Short Trips caño cristales tour

Private Tour

From $0 - 3 days

be amazed by the river of 5 colours!

Discover the natural beauty of Colombia during our 3-day Caño Cristales tour, where you will get up close to this stunning landmark in La Macarena National Natural Park. Caño Cristales is known as the "river of 5 colours" because of its vivid hues. Sub-aquatic plants lining the river floor and rock minerals produce beautiful yellow, green, blue, black and especially red tones during the wet season from July to November. Between July and November is the best time to visit Caño Cristales.

The eastern region of Colombia, or Los Llanos, is a vast plain area crossed by many rivers and lakes that turn it into a spectacular mix of landscapes, flora and fauna. During this tour in Colombia, you will hike through the area, learn about the traditions in this eastern Colombian region and become immersed in a wonderful natural paradise away from modern life.

Departures: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from the second week of July to first week of November.

EXPERIENCE TYPE Eco-tourism & Eastern Region Traditions

Tour Highlights

What to Expect

Accommodation

Essential Information

Tour Highlights

Caño Cristales

Be Amazed by the River of 5 Colours!

Caño Cristales is a river located inside the National Natural Park La Macarena in the department of Meta in the Eastern region of Colombia. The natural park is located in the Serrania de la Macarena, which is an isolated mountain range separated by about 40 km from the Eastern Andes.

Caño Cristales is a unique natural wonder due to its outstanding combination of colours like green, yellow, blue and black. The red hues are caused by the blooming of the sub aquatic plant "Macarenia clavigera,” which lines river bottom and turns red during the wet season (from June to November). The other colours are caused by the minerals found on the rocks of the river. The view of the river is also adorned by a succession of rapids, waterfalls and natural pools running across the old rocks forming the canyon.

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A glance at the eastern region of Colombia

The eastern region of Colombia, or Los Llanos (the plains), is a vast area crossed by many rivers and lakes that turn it into a spectacular mix of landscapes, flora and fauna. Los Llanos is recognized by its extensive hatos and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

"Llaneros" is the name given to people from this region. They are the Colombian cowboys as cattle and some minor agriculture activities are their main economic activities. Llaneros are skilled horsemen and women, experts at rounding up and corralling cattle on the hatos as well as on the open range. They wear a distinctive starched hat, appear impervious to heat or cold and often go barefoot. Most love eating mamona (tender beef) and listening and dancing their traditional music "Joropo."

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What to Expect

Detailed Itinerary

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DAY 1 Travel to La Macarena from Bogota. Visit to Cristalitos

Travel to La Macarena early in the monring. On your arrival to La Macarena, and before commencing our adventure in this region of Colombia, your local tour guide will give you all the recommendations for trekking in the natural park. Then we will visit Cristalitos, a natural small version of Caño Cristales, located at the end of Guayabero River. Cristalitos is not part of the Caño Cristales system, but it also has aquatic plants, clear waters and rock formations, as Caño Cristales. You will be able to swim in one of its small natural pools while enjoying its peaceful environment.

Overnight: La Macarena
Meal Plan: Lunch, dinner

DAY 2 Caño Cristales

Our journey will start with a 20-minute canoe trip along the Guayabero River towards the Verada Cachivera. During this short trip along the river, you will see the beauty of this part of the country. At Vereda Cachivera, we will take a jeep ride to the starting point of our trekking adventure to Caño Cristales.

The trekking journey to the river will be framed by the stunning and peaceful landscape composed by a mix of valleys and hills full of an extensive diversity of fauna and flora. Then, when we arrive to the river, where you will see the unique explosion of colours given by the Macerenia clavigera plant that lines the river floor and the spectacular succession of rapids, waterfalls and natural pools running throughout the old rocks of the canyon.

There you will have plenty of time to take pictures, swim, have a nice traditional lunch and enjoy the astonishing view. Around 3:30 pm we will start our journey back to La Macarena.

Back at the hotel, we will have some time to relax before going to a Parrando Llanero, a traditional party with live music and local dances. We will also have the traditional food served in these parties called Manona (local grilled lamb). At the end of this parrando, we will go back to the hotel to relax and get ready for the last trekking journey.

Overnight: La Macarena
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 Last day trekking to Caño Cristales and flight back to Bogota

Depending on the departing time of your domestic flight, you may have some time to relax or explore a bit more the local area. At the relevant time, we will take to the airport in la Macarena.

