Liquid cotton candy and a bright blue sky – this is what most expect to see when they think of Las Coloradas in Mexico. After all, that is what many photos on Instagram promoted in the last two years. And while it is possible to have that Instagram-like experience, it is also possible that you will encounter a washed-out orange-brown.
This Las Coloradas guide is an honest portrayal of the current situation and will tell you all you need to know to make the most of your visit and will help you decide if it is worth adding a stop to your itinerary.
When I first heard of Las Coloradas, these pink lakes in Mexico were still considered an off-the-beaten-track adventure. However, this was no longer the case when I finally got to explore the Yucatán Peninsula. After all, most tour companies in Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun offer day trips to Las Coloradas.
Given that I had already seen other pink lakes, I did not want to invest an entire day just to see these pink lakes. However, I still wanted to see them so I could see how the pink lakes of Las Coloradas compare to other pink lakes around the world. Therefore, I ended up seeing visiting it near the end of my Mexico trip in combination with Río Lagartos.
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At a Glance: Las Coloradas
Best Place to Stay: Piña Coloradas Ecolodge or Casa Jade Eco Bungalows
Getting there: rent a car, take the bus via Tizimín or join a group day trip
About Las Coloradas Pink Lakes
While once one of Mexico’s hidden gems, Las Coloradas become widely known around two years ago thanks to Instagram. And depending on your perspective, it can be an Instagram heaven or Instagram hell.
The pink lakes are a stunning sight and a great photo motive, but these days, buses full of tourists come here, so it is by no means the serene and remote location it once was.
Wedged between Ría Lagartos and the Gulf of Mexico, Las Coloradas is located next to the small village that shares its name with the pink lakes. They have been pink for over 40 years.
While a few Caribbean pink flamingos in the salt flats, a much bigger accumulation can be found a few hundred meters away in the shallow areas of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. Every year these birds and many others nest in the marches.
I visited Chichen Itza in the morning and then drove to Río Lagartos (near Las Coloradas) afterward. And let me tell you this: Do not do both in one day! It is extremely tiring and everything felt way too rushed. Consider staying in Valladolid, so you can do both things as two separate day trips. And if you plan to spend all of your time in Cancun or even Tulum, it is still best to plan them as two separate day trips from Cancun. Alternatively, you can also visit Las Coloradas from Merida.
About the Salt Harvesting Plant
The Roche Martínez brothers founded the salt harvesting company in 1946, but the area has a long history of sea salt harvesting that dates back to the Maya. Back then, the area was known as ‘Emal’ and this saline estuary was the origin of the salt that gave life to Maya cities like Coba, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tikal, and even Copán.
ISYSA (Industria Salinera de Yucatán SA de CV. Planta las Coloradas) is the second largest company in Mexico when it comes to harvesting salt by solar evaporation.
Nowadays, they harvest 750.000 tons of sea salt per year. The salt is processed in plants in Las Coloradas town and in Tizimín. There is also a maritime terminal, where bulk salt shipments are loaded onto barges.
The salt harvesting company does take measures to be sustainable and to ensure that the salt harvesting is “carried out in harmony with nature” as located in a biosphere reserve. But at the end of the day, the salt harvesting facility is located in a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and it is not possible to say how it impacts the environment and the 335 bird species that live there permanently or as migratory visitors.
Can you swim in Las Coloradas?
Why are Las Coloradas pink?
Best Time to visit Las Coloradas
The best time to visit Las Coloradas in Mexico is between 12 PM and 3 PM, as the pink coloration is the most intense during the mid-day sun. The direct sunlight makes the organisms in the water appear bright pink.
Different Colorations
The color of Las Coloradas depends on the weather, the time of day, and the salinity, or rather the stage of the salt extraction process. Therefore, the color can range from the bright pink everyone wants to see, to a variety of orange-brown shades.
I saw Las Coloradas at 5 PM and two heavy tropical storms had passed the area in the prior two weeks. Therefore, the water was very diluted and there was no vibrant pink coloration. Instead, the water looked orange-brown.
Las Coloradas Rules
- It used to be possible to drive on the paths between the pink salt lakes, but nowadays, you have no choice but to visit Las Coloradas with a guide.
- Since 2021, it is no longer allowed to touch the salt or the water.
- Flying a drone over the pink lakes of Las Coloradas is no longer allowed.
Best Way to visit Las Coloradas
If you want to see the artificial pink lakes of Las Coloradas, there are three ways to do so. Two of them include planning the trip there yourself, while the third option is an organized day trip from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum. All of them offer a different range of services, so you have to choose which option suits your needs.
Las Coloradas Parque Turístico
Costs: 250 to 890 pesos depending on the tour
Ideal for: Instagramers & those interested in the process of sea salt harvesting
Given the insta-fame of the pink lakes, parts of the pink were turned into a tourist park. There is a viewpoint that grants you an elevated view of the pink salt bassinets, and in 2021 a visitor center was built. It is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM.
If you want to visit the Las Coloradas Parque Turístico, you can choose between three different tours. All of these tours are accompanied by local guides. You have to pay extra for an English-speaking guide.
The three options are a walking tour, a bike tour, and a safari bus tour. Prices range from 250 pesos to 890 pesos per person. There is a small discount for Mexican citizens, but not for temporary residency holders.
Walking Tour — This tour costs 250 pesos and lasts between 30 and 45 minutes. A certified guide will accompany you as you walk 500 m around one pink lake of Las Coloradas. During the walk, you can take some photos with your phone and your guide will explain the sea-salt production process to you.
Bike Tour — You can choose between a 30 min & a 1-hour long bike tour. It costs 350 pesos per person and includes access to the viewpoint. During the Las Coloradas bike tour, you will visit places not visited by the safari bus and get to see several of the pink salt bassinets up close.
