CAÑO CRISTALES The God`s river 2017 This document has been designed to offer actualized information about Caño Cristales "the god s river", discover how to get there, the best seasons to visit it, the places that you can visit, plans and touristic packets with the activities that you can do in your travel to the most beautiful river on the world. Tourist Brochure
CAÑO CRISTALES 2 NOCHES 3 DÍAS Desde Bogotá CAÑO CRISTALES Caño Cristales Sierra de la Macarena - Meta - Colombia "Caño Cristales" it s a magic river of many kilometers of colors, Crystalline waters, and ancestral rocks. that its surrounded by an exotic vegetation, the river that will let you appreciate its splendor just in what for us is the winter season, the one is located at the end of may to the start of december. its conformed by 3 superior arms and one lower, each one crowded with different natural pools, waterfalls, and beautiful landscapes The most highlighted are (Carols s Pool, Los Ochos, tourist pool, El Manto de la virgen, El tapete Natural bridge of stone, los pianos, The wells of love, Cascada de los cuarzos, el paso de la danta, Stones of the law or Three mirrors, square pool, the stairs, the chair of the cowboy, the witch cave, the jump of the eagle, the narrows, Los pailones, and Marimbas Forest) where is caño cristales? The Sierra of the Macarena, is a Colombian region located in the department of Meta, in the Andean foothills of the Amazon jungle. It is the meeting point of the Andean, Amazonian and Orinoco ecosystems. It has impressive natural scenes such as the torrent river guayabero stone, the lagoon of silence and Caño Cristales, the river of the five colors, one of the most important tourist attractions of the Colombian territory. how to get there? To get to La Macarena, you have to do it by air plane, either leaving from the airport El Dorado in Bogota or Vanguardia in Villavicencio. The flight lasts 1 hour until arriving at the urban part of the municipality. Once the tourists have arrived they will make different routes along paths regulated by the environmental authorities that will allow them to visit the different tourist attractions of the town.
CAÑO CRISTALES 2 nights 3 days from Bogotá i i Day 1 INCLUDES: Airfare Bogota - La Macarena - Bogota, internal transport, (Fluvial and Ground) * Food * Lodging 2 nights 3 days * Travel Insurance * Specialized guides * Entry permit to enter National Park * Entry permit to Velloussea theme park * Parrando llanero. NOT INCLUDES: Expenses not stipulated in the plan * Entrance tax to the municipality of La Macarena * Other taxes by the environmental authorities. Bogota Theme Park Velloussea Caño Cristalitos or assigned place We meet at 6:00 AM at Gate 9 of the international wharf (2nd floor) of El Dorado airport in Bogota D.C. to take a flight to the Javier Noreña Valencia Airport of the municipality of Macarena, in the department of Meta. There, we will listen to a small talk by the environmental authorities and then take a tour of the Guayabero River to the theme park Velloussea, where we will find an outdoor art gallery on a natural trail with works made in the ancient terracotta technique. We will learn, through art, the history and culture of the municipality of La Macarena. We will continue our journey along a natural path until arriving at Caño Cristalitos, where we will have our first encounter with the magical colors and crystalline waters. This is the perfect scenery for art and photography lovers. Keep in mind : The number of visitors to this area is controlled by the environmental authorities. Our ability to visit Caño Cristalitos on the first day depends on the number of visitors. If it s full, we have alternative attractions like Lozada and a great viewpoint of the Guayabero River *Visiting Caño Cristales is only possible in the rainy season and flights are often delayed. Avoid stressing for this reason as the colors of crystal streams will be a reward for your patience! -
Laguna del silencio Day 2 La Macarena Caño Cristales. The tour starts at 6:00 AM. We will visit the river of the Gods "Caño Cristales". For this, we will board a boat that will allow us to navigate the waters of the Guayabero River, a course of approximately 20 minutes. Then, we will take a ride on a 4 4 vehicle that will take us through an uncovered route, surrounded by landscapes and exotic vegetation. Finally, we will begin walking along a trail previously designated by the environmental authorities, where we will visit Caño Cristales, enjoying the rainbow that melted in its crystalline waters. Day 3 La Macarena Laguna del Silencio We will start a tour of the Guayabero River that will take us to "La Cachivera". There, we will take an ecological walk until arriving at a special place for lovers of ecology and the environment called "La Laguna del Silencio". This is an ecosystem with a mysterious appearance, which hosts a diversity of fish, birds and reptiles. It s a place full of life and extraordinary landscapes. A tour of the dark waters of La Laguna del Silencio will allow you to appreciate this landscape of singular beauty. - Keep in mind : Be sure to have your batteries charged and lots of memory capacity on your camera. You will have many opportunities for excellent, beautiful photographs. *Please follow the recommendations of the guide and be responsible to the environment. * The cultural show can happen in the afternoon, any days of the plan.
