If you are planning your next getaway from routine in search of unique and memorable experiences in the best natural environments, Las Coloradas is the perfect destination on the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.
This paradise offers endless experiences different from those you could find in other places, such as its impressive lakes with pink waters, white sand beaches, a great variety of species of flora, and fauna such as the hawksbill turtle, mangroves, and much more.
Las Coloradas is more than a place to take pictures because you can learn a lot about the protection of the species that live here, in addition to knowing the necessary processes to bring to your table the number one salt in Mexico, Sal Sol.
For you to plan the perfect trip this 2022, we will tell you everything you can do in Las Coloradas, Yucatán in detail, and we will give you useful tips to turn a few days of vacation into an unforgettable adventure.
Las Coloradas is a small fishing port located on an estuary, within the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, in the municipality of Río Lagartos, 229 km from Mérida, the state capital.
The vegetation of the coastal dunes and the mangroves form a surprising ecosystem that includes the marine saltwater and the freshwater of the peninsula. For this reason, various tourist activities can be carried out in this area.
Its main attractions are its virgin beaches, flora, and fauna, for example, sea birds such as pelicans, seagulls, and the popular pink flamingos, among other protected species.
This natural park is private property, so it offers excellent services and tourist attractions that will make your visit a more comfortable experience.
Plus, it has one of the most valuable salt processing plants in the country, which belongs to the Roche Group.
Besides providing economic stability to a large part of the population dedicated to this activity, Grupo Roche sponsors environmental programs for the care of protected species in coordination with CONANP, Pronatura, and non-governmental organizations.
Thus, the Yucatan salt industry in the Ría Lagartos natural park offers one of the most diverse scenarios in the country, in a joint effort that provides benefits to all.
In Las Coloradas, the majority of the population is dedicated to the salt industry and fishing, but also to tourism thanks to the influx of people who visit this port to see its pink lakes.
If you wonder why the water in Las Coloradas is pink, this is due to the high concentration of salt in the water that allows the proliferation of microorganisms called halobacteria, which generate the pigment that gives rise to the various pink tones.
The activities that most people do when they arrive are:
To make your visit to Las Coloradas a truly unique experience, it is best to contact an expert guide, you can also choose the type of tour you want to do, either on foot, by bicycle or by transport, we describe them in detail below:
This tour consists of a walk around one of the crystallizers —deposits where sodium chloride precipitates—, in which it is possible to admire the beautiful pink waters of the place.
The expert guide explains in detail the entire process of salt production, a natural, ecological and sustainable transformation that is based on the evaporation of seawater in the large and shallow lagoons, thanks to the action of the sun and the wind.
On the walk, through the crystallizer, it is possible to see the formation of sea salt that crystallizes on the surface and settles at the bottom. Here, it forms a hard layer that will later be collected during the salt harvest, usually during the months of April to September.
The reason for the unique pink color that the water acquires at the end of the process is also explained in detail, and the relationship that exists between a healthy ecosystem, with microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme saline environments, and the production of sea salt.
During the tour, the local guide shares the best tips for spectacular shots in one of the most surreal and beautiful places in Mexico.
The duration of the tour is 45 minutes and the public hours are from 08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
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This is one of the most exciting tours in Las Coloradas that you can enjoy. It begins by boarding an off-road vehicle towards the interior of the lagoon system, an ecosystem rich in biological diversity located in a protected natural area categorized as a "Biosphere Reserve".
This area has wetlands and mangroves, biological systems of great importance for the ecological preservation of the country.
In the lagoon system of saline production, it is possible to find resident and migratory aquatic birds such as seagulls, pelicans, crabeater eagles, and the famous Caribbean pink flamingo.
In this site, the species find ideal conditions for refuge, feeding, reproduction, and breeding, so it is possible to admire them in their natural habitat. For this reason, it is advisable to follow all the instructions of the guide and not to damage the area in any way.
The safari continues in the heart of the "Sal Sol" salt mine to appreciate the production process of sea salt, from the evaporators, the formation of crystals in the crystallized, and storage on a huge hill that offers a vision from another planet.
If the visit coincides with the harvest season, it is also possible to see the machinery collecting the salt.
This tour includes a visit to the fascinating pink waters of Las Coloradas, and its beautiful sand dunes to get totally spectacular photos.
In addition, the interaction with the local guides of the community —certified under the official Mexican norms of nature tourism— gives the personal touch to see everything from a comprehensive perspective and awaken ecological awareness.
The duration of this safari is 90 minutes and the tours start at 08:00 in the morning. The last one leaves at 05:00 in the afternoon.
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For those who are more dynamic, there is a sensational bike ride around four crystallizers of pink water. On the tour you get to places that are not otherwise possible to access, so the photographs are 100% original and fabulous.
An expert guide shows you the best photography tricks so that the memories you capture are the envy of friends and family!
This tour, like the previous ones, includes a visit to the interior of the Sal Sol production plant, a detailed explanation of the process of obtaining sea salt, and the cause of the pink color of the water at the end of the process.
In addition to exercising, feeling the sea breeze on your face, knowing what makes the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve so special, and marveling at an ancient process of obtaining salt (the Mayans already used this method), you will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the rarest and most unique places in the world, it will be a great adventure!
The duration of this tour is between 30 and 60 minutes and the public hours are from 08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
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Although the town is very small and can be easily explored on foot, there are several things you can do besides visiting the tourist park.
The hours in which the pink coloration of the water can be seen with greater intensity are between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. m. and 03:00 p.m. —hours with the strongest solar incidence—, it is recommended:
You must consider that pets are not allowed inside the facilities, nor can visitors approach less than two meters from the edge of the crystallizers. The use of drones is also not allowed.
The fascinating pink color can vary throughout the year and decrease in intensity, especially after the rains. To increase the chances of observing different aspects of the place, consider the following months:
There are different ways to get to this site, these are the most common routes by car:
To get there by public transport, you must buy a ticket to Tizimín, and once in the city take a taxi to Las Coloradas. Or also, from Tizimín take another transport to Río Lagartos and from there take a taxi to the town.
If you want to know better how to get to Las Coloradas, we have prepared an article with all the information you need.
The town of Las Coloradas is a very small place, so many people prefer to travel 20 minutes to eat at Río Lagartos.
However, there are rustic restaurants where you can eat in Las Coloradas. In them, it is possible to savor fresh food at a good price, dishes such as fresh ceviches, breaded steaks, and coconut shrimp. They also offer snacks like sopes and sometimes even hamburgers and fries.
Some of them are “La Iguana”, “La Gaviota”, “Cocina Económica Doña Tati” and “Lalo's Restaurant'' with a good offer of seafood and non-seafood, without missing the delicious molcajetes and house specialties.
More than 15 kilometers away in Río Lagartos are the restaurants “El Perico Marinero”, “Ría Maya Restaurante & Ecotours” and “La Mojarrita Río Lagartos” with a wide variety of fresh food and excellent service.
As we have seen, visiting Las Coloradas is an immersive experience that includes the beauty of nature, knowledge of a sustainable production process, and ecological awareness; everything, within one of the richest areas in the diversity of Mexico.
Now that you know what to do in Las Coloradas, it is the perfect time to plan your visit and enjoy a day “in pink” full of sea, sun, salt, fauna, flora, and fantasy landscapes.
Book your trip to one of the most incredible places in the Yucatan and marvel at all that this state, rich in traditions, culture, and natural resources, has to offer. Do not forget to visit our blog where you will find more related articles such as: can you swim in Las Coloradas, Yucatan? and beaches of Yucatan that you have to visit.
