The Pink Lake of Torrevieja: a unique setting on the Costa Blanca

Have you heard of the Pink Lake of Torrevieja? Many Spaniards choose to visit tourist destinations outside of Spain rather than visit some places nearby. Some may think that if they want to enjoy incredible, exotic places they need to travel long distances to reach them. However, although there are lots of interesting spots to be discovered all over the world, there are also some closer to home. For example, the Pink Lake of Torrevieja, which is a unique setting on the Costa Blanca. Would you like to find out more about this special place?

The Pink Lake of Torrevieja and everything it hides

Torrevieja’s Pink Lake is found in Las Lagunas de la Mata Natural Park. This is a particularly fragile ecosystem that must be well looked after. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t leave any rubbish in the area after your visit, you may not walk off its trails, and you are not allowed to swim in this lake.

Bear in mind that the plants near the shore are home to animals and aquatic birds, such as flamingos, grey herons and ospreys. If you cross into these areas you could destroy their nests, frighten them or damage protected vegetation.

Don’t forget that if you’re visiting with your dog they will need to be kept on a lead at all times.

How to get to Torrevieja’s Pink Lake

There is plenty of parking in the area, meaning getting there by car is the easiest option. After parking, it’s a 10-minute walk to a zone that looks like a beach, but which is actually the lake’s shore.

When you arrive you may be in for a little surprise as the water doesn’t appear pink from afar. Don’t worry, you haven’t ended up at the wrong destination. The lake’s water isn’t actually pink but to make sure your eyes see that colour you need to visit on a sunny day and head down to the lake.

Why is the Pink Lake of Torrevieja pink?

You might be wondering why it appears to be pink if its water isn’t actually pink. The reason is its water is high in salt. As such, very few animal species live in the lake.

Among those that do live in these conditions is an alga named dunaliella salina. It has a high beta-Carotene content and is mainly responsible for the lake’s colour.
But there’s more: the water is also home to a small crustacean named artemia salina, which is a reddish colour. Both the alga and this crustacean are responsible for giving the water its pink appearance.

As there are no other types of organisms in the water, these multiply greatly. You’ll be interested to know that a flamingo’s feathers are pink because they feed on the aforementioned crustaceans. Another interesting fact is that more than 800,000 tons of salt are extracted from these salt marshes every year.

What else can you visit near Torrevieja’s Pink Lake?

We recommend you make the most of your visit to Torrevieja’s Pink Lake to explore the visitor centre at Las Lagunas de la Mata Natural Park. This centre is a 10-minute drive from the Pink Lake. You can easily park in the vicinity of this attraction too.

At the centre you will discover various details related to the place you’re visiting. For example, there are important vineyards situated in the surrounding area. In fact, the centre itself forms a part of a small wine route surrounding these vineyards. This walk is a little more than a kilometre long.

Things to consider when visiting the Pink Lake of Torrevieja

Here are some recommendations you should consider when visiting the area.

• Children. This is a perfect day out if you have children. We recommend you use a baby carrier rather than a pram for small children as the area’s paths aren’t always suitable for prams.
• Sun. Although we mentioned this above, we recommend visiting on a sunny day so you can really appreciate the lake’s colour.
• Clothing. Wear comfortable clothing and footwear that you can walk easily in.
• Sun protection. Whether you’re visiting in summer or winter, we recommend you take sun protection with you. If it’s very sunny, you should also cover your head. Sunglasses are also a great idea.
• Food. You should always carry water and you can also take something to eat with you. It goes without saying that you should never leave any rubbish behind, nor should you start any fires.

Torrevieja’s Pink Lake is well worth a visit. Will you be visiting on your next holiday? We hope to see you soon at Villasol Campsite. Make sure you enjoy your time away to the max!