Find and Book Best Tours to Caño Cristales

Why book a trip to La Macarena?

The famous Rainbow River is located in Los Llanos, in the heart of the Serranía de La Macarena.

This natural wonder is only accessible from the village of La Macarena, which is the starting point for all activities in the area.

Discover the most beautiful river in the world

Caño Cristales is a natural wonder in the Meta department. It is often referred to as the River of Five Colors, the Rainbow River, or the most beautiful river in the world.

Its fame comes from its unique geology and, above all, the vibrant colors of this watercourse. Much of these hues are due to the Macarenia Clavigera, an endemic aquatic plant.

The riverbed displays green, pink, red, purple, and brown hues. Add to this the yellow sand from rock erosion, and you get a dazzling tableau.

Several distinct trails allow you to observe this spectacle, but you cannot choose your route.

Park managers direct groups along different paths to prevent overcrowding in one location.

No worries; all routes pass through the most spectacular and well-known sites of Caño Cristales.

La Macarena is not limited to Caño Cristales

Even though the Rainbow River is the main attraction of La Macarena, other experiences are worth the trip.

LANDSCAPES AND BIODIVERSITY IN LA serrania de la macarena

Located between the Andean mountains, the Amazon rainforest, and the vast plains of Los Llanos, the Serranía de La Macarena Natural Park is a crossroads of biodiversity.

This area, at the intersection of different ecosystems, is home to significant wildlife. During your excursions from La Macarena, you can observe numerous wild animals, such as caimans, turtles, birds, and monkeys.

In fact, with over 500 bird species recorded in the park out of the 1,120 in the department, this destination is a paradise for bird enthusiasts and experienced ornithologists.

This territory has been shaped by the diversity of ecosystems, the richness of the water resources, and the reliefs of this massif, which are linked to the geological formation of the Guiana Shield.

The savannah, with its endless plains; the jungle, and its lush vegetation; the colorful rivers with Caño Cristales as its ambassador; the rock formations sculpted by nature; or a powerful river like the Rio Guayabero are all landscapes to discover.

Other places to discover

Other experiences can enhance your adventure in La Macarena. However, depending on the length of your stay, not all may be feasible.

• Caño Cristalitos and its lookout point: After about 30 minutes of navigation, a walk allows you to observe rock paintings and local flora. Once you reach the highest point, you can admire the Guayabero River, the landscapes of the Serranía de La Macarena, and the savannah. Continue to Caño Cristalitos where you can see the Macarenia Clavijera plant, responsible for the colors of the region’s rivers. A small preview of Caño Cristales.
• Laguna del Silencio: Go down the Guayabero River by canoe (30 min) to the port of La Cachivera. Continue on horseback (optional) through a savannah landscape (2 km) to the Laguna del Silencio. There, navigate peacefully on the lake in a non-motorized boat and discover the local flora and fauna. This is included in the 4-day/3-night tour.
• Raudal Angostura I: This area is a sudden narrowing of the river due to the site’s geology, forming impressive rapids. This experience is paired with Ciudad de Piedra or the petroglyphs. It can be seen on a 5-day tour or in 4 days with a private tour.
  • Ciudad de Piedra: This is a hike of about 1.5 hours through various landscapes, including gallery forests and savannah, to the famous “stone city.” This geological formation of the Guiana Shield consists of rocks 10 to 15 meters high, giving the impression of a ruined city.
  • Petroglyphs (December to February): Cross the Raudal gorges, a narrow passage formed in the rock, 4 km long with walls about 50 meters high. This majestic mineral spectacle ends with a gigantic rock where the petroglyphs are found. Accessible only with sufficiently low water levels.
• Llanero sunrise: Takes place from a lookout near the village. The viewpoint offers a stunning view of the savannah, enhanced by the dawn light.
• Caño Piedras: Located near La Macarena, this small stream forms beautiful natural pools perfect for swimming. Considering the other options, this one is not a priority, but it can be paired with the Llanero sunrise.

THE CULTURE llanera

The Llanera culture is present daily in the lives of the llaneros. It is symbolized by the Joropo (traditional music and dance), poetry, traditions, and gastronomy.

Twice a week, the Parrando Llanero is held, a cultural celebration organized to welcome new visitors. The program includes a Joropo demonstration and a gastronomic trip featuring local culinary specialties.

In addition to its cultural aspect, this event allows the people of La Macarena to thank travelers for their visit. The evening also gives them the opportunity to highlight the importance of community tourism for peace and local development.

the community tourism

A model of community tourism has been implemented to visit Caño Cristales and its surroundings. It allows for a better distribution of economic benefits among the locals.

Transport providers, hoteliers, local agencies, and guide associations work together to share the workload and offer quality service to all visitors.

To illustrate this, note that certified guides belong to associations that cover different tourist sites. For each destination, the relevant association provides a guide. In other words, all agencies work with the same guides.

Significant efforts in environmental conservation awareness are also made by some tourism operators among local populations and travelers. This is the case with the expert we recommend.

