Mexico's Most Mesmerizing Lake Feels Otherworldly With Bright Bubblegum Pink Vibrancy

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula might be one of the safest places in the country to visit, but it also feels like a place where anything can happen. It's a different world, filled with ancient Mayan pyramids, deep, dark jungles, sinkholes and underground lakes that supposedly lead to Xi'Balba (the Mayan underworld), and all manner of weird and wonderful things to see and do. You can scuba dive in the darkness in Yucatan's famous cenotes, explore towns painted entirely in yellow, or see where the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs landed!

One of the most interesting, unusual, and downright bizarre sights in the Yucatan is also one of its most iconic. A staple on the feeds of travel influencers, the mesmerizing bubblegum-pink lakes of Las Coloradas are world-famous visually. But there's nothing quite like seeing this otherworldly lagoon for yourself, and it is one of the few places beloved by influencers that not just lives up to the hype but surpasses it. 

Despite being on the bucket list of almost every traveler to Mexico, Las Coloradas has managed to maintain its otherworldly charm thanks to its remote location. Its popularity as a destination has skyrocketed recently, but it is still a special place to visit. It is located on the Gulf Coast of the Yucatan, about 14 miles from the nearest small town, Rio Lagartos, a journey which takes about half an hour by car. The nearest major town is Valladolid, just under two hours' drive away, while Cancun and its international airport are a three-hour drive, as is the state capital of Yucatan, Merida, itself an underrated Mexico tourist destination.

Far from being a natural wonder, the dazzling Barbie-themed pinks of Las Coloradas are entirely man-made. This sleepy little village sits on the edge of a vast salt plain, and the lakes are part of an industrial-scale salt production effort that has been a major part of the economy of the region since the Mayan civilization! Algae and plankton in the lakes are exposed as the water evaporates during the salt collection process, creating the rosy hues that make Las Coloradas such an eye-catching destination. 

Just a few years ago, Las Coloradas was almost undiscovered, and visiting was just a matter of finding a way to get there, parking by the side of the lake, and taking selfies, splashing around in the vibrant pink waters, or just admiring the view. These days, the popularity of the lagoons means the local community has made things more organized and more restricted. There is now an official visitor center, and an entrance fee of $400 MXN (around $20), which includes a guide who takes you around the lake, explains the history and science behind the remarkable color, and takes photos for you. Swimming or even touching the water is now strictly prohibited, as is flying drones. 

While the pink color of the lakes is pretty extraordinary at all times (seriously, the photos only tell half the story!), the brightness and vividness of the water do change throughout the day. The best time to go for the most impressive photos is around midday, when the sun is at its highest, and on a day when there are few clouds.

While the experience at the pink lagoon itself doesn't take all that long (you probably only need an hour or two to enjoy the view and take enough photos to last a lifetime), an overnight stay in the area is well worth it. This is partly because the lakes are quite spectacular at sunset, partly because the drive back to somewhere like Valladolid, Merida, or Cancun takes several hours, and partly because there are plenty of great things to do in Rio Lagartos that make a few days here a wonderful part of any vacation. There are several simple guesthouses and B&Bs in Rio Lagartos, but the standout accommodation option is the Piña Coloradas boutique eco-lodge located right next to the lake itself in Las Coloradas. 

If you are staying overnight, you will want to explore the lagoons and mangroves of Rio Lagartos and discover the wonderful flamingo colonies that call this home. Thousands of bright pink birds nest and feed in and around the lakes, and the contrast between the bright blue sky, the turquoise green of the waters, and the stunning plumage of these eccentrically-designed birds is something else. It is also worth hopping in a boat with a local captain and heading out into the mangroves to see crocodiles up close, an exhilarating experience. 

There are also a couple of wonderful, undiscovered beaches in the area, which make quite a change from the packed sands of Cancun and the Riviera Maya. The delightful Cancunito is the first beach you reach on the road from Rio Lagartos to Las Coloradas, accessed by a small path through the dunes, and chances are you'll have it all to yourself!