Overnight: -
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Accommodation

La Manigua Lodge

La Manigua Lodge is an eco-luxury retreat nestled in Colombia's Serranía de la Macarena, offering an immersive experience in one of the country's most biodiverse regions. Situated along the Guayabero River, just a short boat ride from La Macarena town, the lodge serves as a gateway to the renowned Caño Cristales.

The lodge features six sustainably designed cabins, elevated on stilts to minimize environmental impact and adapt to seasonal flooding . Each cabin is equipped with solar-powered amenities, biodegradable toiletries, and private terraces with hammocks, allowing guests to relax amidst the sounds of the jungle.

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Essential Information

What's Included

2 nights' accommodation (double occupancy)
English-speaking tour guide
Tax to access Caño Cristales Natural Park
Tax to enter the town of La Macarena
Social contribution to the local villages in the area
Cormacarena Tax
Meals as defined in the itinerary

What's Not Included

International / Domestic flights
Airport tax
Meals not listed in the itinerary
Tips and other discretionary expenses

Note: If you require asistance booking the domestic flights don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

How to Book

If you wish to book this tour, please click on the yellow "Book Now" button, select the date, number of people, complete the details and go through a secured online payment platform.

If you have any question or whish to change something, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Amazing tour company

I have traveled throughout the world and worked with many tour companies. Uncover Colombia is the most organized, detailed and responsive tour company I have worked with. Every guide that was provided is an amazing and enthusiastic person. Accommodations were incredible. Overall , nothing can top it ! USE UNCOVER COLOMBIA and you won't be disappointed.

– Richard, January 2026

Bespoke tour of the highlights of Colombia with a focus on nature

Uncover Colombia put together an itinerary for us based on our love of nature, scenery, and hiking, and our desire to see some of the best the country has to offer. We loved their suggestions and we have felt looked after every step of the way - hotel bookings, transfers, internal flights, guides...

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We traveled three weeks across Colombia – from Bogotá, Villa de Leyva, Barichara, Medellín, the Pacific coast of Nuquí, the Coffee Region, Tayrona National Park, and finally Cartagena. In one word: exceptionally well organized. Excellent guides, seamless transfers, and an organization where everything worked exactly as planned.

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A professional tour operator

Uncover Colombia did a great job in arranging accommodation, transport which included 4 domestic flights and meals. Most importantly, they have assigned tourist guides who are professional, friendly and passionate. They are sometimes funny and always helpful.

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Blown Away

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Tour of Medellin and local villages.

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Great to work with!

Uncover Colombia was fantastic to work with! We had a 12 day itinerary and everything went very well. The agency reps were very flexible before and during the trip even when we requested last minute changes. They always did their best to accommodate us. The assigned contact person during the trip was always reachable and responsive...

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Great organization - even at short notice!

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We highly recommend!

We had a FANTASTIC experience with Uncover. Nidia and her team organized the most magical 4-day trip to the Colombian Coffee Region. I am Colombian but needed assistance as I wasn’t familiar with the area. We went to the Cocora Valley, Rafting down a river, had a fabulous coffee farm experience and even visited a cacao farm where we got to make artisan chocolate. We traveled with our school aged children...

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3 Week Tour of Colombia

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Amazing tour with Uncover Colombia - San Agustin, Tierradentro and Tatacoa

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Highly Recommended

Uncover Columbia, specifically Helena (who handled all logistical questions pre-trip) Sergio (our amazing guide) helped make an unforgettable 4 day experience as part of our honeymoon.

– Mates, July 2024

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Short Trips caño cristales tour

be amazed by the river of 5 colours!

Caño Cristales

Be Amazed by the River of 5 Colours!

A glance at the eastern region of Colombia

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1 Travel to La Macarena from Bogota. Visit to Cristalitos

DAY 2 Caño Cristales

DAY 3 Last day trekking to Caño Cristales and flight back to Bogota

La Manigua Lodge

What's Included

What's Not Included

How to Book

Amazing tour company

Bespoke tour of the highlights of Colombia with a focus on nature

Amazing

Colombia travel

What about it? Look no further!

A professional tour operator

Blown Away

Tour of Medellin and local villages.

Great to work with!

Great organization - even at short notice!

We highly recommend!

3 Week Tour of Colombia

Amazing tour with Uncover Colombia - San Agustin, Tierradentro and Tatacoa

Highly Recommended

Want to know more?

get in touch