rates Saturday to Monday Monday to Wednesday Standar $ 1.499.000 COP Super promo $ 1.149.000 COP Promo 1 $ 1.270.000 COP Promo 2 $ 1.335.000 COP Children from 2 to 4 years pay only air ticket, plus $ 70,000 (Not included- Meals). Children from 5 to 9 Years pay 85% of the total amountone child is accepted for every two adults. Days Promo 19 June 07 August 21 August 16 October 06 November SUPER PROMO: Applies only for the 1st and 2nd chair of each flight date. PROMO 1: Applies only for the 3rd, 4th and 5th seats of each flight date. PROMO 2: Apply from Monday to Wednesday when Monday is a holiday. *TRates subject to change without prior notice and availability. Read more about conditions or restrictions With VINATUR you are proudly supporting Community Tourism that employs more than 300 families. You can also help the environment by contributing to the reforestation of land in reserve areas. Clientes Directos naturaleza1@cano-cristales.travel naturaleza2@vinaturcolombia.com Atención a agencias de Viajes reservas1@cano-cristales.travel agencias@cano-cristales.travel Atención a clientes de redes sociales comercial@vinaturcolombia.com +57 310 296 7505 +57 312 834 8061 +57 312 404 7001 +54 314 808 2690
CAÑO CRISTALES 3 NIGHTS 4 DAYS from bogotá i INCLUDE: Airfare Bogota - La Macarena - Bogota, internal transport, (Fluvial and ground) * All foods* Lodging 3 nights 4 days * Travel Insurance * Specialized guides * Entry permit to enter National Park * Entry permit to Velloussea theme park * Parrando llanero. NOT INCLUDES: Expenses not stipulated in the plan * Entrance tax to the municipality of La Macarena * Other taxes by the environmental authorities. Day 1 Bogotá La Macarena Granja llanera. We meet at 10:00 AM at Gate 9 of the international wharf (2nd floor) of El Dorado airport in Bogota D.C. to take a flight to the Javier Noreña Valencia Airport of the municipality of La Macarena, in the department of Meta. There, we will listen to a talk by the environmental authorities, register at the corresponding hotel, and immediately move to a Llanera farm very close to the urban area for our first meeting about the activities of the Llanera culture. In the afternoon we will return to the town to participate in a cultural event (Parrando llanero), an activity that will allow us to enjoy and interact with the Llanero folklore and its traditional dance "El Joropo". Para tener en cuenta : Mantenga su cámara con buena batería y capacidad de memoria, cada día será especial para lograr excelentes fotografías. * El parrando llanero puede presentarse en la tarde de cualquiera de los días del plan.
ciudad de piedra Day 2 La Macarena Caño Cristales. The tour starts at 6:00 AM. We will visit the river of the Gods "Caño Cristales". For this, we will board a boat that will allow us to navigate the waters of the Guayabero River, a course of approximately 20 minutes. Then, we will take a ride on a 4 4 vehicle that will take us through an uncovered route, surrounded by landscapes and exotic vegetation. Finally, we will begin walking along a trail previously designated by the environmental authorities, where we will visit Caño Cristales, enjoying the rainbow that melted in its crystalline waters. Keep in mid: *Be sure to have your batteries charged and lots of memory capacity on your camera. You will have many opportunities for excellent, beautiful photographs *Please follow the recommendations of the guide and be responsible to the environment. * The cultural show can happen in the afternoon, any days of the plan. #Vive un Sentimiento! Cristalito aprueba este destino Day 3 La Macarena Raudal del Guayabero Ciudad de Piedra We will start with approximately a two hour boat ride, navigating the waters of the Guayabero River through landscapes of incomparable beauty, delighting our senses with the majestic fauna and flora that surrounds us. Shortly after, we will descend to firm ground and walk approximately 1 hour until we arrive at the Ciudad de Piedra, a natural landscape formed over millions of years, carved by water and wind, to form a maze and an abandoned sea. This location allows for magnificent photographs. In the afternoon we will return to the urban area of the municipality of La Macarena to have diner and take a well-deserved rest. Keep in mind: People who have difficulty with this walk, will travel to Caño Temblón. This is a small, clear river that serves as a natural aquarium where fish are observed with the naked eye.
