Rainbow River, Colombia

Because of the variety of hues visible beneath its crystal-clear waters, Caño Cristales in Colombia's Serrana de la Macarena National Park is also known as the "river of five colors," "liquid rainbow," or "melted rainbow." Bright greens, yellows, reds, and purples may appear to flow down the river in specific lighting and water conditions. The river can occasionally also appear to be a vivid blue, hot pink, orange, or deep maroon.

Despite appearing magical, the vivid color is actually the result of an aquatic plant called Macarenia clavigera, which is not an algae or moss. Which colors you can see in the water depends greatly on the water level and the surrounding environment.

Macarenia clavigera clings to the riverbed's billion-year-old quartzite rocks. It can be found in a few rivers throughout Serranìa de la Macarena (hence its name), but Caño Cristales provides just the right conditions for it to reach peak brightness. The best time to visit is when the sun is shining brightly and reflecting the colors. The water level must be high enough for the plants to thrive (rather than drying out and turning brown), but not so high that the river bottom cannot be seen. Colors are generally at their most vibrant between July and November.

Travelers must fly into Villavicencio in central Colombia before hiring a different aircraft to travel to La Macarena to reach the river. The fairly remote mountain range of Serrania de la Macarena, which offers access to the river, is reachable from there by hiring a guide.

Location: Serranìa de la Macarena National Park, Colombia