Some of the most dazzling water in Mexico is not in its lakes or its sea, but in its lagoons — the shallow, sheltered, jewel-coloured lagunas that ring the coasts and dot the tropics. From the famous turquoise stripes of Bacalar to the surreal pink salt pools of Las Coloradas and the mangrove channels of Cancún, this is your guide to the lagoons of Mexico: what they are, the ones worth crossing the country for, and how to visit them.
What is a lagoon — and how is it different from a lake?
A lagoon (Spanish laguna) is usually a shallow body of water partly separated from a larger one — most often the sea — by a barrier such as a sandbar, a reef or a belt of mangroves. Coastal lagoons like Nichupté or Laguna de Términos exchange water with the ocean and are often brackish, rich nurseries for fish and birds. A lake, by contrast, is a fully enclosed inland body of water. In Mexican usage the word laguna is generous, and is applied even to brilliant freshwater bodies fed by springs and cenotes, like Bacalar — which is why this guide covers the country’s most beautiful named lagoons whatever their plumbing. For the country’s great inland waters, see our companion guide to the lakes of Mexico.
Bacalar: the Lagoon of Seven Colors
The jewel of them all is Laguna de Bacalar in Quintana Roo, near Chetumal in the deep south of the Yucatán. Stretching some 40 kilometres over a bed of pale limestone and white sand, and fed by springs and cenotes rather than the sea, it shows an unforgettable range of blues — from near-white shallows to deep indigo channels — that earned it the nickname the “Lagoon of Seven Colors”. Within it lie deep cenotes such as Cenote Azul and the rare living stromatolites of Los Rapidos, among the oldest forms of life on Earth. Sailing, kayaking and paddle-boarding across that glowing water is one of Mexico’s great experiences — read our full Bacalar guide for how to do it.
Las Coloradas: the pink lagoons
At the opposite end of the colour wheel are the astonishing pink lagoons of Las Coloradas, on the north coast of the Yucatán beside the Río Lagartos reserve. These are salt-evaporation ponds, and their cotton-candy pink comes from the salt-loving algae, brine shrimp and micro-organisms that thrive in the super-salty water. The surrounding wetlands are home to flocks of flamingos, whose own pink feathers come from the same tiny creatures. It is one of the most photographed and surreal landscapes in the country — our Las Coloradas guide covers visiting responsibly.
More great lagoons of Mexico
- Laguna Nichupté (Cancún) — the mangrove-fringed lagoon system behind Cancún’s hotel zone, explored by boat and jungle tour, linked to the Caribbean.
- Laguna de Términos (Campeche) — one of Mexico’s largest coastal lagoons, a protected wetland where dolphins and manatees live and the rivers meet the Gulf.
- Laguna Miramar (Chiapas) — a remote, pristine jungle lagoon deep in the Lacandon rainforest of the Montes Azules reserve, reached with local guides.
- Laguna de Sontecomapan (Veracruz) — a mangrove lagoon opening to the Gulf in the green hills of Los Tuxtlas, close to the famous lake of Catemaco.
Visiting Mexico’s lagoons
Most of Mexico’s show-stopping lagoons lie in the tropical south-east, an easy add-on to a Yucatán or Riviera Maya trip: Bacalar sits a few hours south of Tulum, while Las Coloradas pairs with a flamingo tour at Río Lagartos. They are warm and visitable year-round, at their calmest and clearest in the winter-to-spring dry season. Whatever you do, protect them — use reef-safe sunscreen (or none), keep your distance from the fragile stromatolites and nesting flamingos, and book local guides. While you are in the Yucatán, do not miss its other water wonders: the swimmable sinkholes of our cenotes of Mexico guide.
Frequently asked questions about the lagoons of Mexico
What is the difference between a lagoon and a lake?
A lagoon (laguna) is usually a shallow body of water partly cut off from a larger one — most often the sea — by a sandbar, reef or mangroves, while a lake is a fully enclosed inland body of water.
What is the Lagoon of Seven Colors in Mexico?
It is Laguna de Bacalar in Quintana Roo, named for the many shades of blue and turquoise created by its white limestone bed, springs and cenotes.
Why are the Las Coloradas lagoons pink?
Las Coloradas is a salt-production site, and its water turns pink because of the salt-loving algae, brine shrimp and micro-organisms that thrive in the very salty ponds.
Where are most of Mexico’s famous lagoons?
Most of the best-known ones are in the tropical south-east — the Yucatán Peninsula and the Gulf coast — including Bacalar, Las Coloradas, Nichupté and Laguna de Términos.
Can you swim in Bacalar lagoon?
Yes — Bacalar is freshwater and a wonderful place to swim, kayak and sail, though you should avoid touching the fragile stromatolites and use no sunscreen near them.
Are there flamingos at the Mexican lagoons?
Yes — the wetlands around Las Coloradas and the Río Lagartos reserve in the Yucatán are famous for their flocks of pink flamingos.
What is the largest coastal lagoon in Mexico?
Laguna de Términos in Campeche is one of the largest coastal lagoons in the country, a protected wetland where rivers meet the Gulf of Mexico.
When is the best time to visit Mexico’s lagoons?
They are warm year-round, but the winter-to-spring dry season (roughly November to April) brings the calmest, clearest water and the best colours.
