You have probably seen pictures of some pink beach in the Yucatán Peninsula. As weird as it looks, the colored pink beach is real and it is located in the community of Río Lagartos. The name of this magical place that seems taken out of a fairy tale, received its name due to the pink color of the water. “Las Coloradas” can translate into “the dyed ones” referring to the water. For locals living in the area it is pretty common to spend the day visiting this public beach but for travelers might seem an exotic and interesting place to visit.
The Color Pink
The town where Las Coloradas is located, is one of the steadiest areas in Yucatán commercially speaking. And this is due to their high production of salt. As soon as you arrive to the town you could snap a few pictures of yourself among huge salt mountains and after you will see the pretty pink water everybody talks about. The color pink is thanks to the amounts of salt in the water and although it looks stunning, it is absolutely prohibited to swim in it. The salt could seriously damage your skin and there are signs that forbid swimmers. The pink color is more intense some days, this is because of the temperature in the water and the intensity of the sunlight. Las Coloradas is the perfect quiet place to spend the day taking sun baths but sunblock is highly recommended. You might also see a few turtle nests along the beach, as this is one of their favorite places to have their nests.
Transportation
It is a lot more practical if you have a rental car to visit, we highly recommend you to spend the night at the little town. There are many small hotels offering lodging for visitors. If you are driving from anywhere in Riviera Maya, the fastest way to get to Las Coloradas is by taking the route to Valladolid on Colosio Avenue in Playa del Carmen. Then take the route to Rio Lagartos/Tizimin. It would take you around 2 hours and a half to drive from Riviera Maya to Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas. If you are taking public transportation, we recommend you to take the ADO public bus to Valladolid and from there another collective (public van) to Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas. There are very little to none places to use credit card so make sure you bring enough cash. We can also help you plan a day trip in Rio Lagartos and arrange a private driver for you.
Other Activities Near Las Coloradas
Las Coloradas might be the favorite spot but Rio Lagartos community has a lot more to offer. It is also home of the pink flamingos and other birds. Around 18,000 pink flamingos visit often the mangroves of the area located at El Cuyo community in Rio Lagartos, starting in August and spend the whole winter. The area is considered Special Reserve of the Biosphere and it is visited all year long for other species of birds, spider monkeys, Coatis, raccoons and jaguars. So when visiting Rio Lagartos, Las Coloradas is not the only special place you will have to see. Send us an e-mail now to concierge@locogringo.com and let us start planning your adventure at Rio Lagartos and Las Coloradas!