| Duration: | 5 Day(s) - 4 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Eco Tours |
Caño Cristales is a river in Colombia located in the Sierra de la Macarena, in the department of Meta. It has been called "the river of the gods", "the river of seven colors", "the rainbow that melted" and even "the most beautiful river in the world" as aquatic plants reproduce on the river bed with exposure to the sun, they change their colors in a process that goes from green to an intense red. This produces the visual effect of being in front of a river of seven colors: red, pink, yellow, and green of the plants; black from the jungle water; blue from the reflection of the sky and white created by the foam of the waterfalls.
Day 1
Your introduction to La Macarena, Caño Cristalitos
Your flight will be scheduled to land in La Macarena in the mid to late morning. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the airport, and together, you will stroll through a few city blocks to the office of the Cormacarena and the National Parks (tourism bureau of La Macarena). Once here you'll take part in a mandatory 30-minute briefing provided by a representative.
Following this chat, you’ll take the short journey to your hotel to drop off your bags and enjoy a quick and typical lunch of the region before your adventure really begins.
Depending on your arrival time and the number of people in different parts of the National Park the representative of Cormacarena will assign the destination you can visit on this first day. Unfortunately, due to the arrival time of the flights, Caño Cristales will not be one of the options, and you’ll get to enjoy either Caño Cristalitos & El Mirador, or El Bajo Lozada.
Caño Cristalitos and El Mirador will generally be your stop on the first day. To get there you’ll be taking a boat up the Guayabero River for more or less ½ an hour to come to the starting point for your hike to Caño Cristalitos. The first part of this hike is around 45 minutes, and almost straight up where you'll be using tree branches and rocks to help you with the climb. (A good level of fitness is needed for this section of the hike). But once at the top, you'll discover an astonishing view of hundreds of miles in every direction of this vast Colombian savannah from El Mirador.
Next, it's off hiking across this savannah for around 90 minutes, looking for a beautiful location surrounded by little ponds that are filled with the same water plant (Macarenia clavigera) that is found in Caño Cristales. Hence the name Caño Cristalitos, meaning a smaller version of Caño Cristales.
Following your first experience with this beautiful and unique water plant it's off for a refreshing swim and a much easier 60-minute hike down to your waiting boat on the river's bank.
To complete your day, you’ll make the journey back to La Macarena to rest up and enjoy a spot of dinner before tomorrow’s adventure.
Day 2
The River of Seven Colors, Caño Cristales!
It’s day 2 of your adventure in La Macarena and finally the day you’ll get to visit the amazing Caño Cristales.
You’ll be collected after breakfast and start your first leg of today’s journey with a 20-minute boat ride up the Rio Guayabero before transferring into a 4x4 for another 40 minutes or so. And then finally a hike of around an hour to reach the River of Seven Colors, Caño Cristales!
On arrival, you’ll enjoy walking around to find the best spots for the perfect photo and enjoy a wonderful swim in these magical and refreshing lagoons, filled with crystal-clear waters, in this idyllic location.
After enjoying a typical lunch, bathing in the pools, and a bit of meditation in this peaceful scene you’ll start to make your way back taking the way you came, with a mixture of hiking, boating, and 4x4. Only this time with a camera full of memories and a little piece of paradise locked in your heart.
Day 3
Laguna del Silencio (Silence Lake)
Following breakfast, your guide will collect you from your hotel before you all head off down to the wharf for another short boat ride on the Guayabero River. This time your trip will be for approximately 35 min in the opposite and less traveled direction to your previous days.
Pulling over to the Northern bank of the river to a primary school, you’ll be greeted with a smile and introduced to your horse for the next 40 min ride. Following a well-worn path, you’ll cross through farmland filled with cattle and giant trees, over small wooden bridges, and through small creaks before arriving at a small Finca.
Once here, you’ll stop for a refreshing drink before continuing on foot through more farmland and into a small piece of Amazon jungle. Walking on top of wooden planks that have been laid over the muddy ground you’ll continue into some mangroves and board a small row boat in the Lagoon of Silence.
