It has become a must-visit landmark for several core reasons:
1. Extremely unusual turquoise color (and it changes!) These pools display an incredible bright blue or blue-green color. This isn't because the water is crystal clear, but because the soil is rich in extremely high concentrations of minerals (including sulfur, selenium, and copper sulfate). Light reaction: This color is most dazzling under direct sunlight (sunny days). If it's cloudy, the water surface turns dark green; if after heavy rain, it may even temporarily mix with mud and turn brown.
2. Strong visual contrast of "desert oasis"
The landscape around Villa de Leyva is very special, belonging to a semi-arid desert area, with yellow sand, dry vegetation and pine trees interwoven. Against this backdrop that seems extremely water-scarce and monotonous in color, several pools of extremely saturated blue water suddenly appear, creating a strong visual impact that makes it highly viral on social media.
3. Surprising "artificial origin"
Many tourists think this is Mother Nature's handiwork, but actually they were originally manually excavated. About 30 years ago (1970s), local farmers dug these deep pits to collect rainwater for irrigation. Unexpectedly, over time, underground minerals kept seeping out and mixing with rainwater, ultimately "accidentally" forming today's peculiar landscape.
4. Perfect surrounding tourism ecosystem
It's only about 3 kilometers from Villa de Leyva (one of Colombia's most famous colonial heritage towns). Because of the close distance and special landform, a very mature outdoor experience route has formed here: tourists usually don't go by bus, but ride horses, rent ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) or ride mountain bikes through the desert. This experience combined with western wilderness adventure greatly enhances the comprehensive attractiveness of the attraction.
An important reminder: Although the water looks very tempting, swimming is absolutely prohibited here. Because the concentration of heavy metals and minerals in the water is too high, it is toxic to human skin. It is purely a "visual" attraction.