theme park vellousea Day 4 Parque temático Vellousea Cristalitos or assigned places The last day will be an unforgettable experience, a perfect mix between the magic of colors and the mysticism of the llanera culture, we will visit the theme park Velloussea dedicated to immortalize the myths and legends of the region, stories that are told through of art, distributed in a space of 10 hectares in the midst of lagoons. Then we will continue with a walk of about 20 minutes until we find with Caño Cristalitos, a place that houses crystal clear water and the magic of the thousand colors. (If the flight is before noon, lunch is not include)
RATES Wednesday to Saturday Standar $ 1.719.000 Super promo $ 1.369.000 Promo 1 $ 1.489.000 Promo 2 $ 1.555.000 Days Promo 14 june / VVC - lmc -BOG 02 August/ 16 August/ 01 November/ 08 November/ Children from 2 to 4 years pay only air ticket, plus $ 70,000 (Not ncluded- Meals). Children from 5 to 9 Years pay 85% of the total amount *One child is accepted for every two adults. SUPER PROMO: Applies only for the 1st and 2nd chair of each flight date. PROMO 1: Applies only for the 3rd, 4th and 5th seats of each flight date PROMO 2: Apply from Monday to Wednesday when Monday is a holiday *Rates subject to change without prior notice and availability. Read more about conditions or restrictions With VINATUR you are proudly supporting Community Tourism that employs more than 300 families. You can also help the environment by contributing to the reforestation of land in reserve areas. Clientes Directos naturaleza1@cano-cristales.travel naturaleza2@vinaturcolombia.com Atención a agencias de Viajes reservas1@cano-cristales.travel agencias@cano-cristales.travel Atención a clientes de redes sociales comercial@vinaturcolombia.com +57 310 296 7505 +57 312 834 8061 +57 312 404 7001 +54 314 808 2690
Recommendation Travel recommendation When traveling to the municipality of La Macarena, keep in mind the following recommendations. The municipality of La Macarena is part of the Natural National Park, so the first thing to carry is a deep respect for the environment. Bring an adventurous spirit, since every experience at La Macarena is unique and unpredictable. Caño Cristales only can be visited in the rainy season, for this reason flight delays are a constant during the season, avoid stressing for that reason. Participate in the talks offered by the environmental authorities. Wear proper footwear, preferably of high cane and good grip like boots, the walks are on sandy terrain and rocky paths. Wear lightweight, easy-drying, long-sleeved clothing to prevent sunburn and skin irritation by the constant contact with the vegetation. Always wear a fisherman's hat to cover the neck of the sun. Make sure you have the yellow fever vaccine at least 15 days before your trip. Stay close to the guidance team to avoid stray from the assigned trail At the moment of reserving, talk with TRIPS.PLACE about your physical resistance, health difficulties and food restrictions, this information will allow us to provide you with a good service and to give you a path that suits your conditions. Bring a camera with large memory and good battery to record the best moments. Claim a trash bag to deposit the inorganic wastes generated during the tour and be sure to take them to the collection points in the cities of Bogota and Villavicencio. Click here to see the liability clauses.
Frequent Questions Where is the municipality of la Macarena located? La Macarena is a municipality located in the department of Meta, with natural reserves such as the Sierra de la Macarena. It is located 225 km from Villavicencio in the south of the department, to the north limits with La Uribe and Vista Hermosa, to the west and south with the department of Caquetá, and to the east with the municipality of Vista Hermosa and the Department of Guaviare. How to get to the municipality of La Macarena? We have flights available from the city of Bogota in the season from June to December, when Caño Cristales opens its doors to the public. The flight lasts 60 minutes. We use Embraer airplanes with capacity of 30 passengers each, depart for La Macarena on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and the return is done in the afternoon hours these same days. This will allow you to purchase the following types of plans: "Caño Cristales Plan of 2 days and 3 nights", leaving on Saturday and returning Monday "Caño Cristales plan 3 days and 2 nights", leaving on Monday and returning on Wednesday. The checked luggage allowed is 1 suitcase of maximum 10 kg. And carry on luggage is 5 kg.. Another option to travel to La Macarena directly is from the airport Vanguardia in Villavicencio, the flights are charter, have a duration of 60 minutes and depart from Monday to Friday. You can also travel by land by touring the municipalities of Villavicencio, Acacias, Guamal, San Martin, Granada, Vista Hermosa and La Macarena. Although this way we do not operate, due to the fact that it is a rainy season and the roadways are in bad conditions, which is why we can t guarantee the safety of the passenger, this route is usually done in 4x4 vehicles and has an approximate duration of 14 hours. The river route is the last option for tourists who are near San Jose del Guaviare, since there you can take a boat to the Macarena, with an approximate duration of 8 hours. What vaccinations do you need to travel to caño cristales? The Health Secretary of Meta issued Circular 18 of June 8, 2016, which dictates that every tourist who wishes to travel to the Macarena, must be given the vaccine against yellow