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  1. Home
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  4. Serrania de la Macarena
Serrania de la Macarena, Colombia

Serrania de la Macarena

Unique Natural Area
Amazonia-Orinoquia (Meta)Designated in 19486,294 km²
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Home of Caño Cristales, nicknamed "the river of five colours" or "the liquid rainbow", for the endemic Macarenia clavigera

Area

6,294 km²

Designated in

1948

Region

Amazonia-Orinoquia (Meta)

Declared in 1948, the Serranía de la Macarena is a geologically isolated massif that acts as a meeting point between three great South American biomes: the Andes, Amazonia and the eastern Llanos. Its greatest attraction, Caño Cristales, turns red, yellow, green and blue each year between July and November thanks to an endemic aquatic plant called Macarenia clavigera, whose colour depends on a precise combination of sunlight and water level, and which has earned it the international nickname of "the river of five colours", or "the liquid rainbow".

Location

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Serrania de la Macarena: 76 documented species

Mammals25Birds20Reptiles8Amphibians

Flora and ecosystems

Ecosystems found in Colombia, where Serrania de la Macarena lies.

Tropical rainforestSavannahMarine / coastal

Experiences in this park

Birdwatching

Wildlife you can see now

What is worth looking out for this month in Colombia?

Now is a good time: Humpback whales on the Colombian Pacific coast (July to October (best sea conditions from late July to September))

Now is a good time: Best time to see Amazon river dolphins (June to November (low-water season))

Similar parks

Which other parks are like this one?

Same country: Colombia

Same country: Colombia

Same country: Colombia

Same country: Colombia

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about this park.

Share your experience visiting Serrania de la Macarena, or a tip for other travellers.

Climate

Tropical, Arid / desert, Polar / cold, Mountain

Best season

December to March

Plan your visit

Best season
December to March
Area
6,294 km²
More places in ColombiaSee location
5
Cartilaginous fish1
Fish5
Arachnida3
Insecta7
Chilopoda1
Onychophora1

Threatened:Military Macaw,Giant Otter,Giant Anteater,Lowland Tapir,South American Bushmaster,Black-and-chestnut Eagle,Orinoco Crocodile,Common Woolly Monkey,Northern Tiger Cat

Harpy EagleNear Threatened

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

Ogrefaced SpiderNot Evaluated

Ogrefaced Spider

Deinopis spinosa

Great KiskadeeLeast Concern

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

Rainbow BoaLeast Concern

Rainbow Boa

Epicrates cenchria

Spectacled OwlLeast Concern

Spectacled Owl

Pulsatrix perspicillata

Spectacled CaimanLeast Concern

Spectacled Caiman

Caiman crocodilus

Red BrocketData Deficient

Red Brocket

Mazama americana

Andean Cock-of-the-rockLeast Concern

Andean Cock-of-the-rock

Rupicola peruvianus

Military MacawVulnerable

Military Macaw

Ara militaris

Scarlet MacawLeast Concern

Scarlet Macaw

Ara macao

Bat FalconLeast Concern

Bat Falcon

Falco rufigularis

HoatzinLeast Concern

Hoatzin

Opisthocomus hoazin

See all 76 species found here

Colombia · Amazonia-Orinoquia (Meta)
See on the interactive map→
Humpback WhaleLeast Concern

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Amazon River DolphinEndangered

Amazon River Dolphin

Inia geoffrensis

Natural National Park

Corales del Rosario y San Bernardo

Colombia

Elkhorn Coral · Hawksbill Turtle

December to March

See park
UNESCO
Fauna and Flora Sanctuary

Malpelo

Colombia

Hammerhead Shark · Silky Shark

December to March

See park
Los KatiosUNESCO
National Park

Los Katios

Colombia

Harpy eagle · jaguar

December to March

See park
Farallones de Cali
National Park

Farallones de Cali

Colombia

Spectacled bear · Andean cock-of-the-rock

December to March

See park
CountryColombia

AI-generated image: an illustration, not a photograph.

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