Las Coloradas

A Place That Looks Almost Unreal

Las Coloradas is a small, quiet community tucked into the northern stretch of Yucatán, somewhere between Mérida and Cancún. I was told to visit because of the famous pink waters—a sight people describe as magical, mysterious, and naturally occurring.

But like everything in life, there is always more beneath the surface.

The lakes are actually part of a salt-processing operation that has existed for decades. Workers fill the ponds with seawater, then introduce the same microorganisms and algae that flamingos feed on. As these organisms thrive, they tint the water pink—and because of their interaction with sunlight and evaporation, the salt is exposed much faster for harvesting.

So no, the lakes aren’t fully natural…

And yet, standing there, the experience is.

The ground is pale and powdery.

The air is still.

The water glows with this subtle rose-colored hue.

A lone flamingo moves across the surface, reminding you how everything in nature is connected whether we understand it or not.

Since I was already there, I let myself enjoy the moment.

No expectations.

Just another beautiful stop on this becoming journey—one I didn’t plan but that somehow found its way to me.

How often do you judge an experience before arriving, only to discover its beauty in the unexpected truth beneath it?