fever with a minimum of prior days of 15 days prior to travel, this obeying to the strategy of prevention and control; its efficacy is 99% and allows the formation of protective antibodies after 7 to 10 days of being received. The yellow fever vaccine is completely free and applies from 12 months of age. The service is provided in all health care institutions of the first level of care and there are no barriers to its application. How to get the yellow fever vaccine? In Bogota, you can go to any of the following points and request it: Airport El Dorado, Prehospitalaria - Terminal Terrestre, CAMI Suba, UPA Lorencita Villegas, UPA Candelaria la Nueva. Note: Persons over the age of 60 must submit a medical order for the application of the vaccine. Is there a cell phone and internet signal on caño cristales? The cell phone signal in the area of Caño Cristales and in the municipality of La Macarena is still very slow, the only operator that works in some places is Claro, but since some months there is an internet cafe in the village and free WiFi network available in the park. How long does the walk take a Caño Cristales? After leaving the vehicle (jeep), you should walk about 45 minutes on a unpaved road, when we arrive at the entrance of Caño Cristales, you will walk along trails, and rocks. The walk along the trails will last from 2 to 3 hours, depending on the dynamics of the group and the breaks that the guide provided you. We recommend to stay with the departure group and follow the respective guidelines of the guides, in order to avoid detours. What is the walk like? In order to conserve the biodiversity of Caño Cristales, it has not been allowed to construct any type of infrastructure that affects the ecosystem, therefore the route is made between rocks, by narrow roads, some rocky and slippery places. For this reason, it is not recommended the route for people in wheelchairs and cars of babies.
Anyone in good physical condition can do it, it is not an extreme walk, it is very important to wear good footwear. Avoid walking in sandals, a good shoe with grip and ankle protection will be very useful and will make your hike a very enjoyable experience. How to get dressed? What to bring to the Caño Cristales? Dress appropriately to visit Caño Cristales, wear shoes with good grip and waterproof preferably. If it is high cane boot, is better since the conditions of the terrain can lead to some falls and there are rocky areas quite slippery. The shirt is preferably long-sleeved and has fresh fabrics (it is very hot and there are mosquitoes), long pants waterproof or easy to dry. Note: Remember that we will visit a humid place, we do not recommend jeans, wear raincoats and bathing suits so that you can enjoy fresh water in the areas that are allowed, if you wear a water mask will be an unforgettable experience. The repellent and blocker is not allowed due to the large amount of toxics they possess, remember that we will visit an ecological sanctuary and we must contribute to its conservation. It is advisable to bring a camera, you will surely capture unforgettable moments, take your equipment in an easy carrying case with water protection preferably, can rain and get wet during the journey. Remember that there are times when it is necessary to cross the river and the water can reach the waist or more. Note: Failure to follow these recommendations may cause discomfort in your experience. Important list of items to bring: Remember to pack: Walking clothing (long pants, long-sleeved shirt, tennis shoes or good-grip boots) Sleepwear Waterproof Swimsuit Sandals or flip-flops Sunglasses Elements Personal hygiene Identity documents Hat or cap Night repellent (you can't use repellents, sun block, creams or soaps are allowed in the river) Flashlight and spare battery Camera Towel Backpack Small for walks. Is there electrical energy in the Macarena? The municipality of La Macarena has a permanent electricity supply, allowing its tourists to enjoy a more comfortable and cool lodging with fan or air conditioning. In Caño Cristales there is no possibility of connecting to the electrical energy any device. Equipment such as cameras, batteries and mobile devices must be recharged at the accommodation locations every night. Banking services The municipality of La Macarena currently has an ATM (Automated teller machine) from Bancolombia and an office of Banco Agrario, however we recommend you bring cash from your home city. Is there Public Security in La Macarena? The municipality of La Macarena is made up of 9 neighborhoods and 186 trails, Caño Cristales is located in one of these, known as "La Cachivera". All are protected by the national army, who has contributed to their habitants and visitors to enjoy this ecological sanctuary without any risk to life. What Hotels are in the Macarena/Meta? La Macarena is a municipality in growing, with the aim of making all visitors feel comfortable and enjoy a good trip, some hotels have been built within the city, these are simple and comfortable, have the basic requirements for a good rest, besides its good cleanliness and pleasant attention. What is the possibility of traveling with a baby? Caño cristales route has a walk hike with a duration of about 3 hours that is made between rocks, narrow paths, some rocky and slippery places, for this reason it is not recommended the route for people with babies. In accordance with article 17 of Law 679 of 2001, the agency warns the tourist that the exploitation and sexual abuse of minors in the country are criminally and administrative sanctions, according to the laws in force.