This episode’s focus was the beautiful Caño Cristales in Colombia. It runs for 62 miles and is a tributary of the Guayabero River, meaning that it is a smaller river that flows into the larger one. It is located in Serrania de la Macarena National Park, which is a mountain range isolated from the rest of the country.

For most of the months of the year, you might find that Caño Cristales is a pretty ordinary river. There’s nothing remarkable about its blue, flowing waters. But, if the conditions are right, the river transforms into a wonderful sight of vibrant colors. This is where it gets its nicknames, such as “Liquid Rainbow” and “River of Five Colors”. This change often occurs within the months of July to November, when the colors are at peak vibrancy. But what causes it? There is an aquatic plant called Macarenia clavígera that, under the right conditions, turns the water into the beautiful red/pink coloration that is the most prominent. Moss, bacteria, and minerals produce the other colors, including black, green, blue, yellow, and purple.

The most notable wildlife in Caño Cristales are the aquatic plants and corals. There are no fish that live within the river due to the lack of nutrients. However, the larger region of the Serrania de la Macarena National Park contains plentiful biodiversity. It is right on the border of three key ecosystems: the Andes, the Eastern Llanos, and the Amazon Rainforest, so there is a wide variety of the wildlife that lives here. There are over 2,000 species of plants, 550 species of birds, 1,200 species of insects, and 100 species of reptiles that live within this park, with its rainforest biome.

Now for fun facts. Caño Cristales contains many quickly-flowing waterfalls and rapids. The river is in a very remote location that has proven difficult to access. The area has been threatened by overtourism and now there are regulations to limit the number of people visiting.

The river was discovered by Indigenous peoples before it was discovered by anyone else. But then in 1969, Colombian cattle farmers stumbled across it when all of the colors were showing. It was difficult to find due to its remote location. Soon after, guerilla groups came into the nearby village of Macarena and it became a dangerous warzone. All tourist activity was prohibited for 20 years until it was reopened in 2002. Now there is plentiful, yet restricted, tourism to Serrania de la Macarena National Park and Caño Cristales.

Caño Cristales is a magnificent wonder of the world and its vibrant colors are truly a sight to behold.

Sources: Medellin Guru, Travel and Leisure, Penn State, Marina Abramovic Institute, Palenque Tours