Naturally Pink Lagoon in Mexico Is Like a Real-Life Fairy Tale Dreamscape

What color is a lagoon? In the tiny fishing village of Las Coloradas, located on the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, it’s pink. This section of the peninsula’s largest wetlands reserve—the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve—is renowned for its striking rosé hues and its large, white salt banks that rise out of the earth like icebergs. It’s no wonder why Las Coloradas has become known for its natural, yet strikingly vibrant colors, attracting tourists from all over the world.

The estuary surrounding the beach is a deep pink, which invites many Instagrammers and tourists to its shore every year. The science behind the hue stems from both the red plankton and the high quantity of brine shrimp in the water. Essentially, the water dyes from the organisms’ chemicals, much like the feathers of a flamingo. The city of Las Coloradas was once a salt mining town, as well, which explains the mountains of salt that decorate the already-unusual landscape. (Traveler’s tip: you can actually tour the old salt factory while you’re here.)

Las Coloradas is just desolate enough for visitors to feel like they’re escaping to nature. “I couldn’t believe what I saw,” says Instagrammer Marisa Hampe. “I had never heard of a pink sea; it’s a unique and magical place, like a dream.” Las Coloradas is just pink enough for visitors to feel like they’ve gone out of this world. In case you still can’t believe it’s real, scroll down to see the stunning photos people from all walks of life have taken at this gorgeous Mexican hotspot—each photo is more mesmerizing than the next!

Above photo credit: @marisahampe

Photo credit: @ fercabrera27