At Las Coloradas, salt isn’t just harvested — it’s inherited.
This unique place has grown with its soul rooted in both the sea and the land, through an ancestral tradition that transforms saltwater into crystals of life: Sea Salt. The story began formally in 1946, when Don Joaquín Roche Martínez and his brother Roger founded Industria Salinera de Yucatán S.A. de C.V.. From that moment, a new chapter of development began for the community — salt became more than sustenance; it became progress, identity, and pride.
Today, the families of Las Coloradas remain dedicated to salt harvesting, preserving an exemplary harmony with the natural environment. Their work not only protects the ecosystem but also ensures a dignified quality of life for the community that has made salt their legacy. Now, that story opens up to you. At Las Coloradas Touristic Park, you can experience three guided tours that immerse you in this centuries-old process: walk among the salt flats, discover how the sea becomes salt, and admire the rare beauty of a living ecosystem within the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve.
Why are the lagoons of Las Coloradas pink?
The intense pink color of the lagoons comes from a fascinating natural phenomenon. These high-salinity waters are home to microorganisms like Dunaliella salina and tiny brine shrimp (artemia), which thrive under the intense Yucatán sun and produce pigments rich in beta-carotene.
As these pigments concentrate in the water, they create striking tones that range from pale pink to vibrant fuchsia.
What you see is more than a color — it’s a sign of life: an ecosystem in balance where nature, salt, and time come together in a spectacle unlike any other in the world.
Each year, juvenile Caribbean flamingos are taggedto track their migration patterns and behavior — generating key information for their conservation.
Actions that define us
Wildlife conservation is one of the core values of Las Coloradas. Every year, juvenile Caribbean flamingos are tagged to track their migration and behavior — a vital effort for their long-term protection.
Coastal bird species such as the least tern are also monitored through nest identification and tracking to ensure safe breeding grounds.
These actions are carried out in close collaboration with local guides, volunteers, and CONANP, strengthening the protection of species within two Natural Protected Areas: Ría Lagartos and Playa Ría Lagartos.
Efforts also include managing the impact of feral animals — mostly abandoned domestic pets — through responsible community education and coexistence practices.
Preserving the salinity of the water not only ensures the purity of the salt, but also protects local biodiversity. In partnership with CONANP and other organizations, significant progress has been made — including the increase of the Caribbean flamingo population from 2,000 to over 30,000 individuals.
Protecting the future through responsible action.
Salt production in Las Coloradas is based on sustainable practices that respect the natural balance of the environment. The salt is extracted solely through solar evaporation — an ancestral, non-invasive method that requires limited industrial machinery.
This technique preserves the integrity of the brine and the surrounding ecosystem. In fact, the biodiversity present in the salt flats — especially birdlife — serves as a valuable bioindicator of environmental health.
Environmental education and awareness are fundamental pillars of Las Coloradas model. Through guided tours and firsthand experiences, we promote responsible tourism that informs and inspires visitors to protect this extraordinary ecosystem.
Guided by local experts, every tour becomes an opportunity to learn about the region’s species, landscapes, and the rules that help preserve them.
Community involvement is also encouraged through volunteer programs and citizen science. Residents and travelers alike contribute to monitoring wildlife and keeping natural areas clean, creating a meaningful connection with the land.
An essential part of this awareness includes addressing the impact of feral animals — like abandoned dogs and cats — on native species, and encouraging responsible practices at a local level.
Environmental education and awareness are fundamental pillars of Las Coloradas model. Through the tourist experience, we promote responsible tourism that informs and inspires visitors to care for this unique ecosystem.
Immerse yourself in the magic of Las Coloradas live. Watch in real time as the colors of our pink salt flats shift and blend with the natural landscapes of Yucatán, in perfect harmony with a living ecosystem.
Here, the story of salt and the richness of nature meet in a view that transforms with every moment.
More than a tour, it's a window into a natural spectacle — one that invites you to experience it fully.
Discover an authentic corner of eastern Yucatan If you are looking for a quiet place, full of nature, far from the hustle and bustle of tourism
Disconnect to feel again We live in a fast-moving world. Work, pending, social networks
