Caño Cristales Tour | La Macarena Natural Park | Uncover Colombia

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Caño Cristales Tour

Short Trips caño cristales tour

Private Tour
From $0 - 3 days
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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: Thursdays and Saturdays from the first week July to Second week of November.

EXPERIENCE TYPE Eco-tourism & Eastern Region Traditions

 Caño Cristales Tour
Tour Highlights

Caño Cristales

Be Amazed by the River of 5 Colours!

Caño Cristales Tour

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.

A glance at the eastern region of Colombia

Caño Cristales Tour

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."

What to Expect

Detailed Itinerary

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

Very early in the morning (5 am), we will transfer you to the airport to take a flight to La Macarena, the small town near the National Natural Park La Macarena where Caño Cristales is located.

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

After breakfast, we will visit the right branch of the river. We will go to a great spot with natural pools to have the last contact with this beautiful river. Around 11am, we will go back to La Macarena for our return flight to Bogota.

Overnight: -
Meal Plan: Breakfast

Accommodation

La Macarena

Hotel La Fuente

Caño Cristales Tour Hotel

Hotel La Fuente is located in La Macarena, the main town near Caño Cristatales. The hotel features accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a garden. All rooms have a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom. The air-conditioned rooms provide pool view and come with a wardrobe and free WiFi.

 

Essential Information

What's Included

  • 2 nights' accommodation in La Macarena (double occupancy)
  • Airport transfers in Bogota and La Macarena
  • Charter flight: Bogota - La Macarena - Bogota
  • Meals as defined in the itinerary

What's Not Included

  • Tax to access Caño Cristales Natural Park (71,000 COP per person)
  • Tax to enter the town of La Macarena (59,000 COP per person)
  • Social contribution to the local villages in the area (81,000 COP per person)
  • Airport tax (13,000 COP per person)
  • Cormacarena Tax (67,906 COP per person)
  • International flights
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Tips and other discretionary expenses

 

Note: If a dedicated English translator is required, the additional cost will be 293 USD / 230 GBP / 268 EUR per group.

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.

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