Las Coloradas & Río Lagartos from Mérida: Pink Lakes & Flamingo Boat Tour

Thirteen hours through the Yucatán's strangest landscapes: salt pools, untouched beaches, and a boat full of birds.

You drive north from Mérida to walk the pink salt pools at Las Coloradas with a guide and viewpoint access included, swim at an unspoiled beach, then take a two-hour boat tour through Río Lagartos spotting flamingos and crocodiles with binoculars provided. Lunch at a waterfront restaurant and return transport to Mérida round out a full 13-hour day that covers three distinct landscapes without you arranging tickets or timing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Las Coloradas and Río Lagartos

• Meet at first pickup point
• Stop at Santa Ana park pickup
• Final pickup at Fiesta Americana hotel
• Buy water and snacks for road
• Travel 3 hours to Las Coloradas
• Walk pink pools with certified guide
• Free time at Cancunito beach
• Boat tour in Río Lagartos Reserve
• Exfoliate skin with mud on beach
• Lunch at Maleconcito Gourmet restaurant
• Return 2.5 hours to Mérida
• End tour at original pickup points

The Experience

The van leaves Mérida at 7am sharp, picking up from three points before heading north toward the coast. Three hours on the road gets you to Las Coloradas, where the salt pools sit in shades of pink that don't quite look real until you're standing at the viewpoint. Your certified guide walks you through the paths between the pools—the water shifts from pale rose to deeper coral depending on the light and the salt concentration. It's the kind of place where every angle works for a photo, but the guide's job is also to keep you moving; you're not lingering here, you're moving through it. Entry, environmental tax, and viewpoint access are already paid, so you just walk and look.

After the pools, you get 45 minutes at Playa Cancunito, a beach with almost no infrastructure—no restaurants, no bathrooms beyond what's at Las Coloradas—which is exactly why it still feels untouched. You swim, dry off, and then it's back in the van for the drive to Río Lagartos. The boat tour is the centerpiece: two hours on the water in small boats, maximum six people per boat, with binoculars and life jackets provided. Pink flamingos are the draw, but you'll also see crocodiles, eagles, and seagulls moving through the mangroves and shallow lagoons. There's a stop at a beach where you can rub mud on your skin—it's meant to be rejuvenating, and the guide will explain the local tradition. By the time the boat docks, you're tired and salt-crusted and ready to eat.

Lunch happens at Maleconcito, a gourmet restaurant right at the dock, and you get an hour to choose from the menu the guide provides. Drinks cost extra, so bring cash or be ready to pay separately. The meal is the break in the day where everything slows down. After that, it's the drive back to Mérida—two and a half hours—with dropoff at the same three points where you started, ending at the Viajes Colibrí office. You'll arrive around 8pm. The van has a cooler on board if you brought drinks from home, and the guide speaks both Spanish and English, so language isn't a barrier. Wear light colors, bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent, and eat a good breakfast before you leave—the day is long and the sun is relentless.

What’s included

• Your day includes certified guide in Spanish or English, round-trip transport from Mérida with three pickup points, entry ticket and environmental tax for Las Coloradas, access to the viewpoint with photo support, 45 minutes of free time at Playa Cancunito, a two-hour boat tour through Río Lagartos with binoculars and life jacket, a mud exfoliation stop, and lunch at Maleconcito restaurant where you choose from the menu.
• Drinks at the restaurant are separate.
• The van has a cooler on board for your own beverages.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Viajes Colibrí Yucatán TOURS

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Mérida without a rental car who want to see three distinct landscapes—salt pools, beach, and a wildlife reserve—in one day without arranging separate entry fees or timing. Plan for a full 13 hours out, which is what makes covering Las Coloradas, Cancunito, and Río Lagartos in a single trip possible.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Mérida to Las Coloradas?

Three hours each way. The return drive from Río Lagartos to Mérida is two and a half hours.

What's included in the price?

Certified guide, round-trip transport from Mérida, entry to Las Coloradas, environmental tax, viewpoint access, boat tour in Río Lagartos, binoculars, life jacket, and lunch at Maleconcito restaurant. Drinks at the restaurant are not included.

How many people are on each boat in Río Lagartos?

Maximum six people per boat.

What time does the tour start and end?

Departure is 7am from the first meeting point. Return to Mérida is around 8pm.

Is there time to swim?

Yes. You get 45 minutes at Playa Cancunito and can swim during the boat tour stops. Bring a swimsuit and towel.

Are bathrooms available?

Las Coloradas has bathrooms for changing. Playa Cancunito has no facilities. The restaurant has showers.

What wildlife will I see?

Pink flamingos, crocodiles, eagles, seagulls, and other regional bird species. Binoculars are provided for bird watching.

Is this tour available in English?

Yes. The tour operates in both Spanish and English.

What should I bring?

Swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hat or cap, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, and light-colored clothing. Bring cash for drinks at the restaurant if you want them.

Can I bring my own drinks?

Yes. The van has a cooler with ice where you can store drinks you bring from home.