When you visit this river in Colombia you will find the colors green, purple, red, yellow, and blue in its crystal clear water, making it a paradisiacal place. This wonder of nature is open to the public every year from June to December, which is when the “macarenia clavigera”, the aquatic silver that produces this effect, sprouts.
To get to Caño Cristales from Bogotá or Villavicencio you must do it by air. The Satena airline offers direct charter flights from Bogotá to Macarena in the second half of the year, which is when you can visit the river. The flight in this small plane leaves on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays last 50 minutes, and costs approximately 450,000 Colombian pesos (119 dollars) for the round-trip flight.
From the Vanguardia airport in the city of Villavicencio, you can also take a charter flight and they have more flexibility in the days. You can do the tour in Caño Cristales in one day, in it you travel the river with an experienced guide. During the tour of Caño Cristales, you will see waterfalls, natural pools, white stones, and the colorful carpet of aquatic plants.
There are also other places nearby that you can go to, such as "La Ciudad de Piedra" or canoeing in the Laguna del Silencio. Remember to go to the town of La Macarena where you will find llaneros parties at night and gastronomic and cultural shows.
Aquatic plants
The Macarenia Clavigera is an endemic aquatic plant that when exposed to the sun changes colors in a process that goes from green to an intense red, generating the sensation of painting the river in the 5 colors green, red, yellow, blue, and pink.
Visiting Season
From January to June, the channel is empty, which leaves the plants exposed and vulnerable to human activity, for this reason during the first six months of the year the river is not open to the public. The rest of the year is when you can visit the river.
Thanks, we just want you to save time and money. In return, support us by sharing this guide with your networks
It costs you nothing but you help us a lot!