Caño Cristales has earned the title of “The most beautiful river in the world“. It is also called “The River of the Gods,” “The Rainbow that melted,” among other names…
The beauty of this place is caused by the aquatic plants that lodge in its bottom, which when receiving the rays of the sun cause a beautiful visual phenomenon, leaving in sight the mixture of colors green, intense red, yellow, blue, pink … a whole liquid rainbow.
.
What is Caño Cristales?
It is not a wide or abundant river which is why it is a “spout”.
Caño Cristales does not exceed 20 meters wide, although its length goes beyond 100 kilometers; born on the southern plateau of the Serranía de La Macarena.
.
Where is Caño Cristales?
This paradise of Colombia is located to the north of the municipality of La Macarena, in Meta province.
.
How to get to Caño Cristales?
Most travelers choose to stay in La Macarena, and from there, go to Caño Cristales.
To arrive you must pass the Guayabero River by boat, which takes 20 minutes; then a trail is crossed in campero (jeep-style cars in the region), this lasts 25 minutes; and then walk to the entrance of the river for approximately 1 hour.
.
Travel
The tour to this magical site should be done with an experienced guide who already knows the area. You will also receive a previous talk so that you take into account several aspects and thus enjoy the walk more.
The next activity to do in this place is a boat ride along the Guayabero River, where you can appreciate the animals of the region; Birds, babillas, turtles, among others.
Later, an ecological walk begins towards Cristalitos, a beautiful place that serves as a prelude to the wonderful Caño Cristales.
There are other places around Caño Cristales, which are also very special and beautiful; among them are Caño Escondido, Cascada de la Virgen, Pianos and the Cascada de los Cuarzos.
.
Fun Fact about Caño Cristales and the region:
Many years ago, the area of La Macarena was a place used for the cultivation of the coca bush, which was controlled and eradicated in order to make this paradise an ideal place for tourists.
.
Best time of the year to go to Caño Cristales
The ideal season to travel to Caño Cristales is only 6 months a year, starting the first days of June until November 30. Sometimes it extends a little more, until mid-December. This is the best time because there is enough water in the river and it is possible to appreciate more its diversity of colors.
Between the months of December and the end of May you can also travel to La Macarena; however, you will not be able to access the river, since its entry is denied because these aquatic plants are in the reproductive period during these months.
.
Fauna and flora always present
Throughout the rocky bed of Caño Cristales there are aquatic plants responsible for giving the beautiful colors, especially the intense red color that is given by an endemic plant called Macarenia clavigera. It is also home to 420 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians, 43 species of reptiles and 8 kinds of primates.
Because of its density and water capacity, it is poor in fish.
.
What should you take to Caño Cristales?
– Anti mosquito lotion.
– Shoes with non-slip sole.
– Comfortable sportswear.
– A good camera to capture the beautiful paradise.
– It is not recommended to go with people in wheelchairs or babies by car, since there is no infrastructure or buildings for tourism.
Posts relates:
.
.
.
Enter our social networks to see images and videos of tourist places in Colombia; such as Minca, the clowns in Tayrona Park, Ciudad Perdida in the Sierra Nevada, Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela
The cover photo of this blog was taken from flickr.com
