Cano Cristales River- Northern Colombia

Cano Cristales River

 Caño Cristales is a Colombian river located in the Serrania de la Macarena province of Meta. The river is commonly called "The River of Five Colors" or "The Liquid Rainbow", and is even referred to as the most beautiful river in the world due to its striking colors. The river appears as many colors, including as yellow, green, blue, black, and most of all, the red of the Macarenia clavigera (Podostemaceae) at the bottom of the river. This gives Caño Cristales a unique appearance.

The river itself is totally devoid of fish, due to its high concentrations of sedimentary materials. Other channels of the Macarena, such as the Caño Siete Machos, hold red plants in winter. These red plants adhere tightly to rocks in places where the river has faster current.

To reach Caño Cristales, it is necessary to travel to the municipality of La Macarena, Meta, in Meta Department. There are two ways to get there, from Villavicencio, in a DC-3 cargo aircraft coming out every day or, from Bogota, by direct flight that departs every Friday and returns on Sunday. Presently, there are no camp sites available near Caño Cristales.The most ideal time to visit Caño Cristales is from late July to early December.