Safari Bus Tour — If you choose the safari bus tour, you will spend 1 hour on the bus and venture 7 km deep into the area of Las Coloradas. You will see up to four of the small pink lakes and will get close to salt piles and production areas. After that, you have some time to climb the viewpoint and to take some photos. This tour costs 890 pesos per person. The safari buses depart every 90 minutes.
During a Río Lagartos Boat Tour
Costs: 350 pesos per person if you join a group or 1200 – 1500 pesos if you want to hire an entire boat
Ideal for: nature lovers
I’d say that visiting Las Coloradas during a Río Lagartos boat tour is by far the best option, as it allows you to see more than the pink lakes. Therefore, you do not risk feeling like the long trip there was not worth it because you just saw one thing. The tour starts in the small fishing village of Río Lagartos.
During the boat tour, you have the chance to see crocodiles and can spot a plethora of birds, which makes it the ideal choice for nature lovers. You get to be closer to the flamingos that nest here than during a visit to the tourist park.
Depending on which tour you select, you will also have a stop at the Mayan Bath, with mud that is supposed to be good for your skin, and Playa Pública.
The stop at Las Coloradas is included in the boat tour fee.
Day Trip from Cancun
If you do not want to figure out how to get there yourself and do not mind paying more to avoid the hassle of rental cars and bus transfers, joining a guided day trip might be the best option for you. Obviously, these day trips are not ideal for everyone, but they are an option you can choose if you want everything to be organized for you.
Be sure to book the day trip at least several days in advance, as they can sell out.
What to bring when visiting Las Coloradas
If you only visit Las Coloradas by itself, you only need an insulated bottle of water, reef-safe sunscreen, and a camera. Aside from these Mexico packing list essentials, you should also bring swimwear and a towel if you visit the pink lakes as part of a Rio Lagartos boat tour. After all, it will very likely include a stop at a nearby beach.
Where to stay near the pink lakes
Nowadays, it is possible to spend the night in the town of Las Coloradas. The Piña Coloradas Ecolodge with its outdoor pool and garden is very stylish, while the Casa Jade Eco Bungalows feel more in touch with nature. Both are great places to stay, so you can choose the one that aligns with your own preferences.
Alternatively, you can also stay in a hotel in Río Lagartos. This option is likely the best for you, if you do not have a rental car and want to join a Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve boat tour early in the morning, as that is the best time to see the many bird species that live in the area.
How to get to Las Coloradas
By Car
Renting a car makes your trip more flexible. It allows you to stop along the way, which means you can also visit Ek Balam and Cenote Xcan che on your drive back to Valladolid, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, or Cancun. And if you are hungry, you can also stop in the town of Temozón which is famous for its smoked meat.
Driving time to Las Coloradas:
- Cancun: 3:30 hours
- Tulum: 3 hours (you can stop at the Coba ruins on your way back)
- Playa del Carmen: 3:15 hours
- Valladolid: 1:50 hours
- Merida: 3 hours
By Public Transport
To get to Las Coloradas by bus, you first have to take a bus to Tizimín. From there, you can then opt to take a bus to Río Lagartos where the boat tours depart, or the bus from Tizimín to Las Coloradas.
This bus departs at 10:30 AM from the Noreste Terminal, which is close to the ADO Terminal. (Note: The connection between Tizimín and Las Coloradas is not listed on the ADO website or on the Busbud website.)
From Río Lagartos to Las Coloradas
If you are already in Río Lagartos or have arrived there the previous day, you have three options to get to the pink lakes of Las Coloradas.
Should you have a car, you can just drive there. The towns are 23 km (14.3 miles) away from each other and it takes around 25 minutes to drive there. Free parking is available at the Las Colorados tourist park.
Alternatively, you can take one of the few bus connections between the two towns. While there seems to be a variation of availability between the seasons, there is always a bus that departs Río Lagartos at 11:15 AM and with a return trip at 3:00 PM.
If the bus schedule does not align with your plans and you do not have a car, you could also take a taxi. Just be sure to ask the driver to wait for you while you explore the pink lakes, as it can be hard to find a taxi in Las Coloradas. The far should be between 40 and 50 USD depending on how long you plan to stay at the pink lakes.
Are you planning a trip?
Check out these useful websites and resources I use to plan my adventures around the world.
Roundup: Is it worth it to visit Las Coloradas?
Whether or not visiting the Las Coloradas pink lakes is worth it, likely depends on the reasons why you want to visit them. If you only want a quick photo for Instagram, you will be happy with your visit and might be able to justify the skyrocketed expense. (After all, the fee only used to be 75 pesos.)
A visit will likely also be worth it for you if you have always dreamed of seeing a pink lake and consider a day trip to Las Coloradas your only chance to make your dream come true. If you want a less touristic experience, you might want to consider Xtampu Laguna Rosada north of Merida instead.
If you are a nature lover and looking for a great adventure, I do not believe that visiting Las Coloradas Parque Turistico is the right choice for you. It is very ‘instagrammy’ and you do not get to enjoy the breathtaking surrounding area. Instead, you should do a 3 hours long Ría Lagartos boat tour that also stops at Las Coloradas. It will allow you to see the real natural gem of the area, and you still get a glimpse of the pink lakes.
The recent changes sadly turned the experience into somewhat of a money grab and it is up to you to decide if the expense is worth it to you. That being said: If you include Las Coloradas as a mere stop during a boat tour from Río Lagartos, it is 100% worth it. The boat tour alone is amazing, and it is a nice way to see the pink lakes without contributing to mass tourism.
More about Mexico
If you are planning a trip to Mexico, you might also be interested in these Mexico travel guides:
Driving in Mexico
Pueblos Magicos in Mexico
Do you dream of visiting Mexico’s Pink lake?
Let me know in the comments down below!
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