The first question is whether it is worth visiting Las Coloradas (the Pink Lakes of Mexico) and Rio Lagartos. The Pink Lakes are a long journey from Holbox or from the Maya Riviera (Cancun or Playa del Carmen) in a remote location. The round trip from the Maya Riviera would take 5-6 hours by car and up to 14 hours round-trip by public transport! The Pink Lakes don’t always live up to their “pink” reputation. Some visitors have been disappointed to find that Las Coloradas has only a slightly pink-hue (their color varies according to the intensity of the sun and other factors).
What are Mexico’s Pink Lakes?
The Pink Lakes (Las Coloradas) are actually in a small town on the Yucatan Peninsula called Las Coloradas. The Pink Lakes belong to a salt factory (Salinera) and are used in the salt-production process. The pink-hue comes from microorganisms in the water and a chemical is added to the water to help with purification and to accelerate the evaporation process.
The color of the pools of salt varies depending on the stage of the process. The large pools of salt are divided by sand bars. Visitors can watch from the edges of the Pink Lakes but they cannot venture onto the sand bars that separate the pools or into the water as it is private property. Barriers separate the salt lakes from the Gulf of Mexico and the salt marshes. Nearby are the factory’s salt mines and the incredible Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve.
How to Get to the Pink Lakes of Mexico
In my opinion, the solution to the long drive from the Maya Riviera to the Pink Lakes is to stay overnight at a closer location – Holbox/Tizimim/Rio Lagartos/Valladolid. Then make the journey from there so your travel time is less. You could try one of these Holbox tours.
There are three ways to “do” the Pink Lakes:
- Rent a car, arrive in Rio Lagartos, and hire a boat owner or tour the lakes from there. (convenient, slightly expensive)
- Take an organized tour from the Maya Riviera to the lakes and back. (convenient, fastest, expensive)
- Get to Rio Lagartos by public transportation then hire a boat owner. (cheapest, slowest, most uncomfortable option)
- Get to Rio Lagartos with a private taxi and driver that you have hired for the day and from there join a tour or hire a boat owner to take you out on the water. (cheaper than an organized tour, more expensive than public transport, convenient).
Renting a Car to visit Las Coloradas – If you have decided to visit Las Coloradas then you need to figure out how to get there. Perhaps the most straightforward option is to rent a car and make the journey independently.
Route 180 (1800) connects Cancun to Valladolid and route 295 travels from Valladolid north to Rio Lagartos. Route 5 connects Chiquila (the closest land point to Holbox) with Route 1800. The Pink Lakes of Mexico lie between Rio Lagartos and Chiquila (Holbox). In other words, there is no straight route from Cancun or Holbox to the pink lakes of Mexico – this makes the journey longer and public transport an issue.
Visit Las Coloradas Independently
Take a public bus from Cancun/Playa Del Carmel/Tulum or wherever you are based to Rio Lagartos. Then either go to the Rio Maya Restaurant or the surrounding area and either take a tour with one of the companies operating out of Rio Lagartos like Diego Nunez’s Rio Lagartos Nature Tours or with one of the boat owners’ “freelancers” (coyotes).
Visiting the Pink Lakes by Taxi
You can hire a private taxi and driver for the day and instruct him to take you to Rio Lagartos and the Pink Lakes. This is great unless you want a guide as well. The prices are also steep. If you do decide to take a private taxi then the best way to avoid high prices is to take a taxi from Holbox rather than Cancun. Holbox is also a fantastic destination and it is closer to the taxi fare will be less. To find a taxi to hire for the day to take you to Las Coloradas all you have to do is look online. If you get yourself to Valladolid there are mini-van buses and taxis that make the route to Rio Lagartos regularly.
Visit Las Coloradas, Mexico with an Organized Tour
An organized tour will include transportation, a tour guide, several stops in addition to the lakes and sometimes lunch as well. There are organized tours (including Absolute Adventure) from Playa Del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum and Puerto Morelos area for a day tour that costs $145-$250.
An Itinerary for Visiting Las Coloradas (Pink Lakes of Mexico)
A good way to spend your time on the Yucatan Peninsula would be to include a boat tour from Rio Lagartos, a stop at a lake where there is “Maya Mud” to lather on your skin and the Pink Lakes. You might fit in a visit to Ek Balam.
Boat Tour from Rio Lagartos at the Pink Lakes of Mexico
A boat tour into the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve can take 2-3 hours and includes a stop to play in the Maya Mud and see flamingos. On the boat ride from Rio Lagartos you will see flamingos, monkeys, crocodiles, and other creatures. It is a well-known destination for bird watchers.
– You could go on an organized tour from Cancun/Playa Del Carmen etc the boat excursion from Rio Lagartos will be included n your Pink Lakes tours.
– You could hire a taxi for the day to get you from the Maya Riviera (Cancun/Playa Del Carmen) to Rio Lagartos then you will have to pay the taxi to reach Rio Lagartos plus the boat owner once you get there.
– If you reach Rio Lagartos independently you will find many local boat owners waiting to offer you a tour. Bargain and get the best price – ask how long the trip is, if it includes stopping at the mud and if you will see flamingos.
Alternatively, there are tour companies based in Rio Lagartos that offer the boat trip (but you will have to get yourselves to Rio Lagartos). Using a Rio Lagartos tour company is more reliable than hiring a local with a boat but it is more expensive. Mexikoo Tour Company offers a 3hr boat tour from Rio Lagartos into the mangrove biosphere reserve with a stop for a Maya mud bath; a visit to the Pink Lakes and flamingo viewing for $133 for up to 6 people. This is a good option if you have 6 people in your group. Rio Lagartos Nature Tours looks like an excellent company and they offer several tour options including a 2hr Flamingo Tour that gives you views of the Pink Lakes for $110 for a group or $139 for a 3hrs Delux flamingo Tour.
Where to Stay in Rio Lagartos?
There is no accommodation at the pink lakes of Mexico in Las Coloradas but there are places to stay in Rio Lagartos. Rio Lagartos Nature Tours owned by Diego Nunez offers tours, a restaurant, Posada Diego and Matilde ($45 for a room with two double beds) as well as Ria Maya Lodge (about $55 first 2 people in a room with 2 double beds and additional $10 for each additional person). Follow this link for all places to stay in Rio Lagartos.
Know Before you Go to Las Coloradas
- You are not allowed to swim in the lakes.
- There is no accommodation in Las Coloradas but there are places to stay in Rio Lagartos.
Facts about Getting to the Pink Lakes of Mexico
Closest Airport: Cancun
Closest Large Town: Rio Lagartos
Driving Distance: From Cancun 3hrs by car or 7hrs by public bus because of all the stops
From Holbox 2-3hrs
From Rio Lagartos 30min
From Valladolid 1.5hr
From Tsizimin 40min/1hr
From Ek Balam 1hr
More Things to Do in Mexico
If you enjoyed reading about the pink lakes of Mexico then check out these unusual Tulum attractions. If you’d like to experience Mexico like a local and really get to know the people, then consider going on a volunteer vacation in Mexico.
You’ve Reached This Site Because You Like to Travel Unusual
