La Manigua Lodge sits on the banks of the Guayabero River, where the Colombian Amazon meets the Orinoquía, inside the Sierra de La Macarena National Natural Park. It lies about 30 minutes upstream by boat from the town of La Macarena, and the boat transfers are part of the lodge's tours. The rooms are set in the forest and pair comfort with a light footprint, and the lodge has its own restaurant and bar. La Manigua is the starting point for Caño Cristales and for the other natural sights of the area, among them Ciudad de Piedra and the Cañón de Angosturas. Days are spent on forest trails, watching for wildlife, on excursions along the river and with the local community. The lodge runs its tours in two seasons: the colour season, from June 15 to November 15, and the summer season, from December 1 to March 31. Getting there is by air, with direct flights to La Macarena from Bogotá, Medellín or Villavicencio; in the summer season the flights run only from Villavicencio. The lodge publishes the flight details in a separate guide, and its team arranges the river transfer on arrival.
- Nearest airport
- La Macarena, by direct flight from Bogotá, Medellín or Villavicencio, then about 30 minutes by boat
Insider tip Plan the dates around the colour season, June 15 to November 15, and note that in the summer season flights run only from Villavicencio.
Why I choose it The lodge on the Guayabero for Caño Cristales, set in the forest of the Sierra de La Macarena.