Caño Cristales is a fast river with many rapids and waterfalls. Often in the bed have formed small circular pits - giant's kettles, which have been formed by pebbles or chunks of harder rocks. one of these harder rock fragments falls into one of the cavities, it is rotated by the water current and begins to carve at the cavity wall and increases the dimensions of the pit.

The bed of river in the end of July through November is variously colored yellow, green, blue, black, and especially red, the last caused by theMacarenia clavigera (Podostemaceae) on the bottom of the river by direct flight that departs every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Presently, there are no campsites available near Caño Cristales. A popular time to visit Caño Cristales is from late July to early December