Paddling for 20 min through this flooded area you’ll find discover palm trees that have grown into a giant U shape, and others that have created a full circle. You’ll carefully disembark the rowboat trying to keep both feet out of the water. As although this lagoon is home to many varieties of fresh fish, along with pink dolphins, it’s also home to piranha, sting rays, and electric eels.
Stopping for lunch, a bit of relaxation in a hammock while listening to the sounds of nature, and a game or two of Tejo, (a traditional Colombian game, you’ll discover everywhere) you’ll carry on up the lagoon crossing into more mangroves and a 30–40-minute hike through more Amazon jungle. Listening to the distant cry of monkeys and crossing muddy creaks using bridges that are constructed with tying 3 bamboo poles together to walk across and a loose rope as a handrail, you’ll smile knowing you are truly experiencing a unique journey few others have enjoyed.
Coming to an opening you’ll discover a finca offering you snacks and a cool drink before enjoying a swim in this beautiful location. Unlike the lagoon, the river here is filled with freshwater fish that won’t eat you, and will just swim around you as you cool off from the tropical heat. Surrounded by fruit trees this finca is visited by monkeys every day for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So you are almost guaranteed to have a front-row seat to the feeding before taking off on horseback back to your waiting boat on the Guayabero River, and back to your hotel filled with more wonderful memories.
Day 4
The River of Seven Colors, Caño Cristales!
Embark on the exhilarating fourth day of your La Macarena adventure as you traverse a different path with different viewpoints to the stunning Caño Cristales, immersed in a breathtaking natural panorama.
Dive into the pristine pools for a refreshing swim, relish a delectable typical lunch, and savor moments of tranquil meditation amidst this serene setting before your return to the hotel. A day filled with awe-inspiring landscapes and rejuvenating experiences awaits!
Day 5
Caño Piedras and back to Reality!
Waking before the birds begin to sing you'll climb to the rooftop of El Mirador hotel to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunrises Colombia has to offer. The sunrise viewed in Los Llanos is simply amazing, with views over the vast plains you'll see the bright red light slowly start to peak through the dark sky followed by a slow-burning orange enveloping the horizon.
Before you jump on that plane back to reality you have time for one last exploration of this surrounding area. So you'll go back downstairs to enjoy some breakfast before taking off to enjoy Caño Piedras. Before arriving at this bird lovers' paradise, you'll be making a stop to plant a tree and leave your mark on this wonderful destination.
On arrival to Caño Piedras, you'll be greeted by a number of local birds including some Macaws and parrots that are very photogenic. Next, it's off for a short hike through the savannah to some beautiful natural pools that are just perfecto for a relaxing swim (time permitting).
You’ll have time for a few photos before heading back to pick up your bags and dash off to the airport to catch your lunchtime flight back to Bogotá with another amazing adventure ticked off your bucket list.
Whats Included
Private Rooms in Both Shared and Private Tours.
All Meals
All Land and Boat Transportation
All airport transfers
English-speaking guide during all excursions.
24-hour support group
Whats Excluded
International & Domestic flights
Travel Insurance
Meals and Services not mentioned
Tourist taxes with a value of $68.17 per person will be added to your invoice for payment prior to arriving in La Macarena.
Tourist Airport tax
A tourist tax of Cormacarena, National Parks, and La Macarena mayor for Colombians and foreigners of the CAN
This purchase is 100% non-refundable
Caño Cristales Important Information
The season where the plants that give Caño Cristales its color only grow from mid-June to mid-November, which is the rainy season. We don't recommend traveling to Caño Cristales before June or after November because you may not enjoy the scenery (the river may be dry and thus without plants).
The shared tours are run in small groups of 8 participants max. You will be assigned to a group that has the same hiking level as you. The programs on each day such as the route chosen for the hike to Caño Cristales will be chosen according to your hiking level.
In Caño Cristales and Caño Cristalitos, it is forbidden to use sunscreen and mosquito repellent but you can use them for the rest of the trip.
Flight times can vary throughout the week and the year, so the activity offered on your last day may vary from what is originally offered.
Don’t expect luxury. The highlight of the trip is 100% nature! All meals are provided by the restaurant of the hotel and there are no hot showers.
A yellow fever vaccine certificate will be required to board the plane to La Macarena. It should be taken at least 14 days before arrival.
