Have you seen the incredible pink-colored lakes in Australia or Africa on Instagram? Well, did you know that there is also a pink lake in Spain? It is one of the most easily accessible pink lakes (especially for Americans) in the world. I had the unique opportunity to visit and take in the Lago Rosa or Laguna Rosa de Torrevieja and I would love to help you discover this well-kept secret too!
Where is the pink lake in Spain?
The Lago Rosa is located in the coastal town of Torrevieja, which is located on Spain’s Costa Blanca. Torrevieja is a small, sleepy town where there are two major attractions: Lago Rosa and the beach! It may seem out of the way for most vacationers, but it’s more conveniently located than you would originally think.
How do I get to Torrevieja?
There are several different options of getting to Torrevieja.
- Bus: There are busses that depart from major cities (Madrid, Valencia) that you can take to Torrevieja. However, the options are limited due to the size of the town. If you are looking for more options via bus, the best bus selections are from Alicante, a major city with many people. I find Omio to be the best site/app for finding transportation.
- Blablacar: Blablacar is a rideshare app that works similar to Uber. It is safe to use and very popular in Spain. This app allows you to search your destination and reserve a seat in a car that is already heading there. This can also be a great way to get some extra Spanish practice in, as most of the drivers are locals.
We opted for blablacar because it’s the cheapest and best option for our schedule. We started in Madrid and rode with locals of Torrevieja who were currently living in Madrid for 5 hours until we reached the sleepy city.
Where to stay in Torrevieja?
Hostels are sparse or non-existent in Torrevieja so we had to search a little deeper for cheap accommodation. Eventually, we found a wonderful vacation rental through booking.com. When looking at renting an apartment be sure to check the cleaning fees. Many of them are quite high.
We selected the closest available apartment to the Lago Rosa (we booked the night prior because there were limited options)and had a fantastic stay. It was nice to have space for ourselves. The hosts also left us a complimentary bottle of champagne.
How do I get to the pink lake once in Torrevieja?
We were located less than a mile from the Lago Rosa so we took a nice walk through the town and to the lake. Torrevieja is quite small and is easy to access by foot.
Other options are a bus line that includes connections to the most important parts of the city. (Bus line B stops near Lago Rosa)
In the city of Torrevieja there are many taxis, which is another option to get to Lago Rosa.
What is Las Salinas de Torrevieja?
Las Salinas is a nature reserve in Torrevieja that is made up of two salt lakes: Laguna de la Mata and the more noteworthy, Laguna Rosa. Laguna de la Mata is a large green-blue colored salt lake, while its neighboring lake is the vibrantly unique Laguna Rosa.
Why is Laguna Rosa de Torrevieja pink?
The pink lake in Spain’s bubblegum color comes from a particular bacteria and micro-algae that thrives in its extremely salty environment.
Can you swim in the Torrevieja salt lakes?
The official answer is…NO! There are signs posted around the lake stating that swimming in the lake is forbidden. If caught by the Guarda, you could face up to a 6,000 Euro fine.
Why can’t you swim in the Torrevieja salt lakes?
Not only does swimming in the lakes disrupt the delicate ecosystem that exists, it more importantly is used for salt production. Human activity in the lakes would contaminate the salt that is still being harvested and distributed around the country to this day.
Is the pink lake in Spain worth visiting?
I would 100% recommend this hidden gem. Seeing Spain’s pink lake is a unique and unforgettable experience and Intsagrammable! If you are visiting the country with limited time, it may seem out of the way. However, if you have the time to spare, or are considering visiting Alicante or Murcia it’s a perfect stop!
What else is there to do in Torrevieja?
Torrevieja is majorly a resort town with extensive beaches on the Mediterranean sea. However, there are some attractions that I would have liked to visit while I was there.
Museo Del Mar y Sal (The Sea and Salt Museum)
The Museo Del Mar y Sal Museum is free to visit and is open: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-2 pm Wednesday it also reopens in the evening from 4:30-8:30 pm and Sunday the Museum is open from 10 am-1 pm.
The museum outlines the history of Torrevieja and its invaluable relationship with salt and the sea. The natural resources contribute to much of its economic stability. These forces contribute a great deal to the culture of this city and the museum details how the town came to be.
Playas (Beaches)
Torrevieja is located right on the Mediterranean Sea and therefore has beautiful beaches. Some of its most popular include: Playa La Mata, Playa Punta Prima, Playa del Cura, and Playa de los locos. There are many other beaches and boardwalks along Torrevieja’s Coast. The boardwalks offer many opportunities for water sports including jet skiing and banana boat rentals.
La Naturaleza (Nature)
La Naturaleza is at the heart of Torrevieja. in Addition to the beaches and salt lakes, Torrevieja offers outdoor activities such as nature trails and bike paths. It is also well known for its large central parks and open space. Some of these include the Parque de las Naciones (Garden of Nations) and the Parque Aromatico (Aromatic Park).
How much time should I spend in Torrevieja?
This is entirely up to you. For me, my priority was obviously the pink lake. On my trip, I arrived late on a Thursday night and stayed until midday on Friday. This was just enough time to wake up leisurely, walk to the pink lake (enjoy a bottle of wine on the sand), and grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant. For me, this is the perfect amount of time, as there are infinite charming beach towns on Spain’s Costa Blanca
For lunch, we stopped at a restaurant very close to the Laguna Rosa. We stopped at Restaurante Pizzeria Giovanni for a quick bite and a nice patio seat. The food was exactly what we needed!
What other cities are near the pink lake in Spain?
The closest cities to Torrevieja are Elche, Murcia, Alicante, and Cartagena. They are all between 30-50 km away, making Torrevieja and the pink lake a great trip if you are already in any of these cities.
Where should I go next?
We headed to Alicante from Torrevieja and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Alicante has everything to offer: beautiful beaches, boardwalks, shopping, a historic old town, an ancient fortress, a lively nightlife, and it is only about 50 minutes away from Torrevieja. It is easily accessible by bus or Blablacar and you can get there for as little as 8 euros.
Click Here, to read more about Alicante!
Really cool !