Thus, by visiting Caño Cristales, you not only support responsible tourism aimed at protecting this natural site but also make an essential economic contribution to the local population.

before your departure to Caño Cristales

All the essential information to know before heading out to explore this unique destination.

Generally, Caño Cristales is visited from mid-June to the end of November. The park managers determine the exact dates following the rainy season, which allows the aquatic plant Macarenia Clavigera to grow and provides the river with its colorful display.

The best months are from July to September, with slightly fewer cloudy and rainy days.

Other sites may be accessible year-round, but flights to La Macarena are not sufficient to develop this period.

Be prepared for heat and sweating. Average temperatures are 23°C in the evening and 28°C during the day. Very high humidity can make the atmosphere oppressive.

In addition to the budget, your ability to tolerate this climate should be considered when choosing your accommodation (air conditioning, pool) and the type of excursions involving walking.

HOW MANY DAYS FOR Caño Cristales

There are options ranging from 3 to 6 days and more.

For me, the 5-day/4-night option is ideal. It gives you time to visit all the most impressive sites. You can also return to Caño Cristales if the weather is poor on your visit day. You have time to enjoy the village’s atmosphere and rest.

The 4-day/3-night option is a good compromise if you have only 15 days in Colombia. You can return to Caño Cristales on day 3 if you have bad weather on day 2. Two full days on-site still allow you to appreciate La Macarena and its vibe.

I advise against the 3-day/2-night option. The logistical and financial efforts to get to La Macarena are significant for too little time on site. You have no flexibility. If the weather is bad on the day you need to visit the Rainbow River, there will be no second chance.

If you want to go without a tour agency, plan for at least 6 days. It takes time to handle all the administrative procedures to enter the park, find your certified guide, and be part of the park’s daily visitor quota (~300 people).

Getting to La Macarena

There are flights from Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Villavicencio. Make sure to check the dates as, except from Villavicencio, there are no daily departures.

First, choose the number of days you want to spend in La Macarena, then check your flight options. Ideally, arrive early on day 1 and depart late on the last day if possible.

In any case, agencies adjust the first and last days of your Caño Cristales adventure according to your departure and arrival times.

They can also help you choose your plane tickets and with the booking process, which doesn’t always go smoothly.

You can also arrive by land in a 4×4 from San Vicente del Caguán, San José del Guaviare, or even Vista Hermosa, but this requires a different arrangement.

Group STAY

By anticipating your request, you can contact our partner and ask him to open your preferred dates to other travelers.

You can also ask if he can connect you to an existing group. Doing this in advance gives you more flexibility with your dates and the organization of your itinerary in the country.

Share the tours with your group but choose your accommodation.

Choosing accommodation

Basic rooms are comfortable with pretty simple amenities. Increase your comfort level by paying an extra fee.

While luxury should not be expected, you can opt for a hotel with air conditioning or air conditioning + a pool or choose a unique accommodation.

To add variety, you have the option to mix up your nights. For a 4-day/3-night stay, you could split it as follows: 2 nights in a classic village hotel and the last night in a unique establishment like La Manigua.

WITH OR WITHOUT AN AGENCY

I recommend using an agency to explore Caño Cristales. It simplifies all the administrative and logistical arrangements for organizing your tours.

There is a specific registration process required to be allowed entry to Caño Cristales. Additionally, there is a daily visitor limit (~300 people). You must go through a guide for this experience.

Other tourist sites often require guides or special transportation (4×4 or boat). Again, you need to plan these excursions through a local association and/or agency.

For these reasons, I remain convinced that choosing a local agency is wise. They will optimize your time on site and ensure you have a pleasant stay. Plus, you benefit from advice and recommendations on everyday matters.

YOUR BAG AND OTHER INFORMATION

First, there are two essential things to know:

• There is only one ATM in La Macarena, and it does not always work. Bring cash, as few establishments accept cards.
• On the Caño Cristales site, sunscreen, repellents, or any other chemical products are prohibited to avoid contaminating the river when swimming. Therefore, you need to bring items to protect yourself from the sun.

There are prohibited activities at Caño Cristales:

• Entering with plastic (bottles, bags, etc.).
• Smoking on the site.
• Swimming with sunscreen or repellent – to protect the river’s flora.
• Using a drone without special permission.
• Entering with children under 5 years old.
• Touching the Macarenia Clavigera plants.

Now, what to pack:

• Comfortable, lightweight, and quick-drying clothes.
• Long pants and long-sleeve shirts to protect from the sun and mosquitoes.
• Wide-brimmed hat or cap to protect your face and neck.
• Walking shoes with good grip and water resistance.
• Spare shoes for the evening.
• Waterproof jacket.
• Small, lightweight, and waterproof backpack.
• Swimsuit.
• Water bottles or thermos (plastic bottles are prohibited).
• Binoculars for bird watching.
• Camera.
• GoPro for underwater photos.
• Snorkel or goggles for seeing underwater.

TOM’S TIP

Not sure if you want to organize a tour to discover the most beautiful river in the world? Find more inspiration on our page of the best excursions in Los Llanos.