Las Coloradas & Rio Lagartos: Pink Lakes & Flamingo Boat Tour

Pink water, salt crystals, and two hours watching flamingos hunt in the lagoon

You swim in the pink-hued waters of Las Coloradas, float in the mineral-rich salt pools, then spend two hours on a boat tour through Rio Lagartos spotting flamingos and crocodiles in the nature reserve. Lunch, water, bilingual guide, and hotel pickup are included, so you only show up and get in the vehicle.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos

• See pink water at Las Coloradas
• Experience Mayan bath
• Tour Rio Lagartos lagoons
• Observe nature in Rio Lagartos

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Pink Lakes Entry included 2h
2. Rio Lagartos 2h

What’s included

Hotel pickup from Cancun, transportation with air conditioning, entry to Las Coloradas pink lakes, Mayan bath experience, 2-hour boat tour of Rio Lagartos nature reserve, flamingo sighting, visit to the crocodile farm, box lunch with sandwich and fruit, one a la carte meal choice, one bottle of water, and a bilingual Spanish-English guide for the full day.

Times

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• Every day 06:30

Information

Full-day Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos tour from Cancun with pink lake swim, 2-hour boat tour, flamingo sighting, lunch and bilingual guide included.

Group Up to 40

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 332 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

3.88 ★★★★★ 16 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

The drive north from Cancun takes about two hours. You arrive at Las Coloradas when the light is still high, and the water really is that color, not filtered, not exaggerated in the photos you've seen. The pink comes from salt concentration and microorganisms that thrive in the shallow pools, and the Mayan bath (Arena) lets you float in it, the salt holding you up the way the Dead Sea does. Most people don't expect how warm it is, or how the minerals feel on your skin afterward. You get a bottle of water and time to move around, take the photos, let the strangeness of it sink in.

After Las Coloradas, the boat tour in Rio Lagartos takes up the afternoon: two hours moving through the lagoon reserve, and that's where the flamingos actually show up. Your bilingual guide points out the birds feeding in the shallows, and you see crocodiles too, though they keep their distance. The reserve is the thing most people come for but don't talk about as much. It's quieter than the pink lakes, and the light changes as you move deeper into the mangroves. The boat moves slowly enough that you're not fighting the engine noise to hear anything.

Lunch arrives as a box (sandwich, fruit, cookie, juice), and then there's a stop at the crocodile farm where you can see the animals up close if you want, though it's optional. The a la carte meal at the end (one dish, your choice) happens back near the meeting point before the drive back to Cancun. Transportation is air-conditioned, which matters because the heat builds through the day, and the whole thing runs as a full day, so you're not rushing between stops.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 332 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address.

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the full tour?

It's a full-day tour. The drive from Cancun is about two hours each way, with stops at Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos in between.

What's included in the lunch?

A box lunch with sandwich, fruit, cookie and juice, plus a choice of one a la carte dish at the end of the day.

Is the 2-hour boat tour included?

Yes. The Rio Lagartos boat tour is part of the package, along with flamingo sighting and a visit to the crocodile farm.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

No. The pink lakes are shallow and the salt keeps you afloat. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels and is wheelchair accessible.

Will I see flamingos for sure?

Flamingo sighting is listed as an inclusion, and the Rio Lagartos reserve is their habitat. Sightings are typical but depend on the season and time of day.

Is the guide bilingual?

Yes, the guide speaks both Spanish and English.

Operated by Live&Travel Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago