Discover the mystic Caño Cristales: ‘The River Of Five Colors’ in the Macarena Mountains of Colombia

Apr 9, 2013

Discover the mystic Caño Cristales: ‘The River Of Five Colors’ in the Macarena Mountains of Colombia.

You don’t even imagine the colors you will meet over there!

The world is full of amazing rivers and lakes. But one in particular really stands out. Caño Cristales, commonly referred to as ‘the river that ran away to paradise’, ‘The River Of Five Colors’ or even ‘The Most Beautiful River In The World’ is a famous body of water located in the Macarena Mountains of Colombia.

The river has a clear and calm current, allowing visitors to see life underneath the water’s surface. For most of the year, the Caño Cristales is just like any other river. The residing underwater is a range of rocks covered in green moss. But for a period of time from September to November, the water level dips. The sun natural heat warms up the moss covering the rocks and other algae formations beneath the surface.

The effect of the warmth results in a stunning transformation: blooms grow beneath the water, ranging in all shades of colors. A plant on the river floor turns vibrant red, while the moss turns from slightly dull to bright green. Algae plants that cover rocks turn shades of purple and magenta.

The water is so clear, it casts a sparkling blue appearance. The river spans roughly 100 kilometers long. The natural specimen is not easily accessible as visitors must venture to La Macarena and hike or ride horses through unmarked trails.