Caño Cristales is considered the most beautiful river in the world among many other recognitions that are made of it as the river of the gods or the river of 5 colors. The wonderful attraction of this river is that at the bottom there are plants that change color with the sun exposure, making the river a spectacle out of the ordinary for tourists. La Macarena, which used to be known for its coca crops, is now known for the ecological charm of Caño Cristales.

HOW TO GET TO CAÑO CRISTALES, META?

Caño Cristales is located in the Sierra de la Macarena, in the department of Meta. To reach Caño Cristales it is advisable to do so by air, as overland travel is very complex as the roads are unpaved and transport services do not operate every day, so the best option is to take a plane to the municipality of La Macarena and then take a 20 minute trip down the Guayabero River. After crossing the river, you will have to walk for almost two hours until you reach Caño Cristales.

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE IN CAÑO CRISTALES

Caño Cristales is located in the Serranía de la Macarena between 200 and 400 meters above sea level with a warm – humid climate and an average temperature of 27°C. It is recommended that you wear comfortable and cool clothing in light colors. It is important to know that in Caño Cristales the use of sunscreen and insect repellent is prohibited, therefore, the best option is to wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants to protect yourself from mosquitoes and a hat or cap to protect you from the sun. Remember to wear comfortable, supportive footwear for hiking. Do not forget your bathing suit.

ATTRACTIONS IN CAÑO CRISTALES

Without a doubt, the greatest attraction at Caño Cristales is its transparent waters and the colors and beauty of its landscape. It is not without reason that it is rated as the most beautiful river in the world. Although it is difficult to reach this enchanting place, you will be compensated with an unforgettable experience in which you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of a natural environment with some of the best waters and landscapes in the world.

Caño Cristales is a tourist attraction since tourists will forget about the city’s stress and enter a magical place from which they will surely not want to escape. You should bear in mind that Caño Cristales is located in the Serranía de la Macarena National Natural Park, which is a refuge protected by the Colparques organization, which, according to scientists, is one of the largest wildlife refuges in the world and covers an area of 630,000 hectares where you can visit other places such as Salto del Águila, Caño del Indio, Salto del Gato and Ciudad de Piedra, among many other natural wonders.

In addition to all this, Caño Cristales has been set up as an ecological place where the habitat of the flora and fauna is respected, that is to say, the ecosystem is not allowed to be altered. For this reason, it has been established that visitors may not enter water bottles, preferably carrying water bottles, and may not use sprays inside the park.

WHAT TO DO IN CAÑO CRISTALES?

Caño Cristales has been set up as a place for tourism, however, you should keep in mind that the main attraction, i.e. the colorful plants, will only be seen at one time of the year, so if you want to visit Caño Cristales you can only do so during the months of June to November, the rest of the year the place will be closed because the aquatic plants are in their reproductive stage, and in order not to alter this process it has been established to prohibit the entry of tourists so that in the months indicated they can enjoy the colorful show.

In Caño Cristales there are 10 options of trails through which you can appreciate the park’s high scenic value. These trails can only be done with a guide, so it is recommended that you make reservations days in advance.

In the area covered by Caño Cristales you will be able to witness the pictographs that ancestors left in stone for the future, these date back 1,200 years.

If you do not know what to do at Caño Cristales you should know that this place has a variety of natural pools that are open to tourists. Below is a list of some of the places you can visit and enjoy in the most beautiful river in the world:

  • La Piscina del Aguila is one of the best places to go for a dip thanks to its diversity of aquatic fauna and flora.
  • The Pozo Cuadrado is a natural square shaped pool, in these waters you can practice diving. In addition, the wall that surrounds this well is about 8 meters long and if you are daring enough you can climb it.
  • The Tablets of Moses (Las tablas de Moises) in these waters are rock formations that resemble the famous tablets of Moses’ commandments.
  • In Los Ochos you will be able to appreciate rocky formations in the shape of eight that are flooded with crystalline waters. This part of the park is also home to the famous colorful aquatic plants.

Among many other places, the Remanso de las Tortugas stands out, where turtles actually live and tourists will have the chance to photograph them. There are also places like La piscina de Turistas, La cascada de la Virgen, la Cascada de los Cuarzos, la Cascada de los Pinos and the Escalera which, without a doubt, are places that will take your breath away.

GASTRONOMY IN CAÑO CRISTALES

At Caño Cristales you can find restaurants half a kilometer away from the park. The restaurants offer the typical food of the Colombian plains, for example, the Mamona, as one of the characteristic dishes, is veal a la llanera. On the other hand, you will get to know the different flavors of soups such as cachicamo sancocho. The demand for typical dishes focuses on grilled meat and fish.

WHERE TO STAY AT LA MACARENA, META?

The town of La Macarena has arranged a variety of hotels for tourists visiting Caño Cristales and the Serranía de la Macarena. In the vicinity of Caño Cristales it will not be possible to find accommodation as it is a rural area that is difficult to access. If you do not know where to stay on your trip to Caño Cristales here are some options:

San Nicolás Hotel is located at Calle 9 # 5 – 54 in Los Cristales neighborhood, this hotel offers private or shared room service. All rooms have a private bathroom and television, also have air conditioning and depending on the days and the room you take will include free breakfast. It is a comfortable and quiet hotel, simple but cozy.

Telephones: 321 3000802 – 3133522327
Website: sannicolas-hotel.com
E-mail: info@sannicolas-hotel.com

In La Macarena there are two camping areas: Kokoroyo and Portal del Llano. We would still recommend that you stay in one of the hotels in La Macarena, as the difference in the final price of the package is very small and the conditions in the hotels are much better, especially in terms of bathrooms.

COSTS

Colombian nationals: $26,041 COP;

Foreigners: $39,062 COP.