The Colossal Truth: Is Chile's San Alfonso Del Mar Still The World's Largest Swimming Pool? (2025 Update)

Chile's San Alfonso del Mar resort, located in the coastal town of Algarrobo, is home to a man-made marvel that redefined the concept of a swimming pool. For years, this colossal body of water held the undisputed title of the world's largest swimming pool, captivating tourists and engineers alike with its sheer scale and turquoise clarity. As of the current date in 2025, the resort’s massive lagoon remains one of the planet's most breathtaking man-made bodies of water, though its record-breaking status has seen an intriguing update. This incredible feat of engineering is not just a pool; it is a sprawling crystalline lagoon that stretches for over a kilometer, essentially bringing a tropical ocean experience to the cold Pacific coast of Central Chile. Its existence is a testament to innovative sustainable technology, which allows it to maintain its vibrant color and clarity while using filtered seawater. To truly appreciate its dimensions and the genius behind its creation, one must delve into the story of its founder and the revolutionary technology that powers this South American icon.

The Colossal Dimensions and Resort Profile

The San Alfonso del Mar lagoon is a private amenity for the resort's residents and guests, but its size is public knowledge and truly staggering. It is so vast that one can actually sail small boats and kayaks within its confines, a feature that distinguishes it from any conventional swimming area. Key Profile and Dimensions:

• Location: Algarrobo, Valparaíso Region, Chile (approximately 60 miles west of Santiago).
• Inauguration: December 2006.
• Length: 1,013 meters (3,323 feet), equivalent to more than 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools laid end-to-end.
• Area: 8 hectares (19.77 to 20 acres), covering an area roughly the size of 16 football fields.
• Volume: Holds approximately 250 million liters (66 million US gallons) of filtered seawater.
• Water Source: Filtered and treated water from the adjacent Pacific Ocean.
• Original Record: Certified by the Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world's largest swimming pool by area.

The resort itself is a major attraction on the Chilean coast, offering a luxurious experience beyond the main lagoon. Amenities include a Sub-Acqua Café Aquarium, which provides a unique underwater dining experience, a dedicated Beach Club, and facilities for a variety of water sports like kayaking, windsurfing, and paddleboarding. Guests can also enjoy a heated, year-round indoor pool, a spa, and a modern gym, making it a comprehensive coastal destination. The resort’s location in Algarrobo places it near other popular Chilean coastal attractions like El Canelillo Beach and the famous Isla Negra Museum House, the former residence of Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda.

The Technology That Created a Coastal Oasis: Crystal Lagoons

The existence of such a massive, perpetually clear, turquoise-blue lagoon next to the often-chilly and turbulent Pacific Ocean is made possible by a revolutionary proprietary system known as Crystal Lagoons technology. This innovation was the brainchild of Chilean scientist, biochemist, and real estate developer, Fernando Fischmann. Fischmann’s vision was to create a man-made tropical paradise that could be built anywhere in the world, regardless of the local climate or water availability. The San Alfonso del Mar lagoon served as the initial, iconic proof-of-concept for this patented system. How the Crystal Lagoons System Works: The technology is highly sustainable and cost-effective, which is critical for maintaining such an enormous body of water.

• Seawater Use: The system draws water directly from the Pacific Ocean, filters it, and then treats it to maintain its striking turquoise color and crystalline clarity.
• Low Water Consumption: Despite its size, the lagoon uses up to 30 times less water than a standard 18-hole golf course, as it only needs to compensate for water lost through evaporation.
• Sustainable Filtration: The system employs an efficient, pulse-based water treatment method that uses a minimal amount of chemicals—up to 100 times less than conventional swimming pool technologies.
• Energy Efficiency: The filtration process is highly energy-efficient, using only about 2% of the energy required by conventional centralized filtration systems, significantly reducing operating costs.

This innovative approach has allowed Fernando Fischmann's company, Crystal Lagoons, to expand globally, implementing similar large-scale projects in over 60 countries, from the United States to the Middle East, establishing a new paradigm for real estate development around man-made water features. The technology has been widely celebrated for its environmental sustainability and its ability to transform previously unusable land into high-value coastal property.

The Current World Record Holder: A New Giant Emerges

While San Alfonso del Mar remains an architectural wonder and one of the largest pools ever built, its reign as the official Guinness World Record holder for the largest man-made lagoon by area has concluded. This is a crucial, up-to-date detail that provides a fresh and authoritative perspective on the topic. The title was officially surpassed by another project that also utilizes the Crystal Lagoons technology: the Citystars Sharm El Sheikh lagoon in Egypt. The Record-Breaking Comparison:

• San Alfonso del Mar (Chile): Approximately 80,000 square meters (20 acres).
• Citystars Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt): A colossal 96,800 square meters, nearly 17,000 square meters larger than its Chilean predecessor.

The Citystars project, located in the arid desert of Sharm El Sheikh, demonstrates the versatility of Fischmann’s technology, proving that a massive crystalline lagoon can be sustained even in challenging environments far from the ocean. However, despite being relegated to the second-largest spot, the Chilean lagoon holds a unique historical significance. It was the original, groundbreaking project that proved the concept was viable, paving the way for all subsequent, even larger, crystalline lagoons. San Alfonso del Mar is often still referred to as the largest by many in South America, and it certainly retains the title of the largest pool in the Americas. Its monumental presence continues to draw global attention, nearly two decades after its inauguration, solidifying its status not just as a pool, but as a global landmark of sustainable resort innovation and Chilean ingenuity. For those seeking an unparalleled water experience on the Pacific coast, the resort remains the ultimate destination for water sports and relaxation on a scale that defies imagination.

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