Caño Cristales from Medellin - 5 Day Tour

If you’re talking about sheer size and strength the Cano Cristales doesn’t compare to the worldly giants such as the Amazon or the Nile, but makes up for it simply with it’s dazzling crystalline waters and natural mosaic of colours making it one of the most stunning, raw spectacles in the country. The “river of 5 colours” or “Rainbow river” offers traveling enthusiasts a truly indelible experience with one of Earths natural wonders. Our 5-day tranquil tour will have you voyaging along the Guayabero river to various locations such as Los Hoyos, Los Pianos and the famous Laguna del Silencio for a more raw perspective of the Colombian landscape and observe how the locals preserve this natural treasure. 

Itinerary:

Day 1 - Arrival to La Macarena:

Once you arrive at La Macarena airport, you will be welcomed by the assigned guide who will take you to the hotel to drop off your luggage and once you leave to receive the induction talk from the local environmental entities, then he will take you to Puerto Inderena to take a boat that for 20 minutes will navigate on the Guayabero River, to Puerto Cristalitos from where you will walk for approximately 30 minutes to get to Caño Cristalitos, a peaceful river of crystalline waters with natural pools, perfect for you to relax. There you will have lunch, which is served in banana leaves, known as fiambre. At the end of the day you will make the same journey back to La Macarena to rest and have dinner. Your guide will tell you what time to meet for breakfast and the next day's tour.

Day 2 - Among the colors of Caño Cristales:

Once you have breakfast, you will go to Puerto Inderena to take the boat and travel along the Guayabero River for 25 minutes to reach Puerto Los Mangos, where you will board a 4x4 vehicle to the entrance of the Caño Cristales trail. Along this path, you will go through different attractions of this incredible river such as: Los Hoyos, Los Pianos, La Piscina del Turista, Los Cuarzos and El Paso de la Danta. In some of these places you will be able to face, swim and observe the Macarenia Clavigera that fills this place with colors. You should know that during the tours you will be able to take recreational baths in designated places, which will be indicated to you by the guide. The lunch of this day, you will also take it during the tour. After an afternoon full of nature, you will return to La Macarena for your dinner.

Day 3 : Coloured crystals

When you finish your breakfast you will go with your guide to the port and take the boat along the river, but this time you will arrive at Pailones, where the Macarenias adopt a green color that gives a fantastic aspect to the water. You will have the morning to enjoy recreational bathing, photography, fauna and flora observation; so that at the end of the afternoon you will return to La Macarena to rest and have dinner.

Day 4 - The sounds of the Laguna del Silencio:

The routine of this fourth day of the Caño Cristales tour is repeated until you reach the La Cachivera trail, from where you will hike for approximately 45 minutes until you reach the Laguna del Silencio. There you will board a traditional canoe called "potrillo" for your tour of this peaceful place. As its name suggests, it is a place of complete calm, ideal for relaxing, getting in touch with nature and bird watching. You will have lunch at a nearby farm, where you can rest in hammocks while being lulled by the sounds of natural life. At the end of the day you will return to your hotel in La Macarena to rest and prepare for your last day.

Day 5 - Caño Piedra:

On this day you will take a car or motorbike from the hotel to Caño Piedra. During the tour you will admire the beautiful landscapes of this destination: the flat savannas, the Serrania de La Macarena and the Guayabero River. You will have a morning of rest in this small river and after enjoying this landscape, you will return to La Macarena to go to the airport and finish your trip back home.

Includes

• Transport in the municipality by car and boat
• Professional Spanish-speaking guide
• Meals and beverages

Excludes

• Visa and visa application fees
• Travel insurance and Immunizations
• Medical + Cancellation Insurance
• Hotel pick up and drop off
• Flights
• Tips and gratuities
  
• Personal expenses

Please Note

• Additional fees apply for guests requiring a bilingual guide. Please notify us upon booking of you need one.