Caño Cristales 3-Day Trip from Bogotá
Travel for three days to the stunning Caño Cristales from Bogotá. Don't miss out on visiting the famous Rainbow River and enjoy all the wonders and display of biodiversity it has to offer.
Description
Deep in the Sierra de la Macarena mountain range of Colombia lies a place where one of the most astonishing natural wonders on Earth rises: Caño Cristales “the five-color river.” Don't miss the opportunity to witness the uniqueness of its beauty by yourself to make new indelible live experiences. Also, get to know the locals of La Macarena who cooperate to preserve this natural treasure and bring peace and prosperity to the region.
Itinerary
Day 1
Get up at first lights, have breakfast, and meet your driver at your place of stay in Bogota to take you to the airport. You will fly for about an hour to La Macarena, where you will be picked up at the airport by your local guide. Then, you will take a mandatory 30-minute brief given by Cormacarena ( the tourism bureau of the place). After that, you will be taken to your local accommodation.
Once on your hotel, put your hiking shoes and be ready to start the adventure. After you settle in, you will have lunch, and then the local guide will pick you up to embark a boat to take you to the Guayabero River for 25 minutes. Afterwards you will walk for about an hour and reach Caño Cristalitos, a fantastic place with small ponds filled with the characteristic algae that give this river its rainbow-like look. For those with a better physical condition, the next stop will be El Mirador, a fantastic place where you will enjoy an amazing view of the wild savannah bordered with the Macarena Mountain Range (1.5 hours hike up to the top of a mountain). In the afternoon, you will get back to the hotel and have dinner at La Macarena.
Day 2
On this day, you will visit the main sector of Caño Cristales River. After having breakfast at the hotel, your guide will pick you up, and after about an hour transport by boat and jeep, you will get to the starting point of the hike that will take you to Caño Cristales. Once you reach the river, you will visit many different spots according to your hike level. In these places, you will have the chance to swim and relax at the Willy Wonka-like ponds and enjoy your lunch box. In the afternoon, you will have time to rest at the hotel before the dinner event, where you will enjoy a “ternera a la llanera”( a typical beef preparation of the Colombian flatlands) while listening to a live band of “joropo”, fast-paced folk music of that part of Colombia.
Day 3
On your last day at La Macarena, you will get to experience the magic of this biodiversity hotspot, by taking a river ride before first light to the point where Losada river meets the Guayabero. At this time in this place, birds of hundreds of different species are visible and audible, and there are great chances of spotting river dolphins, caymans, and other wildlife. After getting back to the hotel, you will have time to relax and possible have lunch depending on the time of your flight back. We will pick you up and take you to the local airport to board your flight to Bogota.
Included
- Hotel pick-up in Bogota
- Lodging (At la Macarena, fan, no hot water)
- All meals
- In destination transportation
- Local Spanish-speaking guide
- All described tours
- Insurance
- Lodging at a rural eco lodge (only valid for add-on)
- Tickets to Joropo show
Not Included
- English Speaking Guide (unless booked with this option)
- Tips
- National park and airport fees
- Return flight to Bogota
Important information
FLIGHTS
Our upfront price does not include flights for two reasons. Every season there are different companies and charters with different frequencies, and second, because the price can vary a lot according to the travel date. Managing flights directly is very tricky, even for the most seasoned travelers, this is why we offer our travelers to help them book their flights with a 10% fee on the final price. The average price for a return ticket from Bogota is US$200, if you travel in week days we can get better deals. Once you book, one of our travel consultants will give you the options available for your travel dates.
Colors Season
The season where the plants that give Caño Cristales its color only grow from June to November, which is the rain season. We don't recommend traveling to Caño Cristales before June or after November because you probably won't enjoy the scenery (the river will be dry and thus without plants). Please keep that in mind, when you plan your trip!
In Caño Cristales and Caño Cristalitos, it is forbidden to use sunscreen and mosquito repellent but you can use them for the rest of the trip.
A yellow fever vaccine certificate may be required by authorities. We strongly recommend getting the shot.
Trip Option and upgrades
The default version of this trip is a group tour and the accommodation is at a small hotel at La Macarena village. The tours are run on small groups of 8 participants max. You will be assigned to a group that has the same hiking level as you. The program on day 1 and 3 will be adapted according to your level. On day 2 (Caño Cristales), there are several routes in the reserve that vary in length. You will be assigned to a route according to your hiking level.
The add-on version (book this option on checkout or ask a travel consultant), includes an upgrade in lodging at an eco-lodge, 25min drive from the village, and all the excursions are private.
We have an optional 4-day trip with an extra day to visit Laguna del Silencio. If you are interested, please contact us.
Don’t expect luxury. The highlight of the trip is 100% nature! All meals are provided by the restaurant of the hotel and there are no hot showers and no AC (rooms have FAN and electricity, wifi is present but unstable).
In destination fees
Heads up! Every traveler arriving in la macarena will have to pay some local fees:
- National park fee: CO$105,300 (US$27 aprox,)
- Municipality fee: CO$46,500 (US$13 aprox,)
- Airport fee: CO$6,200 (US$2 aprox,)
Colombian nationals have slightly lower fees.
AVAILABLE TO BOOK FROM JUNE 16th 2023
Additional information
Things to bring:
- Hiking shoes
- Rain Jacket
- Canteen
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Swimsuit
- Long Sleeve shirts
- Hiking pants
- Small backpack
Cancellation policies(Free cancellation available)
For land (hotel, transfers, experiences, meals). You can cancel anytime and get a refund according to the time you cancel.
- Up to 15 days before the trip: 100% refund.
- 10 to 14 days before the trip: 80% refund.
- 5 to 9 days before the trip: 40% refund.
- 0 to 4 days before the trip: non-refundable.
In case you get covid. Impulse has flexible policies in case you or any traveler of you group has covid. With a positive test, you can claim a 50% refund with a last minute cancellation and the remaining part will be kept as a credit valid for 2 years.
For Air: Cancellation policies will depend on the airline or charter service. If you book through us and cancel, we will keep the 10% fee we charge for air, and we will represent your interest to get the best possible outcome of a cancellation.
Rain or shine: We don’t consider rain as a valid reason to cancel. Excursions might be rearranged for meteorological reasons.
