Badförbud torrevieja
Following my post about the impressive sandstone formations in Bolnuevo, which was really well received, I thought I would share about another lesser-known gem. The Pink Lake in Torrevieja, Spain. As you drive into town, north from Alicante airport, you will pass by two salt lakes. One is emerald green and the other is bubblegum pink.
Yes, you read it right.
Spain actually has its very own pink lake called Laguna Salada de Torrevieja. I found out about the Pink Lake in Torrevieja by chance when I was getting directions to a shopping mall on Google Maps. To my surprise, there were three distinctive colored lakes right next to each other. Which by the way shines more than days out of the year in this part of the country.
The two eye-catching salt lakes are the reason why Torrevieja developed from a small fishing village into an actual town.
Spain’s Pink Lake in Torrevieja: Everything you need to know
The easiest way to get to the Pink Lake in Torrevieja is by bike, it takes about 20 minutes from the center of town. I just followed the walking path Google Maps suggested. Discover a different side of Torrevieja, off the beaten path. Visit the Salinas, natural parks, impressive viewpoints, beautiful beaches and coves. You will also do a short salt tour to learn how the salt was produced in the past and now.
From there just walk down to Calle Sol where there are several entrances. There are so many beautiful places to see in this part of Spain that can only be reached by car.
15 Best Things to do in Torrevieja (Spain)
I always rent cars in Spain through Discover Cars , a comparison site that checks the prices from all the most affordable rental agencies. Once we got to the Pink Lake we drove around for a while until we found a free place to park on Calle Venus, about 50 meters away from the water. The Pink Lake in Torrevieja is fenced in by an ugly metal fence, but there are several openings where you can enter.
Just look for dirt paths in the grass, we found one close to Calle Venus and as I mentioned above, there are a few more openings on Calle Sol. The best time of the year to visit the Pink Lake in Torrevieja Spain is from June to October when the weather is mostly sunny. The photos in this article were shot in October. When we got to the lake the sun was shining and the water beautifully pink.
But as the wind picked up and clouds started rolling in, the color of the water quickly changed from a vibrant pink to a very little appealing brown tone. So I would say that the best time of the day to visit the lake is in the morning on a sunny, calm day. I found several articles about the benefits of the salty water and the black mud, it kind of sounded like a natural spa.
Supposedly, the mud and salt at the bottom of the lake have healing properties that can relieve both skin and respiratory ailments. I read in several places that swimming in the lakes is strictly forbidden. You can be fined up to Euros if caught, so that can quickly turn into a very expensive day at the spa. There are supposed to be no swimming signs all along the lake, however, I did not see any at the entrance I used.
Rafting the stunning Segura River in Murcia, Spain
The unusual color of the Pink Lake in Torrevieja is caused by pigments of the Halobacterium bacteria and a micro-algae called Dunaliella Salina, both of which somehow manage to live and thrive in very salty environments. So does shrimp. Their feathers often turn to a fascinating shade of pink from feasting on algae-filled shrimps. I mean, beautiful pink birds in pink water!?
Nature is awesome!