Las Gachas

The stream runs over a bed of reddish rock and the water has drilled dozens of pozos - round vertical holes cut by pebbles spinning in eddies over a very long time, ranging from a few centimetres to a couple of metres across and up to around four metres deep. People sit in them; the water is shallow between them and ankle-deep across the rock, so the whole streambed can be walked. The red colour of the bed against clear water is what makes the photographs. Guadalupe made guides mandatory after visitor numbers rose and damage and accidents followed - some holes are far deeper than they look and people have got into difficulty. The walk in from the village takes about half an hour.

The landscape

• Dozens of round potholes - drilled by spinning pebbles over ages.
• A red rock streambed - walked ankle-deep between the holes.
• Holes up to about four metres deep - deeper than they appear.
• Mandatory local guides - introduced after damage and accidents.

When to go

December to March; rain raises the stream and closes it. Half a day.

Practical notes

A guide is now required and going alone is not permitted. Some holes are much deeper than they look and have caused accidents. Rain makes the rock dangerous and the stream unusable. The walk in is on a rough path.

Nearby

Guadalupe is the base; San Gil is north-west.