This agricultural region, made up of the departments of Meta,Arauca, Casanare and Vichara, boasts magnificent landscapes and a rich variety of flora and fauna
Villavicencio, Yopal and the Orinoco region
This vast grassy plain stretches across the northwest of South America, between Colombia and Venezuela. The term comes from the Spanish « llanos » (« plains ») and refers to the particular savannah-type plant formation of this geographical region. The region boasts large areas of swamps and savannahs, ideal for cattle breeding. They are also the site of intensive farming
Caño Cristales
The Llanos region is famous for the exceptional Caño Cristales, also known as « The most beautiful river in the world ». Open from June to November, the seaweed phenomenon that occurs here gives the river magnificent pinkish-red hues
Geography and access to the river
Caño Cristales is located in the Serranía de la Macarena, in central Colombia, between the Andes and the Amazon. The river flows through a unique biological transition zone, where Andean, Amazonian and Orinocian ecosystems meet. The river stretches for some 100 km, but the main site is near the town of La Macarena, accessible only by plane from Villavicencio or Bogotá, followed by a guided tour on foot or by boat.
A natural phenomenon
Nicknamed « the river of five colors », Caño Cristales owes its hue to the Macarenia clavigera, an aquatic plant that colors the rocky bottoms between June and November. Under certain conditions of light, current and temperature, the river takes on reflections of red, green, yellow, blue and black. The absence of sediment and fish makes the water exceptionally clear, revealing the relief of the rocky bed sculpted by erosion.
Ecological and cultural context of Caños Cristales
Located in a nature reserve, the river is strictly regulated to preserve a fragile environment. The area is also important to certain local indigenous communities, and tourist visits are only conducted with licensed guides. Long closed for safety reasons, the site is now accessible, but only for a short season to protect the aquatic flora.
The llanos
The Llanos lie to the east of the Cordillera Oriental, between Colombia and Venezuela, forming a vast plain of tropical savannah crossed by the Río Meta and its tributaries. This region, marked by alternating dry and wet seasons, is home to an abundance of wildlife: capybaras, anacondas, caimans and migratory birds can be seen on the flood plains. It’s also a land of extensive livestock farming, where the culture of the llaneros, the cowboys of the plains, known for their songs, their horses and their pastoral way of life, lives on. Still relatively untouristed, the region can be explored from Yopal or Paz de Ariporo, notably in the hatos, large agricultural estates converted into nature reserves. The Llanos are also renowned for their hundreds of species of wild animals and birds. This large and beautiful region of Colombia will delight lovers of adventure, ecotourism andornithology.
Our Llanos and Caño Cristales tours
Trip to Cano Cristales The river of a thousand colors
