Las Coloradas, Salt production village in Río Lagartos, Mexico.
Las Coloradas is a salt production village on the northern coast of Yucatán, featuring shallow basins of rose-tinted water created by algae and mineral content. The white salt crust borders these colored waters across flat terrain.
Salt extraction here dates to the Maya period, with Spanish colonizers expanding production from the 16th century onward. These early operations established the foundation for today's industry.
Families working here use methods passed down through generations, combining traditional techniques with today's industrial practices to harvest salt from the shallow basins.
Early morning hours offer the best light for viewing the water's color and the salt formations clearly. Bring comfortable shoes and sun protection, as there is little shade across the flat landscape.
The pink tint comes not from dyes but from microscopic organisms and algae thriving in extremely salty water. These tiny living things produce natural pigments that give the water its distinctive color.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
