Bogotá y Caño Cristales I

Pick up at Bogota Airport and private transportation to the hotel. Check-in. Lodging. 

Notes: From El Dorado Airport to the selected hotel in Bogota. Private transportation with Spanish speaking driver only. Applies for services between 6:00 am to 8:59 pm. For services from 9:00 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. A night surcharge of 20% of the value of the service will be applied.

In the early hours of the morning, meeting in the hotel lobby for transfer to the Bogota airlift; the time to take the charter flight to the municipality of La Macarena is usually around 5:00 hrs. Upon arrival in the municipality of La Macarena located in the department of Meta, reception by the guides and induction talk by the local environmental entities (National Parks and Cormacarena). Afterwards, transfer to the corresponding hotel where a room will be assigned for change of clothes and luggage storage. Then, departure in shared to visit one of the trails of Caño Cristales which is assigned by the environmental authorities and where we will have a first encounter with nature and the crystal clear waters of the area. At the end of the tour return to the town of La Macarena with the same protocol of going, check in at the hotel, dinner and lodging.

Note: The inclusion of lunch on this first day will be subject to the arrival time of the flight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure in the morning according to the schedule indicated by the environmental authorities. The shared tour will begin by boarding a boat that will navigate for approximately 20 minutes on the waters of the Guayabero River that will allow you to appreciate the natural wealth of our country: bird watching, wildlife and enjoy the scenery in general. Once you arrive at the disembarkation point, you will take a 4X4 truck that will transport you to the Cajuche Spring in a journey of approximately 20 minutes, through an unpaved road surrounded by exotic vegetation. Then, you will begin a hike along one of the trails previously designated by the environmental authorities according to the permit, the carrying capacity and the physical conditions of the visitors. The trail will border Caño Cristales, a magical and unique place in the world where nature shows its incredible beauty in the so-called river of the 5 colors, an effect that is the result of the transparent and pure waters of the river that let you see different colors due to the aquatic algae that bloom there during a specific time of the year (June to November). During the tour there will be a place and time to have a typical lunch of the region, which is given to each visitor at the beginning of the day wrapped in banana leaves (Fiambre type). Finally, return from Caño Cristales to the municipality of La Macarena with the same protocol as on the way. Lodging.

Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time, departure in shared to Caño Cristales by boat and van in the same way as the previous day. Once we arrive at Caño Cristales we will go through a different trail than the previous day with different natural scenarios, which will be previously assigned by the environmental authorities according to the permission granted, the carrying capacity and the physical conditions of the visitors. At the agreed time return to La Macarena with the same protocol as the outward journey. Time for lunch in the town and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Bogota between 12:00 and 17:00 hrs. Reception at the airport in Bogota and transfer to the hotel. Lodging.

Notes: 

- This package applies for departures on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

- Itineraries may be subject to change without prior notice by National Parks and Cormacarena. 

- If there are flight delays and you arrive at La Macarena after 1:00 pm you cannot enter Caño Cristales that day and you will visit another tourist sector of La Macarena. 

- If there are early departures from La Macarena or you leave before 9 am, you will only be able to do the sunrise activity at Caño Cristales on the last day.

- Our operator at destination is not responsible for flight delays or early departures.

- We ask for your understanding in case of itinerary changes. We will do everything in our power to make your visit to Caño Cristales as enjoyable as possible.

- You can only visit one trail per day according to the parameters of the entities in charge Cormacarena and PNN.

Breakfast at the hotel. Meeting in the hotel lobby, we will head to the heart of the city to explore the Gold Museum, home to the most extensive collection of pre-Hispanic gold and silverware in the world. Then, we will immerse ourselves in a fascinating walking tour of the iconic Plaza de Bolívar, the presidential residence Casa de Nariño, the Capitol, and the splendid Catedral Primada. We will close the day ascending the Cerro de Monserrate. From its summit, you will enjoy a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings, to culminate this day full of history, art and scenic beauty. At the end of the tour, return to the hotel and/or transfer to the airport according to flight itinerary.

Includes: Transportation in private service, tour guide, ascent to Monserrate and admission to the Gold Museum. 

Note: Monday, The Gold Museum closed, replaced by the Botero Exhibition.

***GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS***

- Due to the native conditions of the destination, it is necessary for the passenger to have travel assistance insurance.

- In the event that Caño Cristales and other ecotourism attractions associated with water resources represent a danger such as a sudden increase in flows, the environmental authorities, through technical criteria in conjunction with the Municipal Council for Disaster Risk Management, will determine to temporarily close these scenarios while the risk situation passes.

- The entry of liquids in plastic bottles is prohibited, as well as synthetic and disposable cabuya.

CLOTHING RECOMMENDATIONS AND ITEMS FOR THE DESTINATION

-We recommend bringing only one change of clothes for travel. That is, the same for the outward and return trip.

-A change of walking clothes. Camibuso or long sleeve shirt, pants of those that you remove the sleeve and it is like pants. The best are those with quick-drying fibers. Do not wear jeans that take a long time to dry and get hot.

-Bathing suit.

-A fresh change of clothes to sleep in, hopefully with long sleeves to prevent insect bites.

-Comfortable walking shoes or sandals for river hiking (If you are staying in a rural lodge, we recommend that you bring rubber boots as well. You can buy them in La Macarena for $25,000 COP and if you wish you can donate them to someone in the area).

-Bathing sandals.

-Identity documents.

-Camera and spare batteries. Also a case to store the camera. Camera and spare batteries. Sometimes it rains or you have to cross the river and you may get wet.

Small towel/travel towel preferably quick-drying

-Thin waterproof jacket or waterproof poncho.

-Headlamp with spare batteries.

-Toiletries and personal medications.

-Small hands-free backpack that can be used on the flight (max 10 kilos of luggage) and that can be used on treks. Do not carry wheeled suitcases.eeled suitcases.

-Environmentally friendly natural insect repellents that do not pollute the river.

- Sunscreen only if it is environmentally friendly. It is advisable not to bring sunscreen, as we have found that they leave traces of oil in crystal clear waters.  

-Toilet paper kept in a small bag in the backpack you will use for the hikes. Toilet paper in a small bag in the backpack that you will use for the hikes

-Water bottle

-Binoculars

-Cap or hat and sunglasses.

-Swimming mask or goggles. One of the activities that can be done is snorkeling and apnea. Even underwater photography. For this type of photography they sell specialized cameras or cases to keep them and to be able to submerge them.

YELLOW FEVER VACCINE

As of 2016 in La Macarena the yellow fever card is required at the airport immigration, it must be applied 10 days before the travel date.

***Please note that La Macarena is a small municipality that is in tourist development, has hotels all of tourist category and manages basic services of first necessity.

*** It is important to understand that the food included in the plan is prepared by the people of the community and the menu is based on typical products of the region, avoiding the use of products from other regions. 

***In the municipality of La Macarena there is no signal for mobile data.