While tourists crowd the Laguna Colorada in Bolivia to see its pink-tinged waters, expert travelers take a train to Alicante and enjoy the same phenomenon, without paying millions and without leaving Spain. The Torrevieja Lagoon is one of the most surreal landscapes that exist in our country, a totally pink lake that creates a romantic and charming image, ideal to discover in autumn.
Why the Torrevieja Lagoon is pink
This huge lagoon of 1,400 hectares is part of the Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja Natural Park and has acquired this color due to a bacteria, which releases this pinkish pigment in waters with a lot of salt. In the case of this lagoon there are 350 grams for every liter of water, similar to the Dead Sea, so pink has invaded everything.
Around the lagoon there are many enormous mountains of salt, with salt pans that take advantage of the high water load to exploit this region, something that has been done since Roman times. They are little white piles that contrast with the pink of the water and the sky blue, creating a unique postcard. In addition, there are usually flamingos and other birds resting there, in case the landscape was needed to be even more beautiful.
These halophilic bacteria and microscopic algae make up a unique spectacle when the sun goes down, which is when the pink tone multiplies due to the reflection of the sunset in the waters. Bathing is prohibited, and it is not necessary: the image in itself is a reason to escape to this little corner of Alicante.
How to visit the Pink Lagoon of Torrevieja
To get to the lagoon you have to go with organized visits, since it is a protected space. We can go by car or bus to the Salinas de Torrevieja car park and continue on foot there. Their tours last two hours and you will be able to see the salt mountains, the aquatic landscape and the birds. They only work on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and cost 10 euros. Make sure you catch the afternoon hour to catch the sunset.
Pink lagoons and the best fish stew
After the visit, we go to the coast of Torrevieja in search of caldero torrevejense, a seafood stew of fish with ñora, garlic and tomato, accompanied by rice. The Barlovento Restaurant prepared the official recipe and they have it on their menu, along with some exquisite rice dishes.
In Xataka | In 1989, the US had the brilliant idea of paving roads with old tires. Three years later, he buried her under six km of asphalt.
In 3D Games | Paula, 23 years old: “I spent a day at work. I spent so much time searching, I finally got a job and in the end I didn't like it.”
