Caño Cristales river in Colombia: the liquid rainbow river of five colors

Also known by flattering names that people have called the river such as “the river that escaped from paradise” or “the liquid rainbow”, the colorful Caño Cristales is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world. A tributary of the sumptuous Guayabero River, it is part of La Macarena National and Ecological Reserve Park in its southern part, in a remote and mountainous region of Colombia. It holds the country’s oldest geological formations through its sedimentary high plateaus (tepuys) linked to the Guiana Shield. The Macarena region serves both as a biological corridor and a transition zone between three major biomes: the Amazon rainforest, the eastern savannah and the Andean mountains. In addition to La Macarena National and Ecological Reserve Park, two other protected areas are attached to it: the Cordillera de los Picachos Natural National Park (to the north-west) and the Tinigua Natural National Park (to the north). The Caño Cristales protected natural area thus forms the biotic convergence point of a multitude of different ecosystems on the South American continent (including the Andean, Amazonian and Orinoco basins).

This five-coloured river has earned its many nicknames for its liquid rainbow-like appearance, a natural phenomenon that can only be observed from June to December, after the rainy season. Rich in sediments and minerals, Caño Cristales produces at this time of year shades of yellow, green, blue, black and above all, predominantly red. They are generated by a rare aquatic plant whose scientific name is Macarenia Clavigera (belonging to the family Podostemaceae). This endemic plant species, assimilated to a variety of algae, is found nowhere else in the world.

The life cycle of this plant is highly dependent on the water flow of the river and changes from green to bright red, depending on the amount of sunlight and oxygen it receives. The profusion of algae and mosses accentuates this alchemy of colours and reinforces the magical character of the Caño Cristales River. Visitor access to this area has recently been regulated in order to protect the unique ecosystem of its surroundings. It is recommended that you hire a guide to take and accompany you to visit the river and get to the river and that you bring bug spray to repel mosquito attacks, use sunscreen and consider getting a yellow fever vaccine. Your tour guide will let you know the best time to visit this colorful river destination, find a waterfall, pool or natural pools, riverbed rock or tropical bird (perhaps a macaw) or other wildlife. A swim in the river in this central Colombia region of Meta will be enjoyable for the tourist or traveller who have come on a plane flight, local Colombian bus or another form of Colombia’s transport system to get access to the river. In addition to their aesthetic quality, many aquatic or endemic plants that grow in the direct surroundings of Caño Cristales have therapeutic virtues. If you go a little deeper into the steep lands of the Serranía de la Macarena isolated mountain range, you may have the chance to observe a multitude of animals in the wild or to spot traces of ancient human occupation by indigenous peoples.