While doing some research for my trip to Rincon, Puerto Rico, I came across gorgeous photos of pink lakes. When I found out the pink water in Puerto Rico was less than an hour from where I was staying, visiting it immediately went on my must-do list.
I absolutely love the color pink and to see it in nature in such an unexpected and dreamy way was very intriguing. This pink lake in Puerto Rico was one of the highlights of my trip.
What is the Pink Lake in Puerto Rico?
The famous Puerto Rico Pink Lake is actually the Cabo Rojo salt flats. Las Salinas has become known as the pink beach in Puerto Rico, but it is actually salt flats covered in water that has brine shrimp which contribute to the pink color.
The water is actually salt flats situated within a wildlife refuge called the Cabo Rojo Wildlife Refuge. Indigenous people have been mining salt in this area for over a thousand years, even before the Spanish came to Puerto Rico.
The salt flats were the first industry in Puerto Rico, and salt continues to be mined there today. As the sun dries the water, salt crystals form and turn the water pink thanks to the brine shrimp! It was really cool to see in person.
To make sure to protect the area, do not step on the salt flats, climb the salt mounds, or leave any trash behind. This is a working salt mine, and we need to preserve it for future visitors as well.
Where to Find the Pink Water in Puerto Rico
The pink water in Puerto Rico is located in Cabo Rojo off of PR-301. Las Salinas in Cabo Rojo is an area in the southwest corner of the island.
Cabo Rojo is a gorgeous area with a spectacular beach (Playa Sucia) nearby the salt flats, so you can make a fun day out of a trip there. You can read my full travel guide to Rincon, Puerto Rico!
How to Get to Las Salinas Cabo Rojo
The best and easiest way to get to the pink salt flats of Las Salinas is to rent a car. Renting a car in Puerto Rico makes it easier to explore places that public transportation can’t take you, and this is one of those places.
However, you’ll want to drive carefully. Some of the routes include sharp curves and people who are much more comfortable driving fast on the narrow roads.
You can use Faro Los Morrillos for your GPS, and it is worth a visit too. The Los Morrillos Lighthouse was built in 1882 and is past the salt flats. If you get to the designated parking areas, you’ve reached the lighthouse area and passed the last of the salt flats.
There are tolls throughout Puerto Rico, so it is best to just pay the flat fee with your rental instead of trying to pay each toll individually.
Las Salinas is located just two and a half hours from San Juan and about an hour and a half from Rincon. This makes it a perfect day trip from San Juan or Rincon.
When to Visit the Salt Flats in Puerto Rico
The best time to visit is on a sunny day. Cloudy and rainy days make the pink not as vibrant, so your photos are less likely to show the bright pink you can see in my photos.
Tips for Visiting the Pink Lake in Cabo Rojo
The salt flats will not all be the same color as the colors can vary throughout the process of mining the salt. If you aren’t happy with the color of the first ones you find, keep driving because there are more.
I waited until I found the most vibrant of the salt flats to get out and take photos instead of stopping at every single one.
Make sure to go up in the observation tower across from the visitor’s center. The observation tower lets you look out over the various pink lakes, beaches, the lighthouse, and more.
The beach is stunning and has been voted one of the best in the Caribbean many times. The lighthouse is another great photo spot, and you can see the lighthouse from the beach.
Make sure to plan a trip to Las Salinas Puerto Rico on your trip to this beautiful island.
Sucia means dirty in Spanish … Just thought that was a weird name for a beach
I know! It's an odd name, right!? I heard it's called that due to the kelp that flows onto the beach during certain times of the year.
I have a question hoping you may be able to get back to me before I head that way. I travel there in January but I did not see any pink water. I wanted to see if you can give me a guide to the parking or maybe some visual sites. I was on the side where the birdwatching tower is and I see those little bridges that you can stand on but no pink water on the other side was a big pile of salt so now I’m wondering if it was behind that on the right side
Hi there! It’s been years since I was last there, so I’m not sure about visual cues. I can tell you that based on the weather/the sky the water looks more or less pink. In poor conditions it could look more “tan.”