Salt evaporation ponds near the Ría Lagartos reserve turn a vivid shade of pink from concentrated brine shrimp and algae, creating a striking backdrop of salt mounds against the colored water.
The salt evaporation ponds at Las Coloradas, adjoining the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve on Yucatán's northern coast, turn a saturated pink from concentrated brine shrimp and halophilic algae, and the strongest frames pair the color of the water against white salt mounds piled along the pond edges, often with a straight horizon line separating pink water from blue sky. Midday sun brings out the most saturated pink tone in the shallow ponds, since the color depends on light penetrating the water rather than any particular angle, though the flat overhead light can also increase glare off the water's surface. The ponds are part of an active, privately operated salt works, so color intensity varies through the year with salinity and algae bloom levels, and the pink can appear more muted after heavy rains dilute the ponds; the driest months typically show the most consistent color. Access to the ponds themselves is controlled, since the area sits within a working salt operation and a section of the Ría Lagartos reserve; visitors generally view and photograph the ponds from a designated roadside viewpoint or via an authorized local guide rather than walking freely among the ponds, both to protect the operation and the surrounding wetland habitat. Photography from the viewpoint can be busy around midday with tour groups arriving from Valladolid and the coast, though the area rarely feels as crowded as major archaeological sites. Drones are restricted within the biosphere reserve without CONANP authorization. A small viewing or access fee is typically charged locally.
Shooting notes
- Equipment
- Polarizing filter to control glare off the shallow salt water
Location
Las Coloradas, Yucatán, Mexico
21.6116, -87.9897 View on map
Highlights
- Saturated pink salt ponds against white salt mounds
- Straight horizon line dividing pink water from open sky
- Reflections of salt piles in the shallow ponds
- Color contrast between adjoining ponds at differing salinity stages
Tips for visiting
- Visit around midday when the pink tone in the shallow water is most saturated
- A polarizing filter cuts glare off the pond surface and deepens the color
- Photograph from the designated roadside viewpoint rather than walking into the active salt works
- Wear sun protection, as there is little shade at the viewpoint
- Combine the visit with the nearby Ría Lagartos boat tours for flamingos in the same area
When to visit
Visit around midday during the drier months for the most saturated pink tone in the ponds.
Accessibility
The main viewpoint is reached by a short walk from a roadside parking area on flat ground; direct access into the salt ponds themselves is restricted.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the lakes at Las Coloradas pink?
The color comes from concentrated brine shrimp and halophilic algae that thrive in the salt evaporation ponds' high-salinity water.
Can visitors walk directly among the salt ponds?
No, the ponds are part of an active salt works and a protected reserve area, so viewing is generally from a designated roadside point or with an authorized local guide.
What time of year has the most vivid pink color?
The driest months tend to show the most consistent, saturated color, since heavy rains dilute the ponds and mute the tone.
Are drones allowed at Las Coloradas?
Drones require prior CONANP authorization, as the ponds sit adjacent to the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve.