Pink flamingos in Marzamemi: where and when to see them

Anyone who lives in Marzamemi knows it: when the heat arrives, so do they. From spring to autumn, pink flamingos stop in the shallow waters around the village, and watching them fly over the salt pans never gets old. Here's where to find them, and above all the secret to not missing them.

When to see them: from spring to autumn

Flamingos are here when it's warm. That's when we see them, sometimes in small groups, sometimes in flocks that turn a whole lagoon pink.

The secret: follow the water

Flamingos live in the pantani, large stretches of shallow water. The thing is, as summer goes on, many of these lagoons dry up, and the flamingos move to wherever there's still water. A spot full of flamingos in May can be empty in August.

This year, for example, it didn't rain in Marzamemi for three months, and many lagoons dried out early. So before you set off, the right question isn't just "where are the flamingos?", but "where is there still water?".

Where to see them for sure: the Vendicari reserve

If you want to be sure to see them, head to the Vendicari reserve, about 20 minutes by car from our apartment. Leave the car at the main entrance car park, enter the reserve and take the path on the right: after a 15-20 minute walk, you'll reach the lagoons where the flamingos stop.

Other spots, when there's water

Around Marzamemi there are other places to see them, but only as long as the lagoons are full.

In Marzamemi, from the observation point

Two minutes from our apartment, in the middle of the village, there's a small observation point: sometimes the flamingos stop right there.

Opposite Morghella beach

Also two minutes away, in the salt pan opposite Morghella beach, our favourite, they're easy to spot when there's water.

In Carratois

Near Carratois beach, 15-20 minutes by car towards Portopalo, there's a stretch of water where flamingos often stop.

In Granelli, facing the Pantano Longarini

A little further, about 30 minutes by car, Granelli beach looks right onto the Pantano Longarini, one of the most important places on this coast for flamingos: in summer 2026, 574 chicks were born here, an extraordinary number that shows just how important this area is for them.

A few tips

Bring binoculars or a camera with a good zoom, stay on the paths and keep your distance: if the flamingos take off as you arrive, you're too close.

All these places are just minutes from our apartment. To discover the beaches and other spots in the area, take a look at our local guide.