The beauty of Caño Cristales is a great fascination for tourism. Caño Cristales is Colombia’s spectacular River of Five Colors which is situated in Serranía de la Macarena national park, in the province of Meta.
Caño Cristales is appellate in English as Crystal Channel is a Colombian river located in the Serrania de la Macarena province of Meta, and is a tributary of the Guayabero River. The river is universally known as the River of Five Colors or Colombia’s Liquid Rainbow due to the beautiful and unprecedented amalgamation of color combinations and is distinguished for its outstanding colors.
The layers of the river from the termination of July over November are variously colored yellow, green, blue, black, and particularly red.
Over the years there were projections that Colombia’s Liquid Rainbow is one of the most beautiful peaks on the face of the earth and the river gives the impression of having been from The Garden of Eden.
The quartzite rocks of the Serrania de la Macarena tableland were shaped just about 1.2 billion years ago. They are a western postponement of the Guiana Shield of Venezuela.
Caño Cristales is a fast-flowing Colombia’s Liquid Rainbow river with lots of fast-moving water and waterfalls. Minor globular depths recognized as giant’s kettles can be originated in many parts of the riverbed, which have been designed by the small rock or chunks of harder rocks.
The Serranía de la Macarena is positioned on the edge of three large ecological units with an extraordinary miscellany of flora and fauna the Andes, the Eastern Llanos, and the Amazon rainforest. Plant and animal life are hostile to the absence of nutrients on the solid rock surface of the tableland and have developed diverse adaptations.
Caño Cristales River has an extensive multiplicity of aquatic plants and the water of the river is tremendously flawless due to the scarcity of nutrients and small particles. The beauty of Caño Cristales is undeniable.
The color in the river is instigated by large magnitudes of endemic plant species Macarenia clavígera.
On the other hand, travel in the Caño Cristales River from July to October which are the straight months between the immoderations of the wet and dry seasons there will be an eye-witness of one of Mother Nature’s crowning glories.
The beauty of Caño Cristales and its impact on biodiversity
The Caño Cristales River is a hotspot of biodiversity where biological fundamentals of the Andes, Amazon, and Orinoco basins come together. There are countless endemic species and species of restricted distribution. The Serranía de la Macarena region confronts deforestation at an alarming rate.
Deforestation has a sensitive impact on the patterns of rainfall, and the area has seen less rain, meaning the water of Caño Cristales can turn from clear to a murky brown, which could eventually kill off the Macarenia clavigera.
The global healthcare pandemic of Covid-19 has delivered an opportunity to balance back the number of visitors and prioritize the area’s health.
The new reopening of Caño Cristales also comprises 10 new ecotourism trails, with strict operating times of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There are labeled swimming areas in the river and visitors are not permitted to dip wearing sun lotion or bug spray because plants are sensitive to the products’ chemicals.
The admission of single-use plastics, such as bags, bottles, straws, containers, plates, and cutlery is also proscribed.
Turtles, iguanas and Aguilas, and Colombia’s national bird are evenhanded some of the local species that can be patterned in the Serranía de la Macarena national park which is a family of more than 400 bird species.
Although there required a government-licensed tour guide and Permits to visit the park and can be applied for in advance through the National Parks Office.
Although the cap is still far lower than it was pre-pandemic, the national park is allowing a handful of visitors in every day, so make sure to book tours in advance.
It’s much easier to book through an agency. The Colombian Way is an in-country tour guide with great local knowledge and starts at $658 for three days. Another agency, Amazon Adventures, offers a river tour which starts at $709 for three days.
The neighboring town to Caño Cristales is La Macarena since it’s not probable to camp within the park, visitors have to travel from the city, which consumes basic adjustments. The beauty of Caño Cristales is super fascinating and people come over to enjoy the mesmerizing nature.
