River Caño Cristales
The Caño Cristales River is a colorful river flowing in Colombia. Its name means “crystal river” in Spanish. From a bird’s eye view, the riverbed resembles a shimmering rainbow. Different shades of purple-red, black, yellow, turquoise and emerald colors give the water colored endemic algae Macarenia clavígera. For the beauty of the landscapes and the richness of nature, the picturesque river is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Video: Caño Cristales River
Background
Colombians speak of Caño Cristales as “the river of five colors” or “the stream that escaped from paradise”. Curiously, the variegation of colors appears only during the dry season, which lasts in these places from early summer to late fall.
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The picturesque watercourse flows into the Lozada River, which is part of the Orinoco Basin and is located in the Serranía de la Macarena National Park. The Caño Cristales river is quite short. Its length does not exceed 100 km and its width is 20 meters. It flows along a rocky bed, so even a little rain turns the river into a rushing mountain stream. There are no organic and mineral impurities in the river water, there is no silt at the bottom, and there are no large fish. Because of the high transparency, bright colored shades are perfectly visible even at a depth of one meter.
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The Caño Cristales River has many small waterfalls and round potholes where tourists like to swim. Colombians call them “moyas.” Here you can see a picturesque stepped cascade, which is called “Stairs”. Behind the falling water there are several grottoes, where bats live. In addition, rock paintings left many centuries ago by Indians living in the foothills have been preserved on the rocks.
.The Macarena mountain range, from which the colorful river flows, is considered one of the oldest on Earth. It was formed more than 1 million 200,000 years ago. Reserva Serranía de la Macarena is characterized by a wealth of flora and fauna. This national park is home to 8 species of primates, 43 species of reptiles, 10 species of amphibians and 420 species of birds.
.River Valley Expeditions
Expeditions to the colored river are only conducted from June to November, when it is most beautiful. Traveling through the Caño Cristales river valley lasts 2-4 days. Tourists are advised to get vaccinated against yellow fever and tetanus in advance. The route along the riverbed is unmarked and laid out in the tropical jungle, so tourists who come here use the services of guides.
.Travelers are advised to dress in light cotton clothing. In jeans and military camouflage can be very hot here. It is better to wear sturdy shoes with hard soles, as part of the way passes on the rocks. Personal equipment should include sunglasses, a flashlight, repellents and a bathing suit.
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Most hikers are accommodated in a tent camp, which is located 2 km from the village of La Macarena. Travelers use personal sleeping bags or mattresses and blankets to sleep in the tents. Some travelers stay in guesthouses in the village of La Macarena itself and sleep in rooms without air conditioning.
.Keep in mind that the settlements in the reserve are only supplied with electricity from 3 pm to 11 pm. On Wednesdays, almost all establishments, with the exception of the guesthouses, are closed.
How to get there
The Caño Cristales River flows from the Macarena Mountains located in Colombia’s Meta province. Almost all tourists get here as part of organized expeditions and fly to the reserve from Villevicencio or Bogota. Tours of the national park include transportation to the site – airfare, boat and jeep transportation, as well as guide fees and a fee to visit the reserve.
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