Río Lagartos, or via tour from Mérida. It is also important that you try to go on a sunny day, as the pink tone is lower or stronger depending on the sun’s rays. So, on a sunny day you can see even more contrasting tones, scenarios worthy of incredible photographs.
Out of respect for nature and the conservation of the unusual characteristics of this place, do not swim in the pink waters, it is a place to admire from the shore. If you want to swim, there are other beautiful sandy beaches, with clean water, that you can enjoy. Be careful not to damage the nests of turtles you might find on the beaches.
Being one of the main salt ports, Las Coloradas has a large factory that is in constant production and distribution of salt; however, it is not open for public visits. Instead, you can appreciate the large mounds of salt around these waters, another unique sight.
Getting to this natural paradise is quite easy. This unique site is part of the Ría Lagartos Nature Reserve, a protected area located on the border of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, 250 km from Mérida and 150 km from Cancún. To get there by car from Mérida, take the Mérida-Motul road and follow the signs to Tizimín, a city located 50 km north of Valladolid, then head for Río Lagartos and continue for about 20 minutes to Las Coloradas. Travel time is approximately 3 hours. Download the free Península of Yucatán map.
When you get to Las Coloradas, you can park on one side of the pink sea and enjoy the stunning scenery. Do not forget to be respectful of its pristine beauty; don’t leave garbage behind. There are no activities or tourist facilities here, so to eat, relax and stay, the closest options are Río Lagartos and San Felipe. Try to carry enough cash because there are no ATMs. Be sure to charge your camera battery; along the way you will surely want to take many photos. Marvel at the pink waters of Yucatán and share this adventure!
