The central river featured in Disney's Encanto is the Rio Caño Cristales, often referred to as the "River of Five Colors" or the "Liquid Rainbow." While the movie takes place in a fictionalized version of the Colombian mountains, the vibrant yellow, green, blue, black, and especially red hues seen in the water during the emotional "Dos Oruguitas" sequence are directly inspired by this real-life natural wonder located in the Serranía de la Macarena. In 2026, fans still visit Colombia to see the aquatic plant Macarenia clavigera, which turns the river bright red during the months between the wet and dry seasons. In the film, the river serves as the site of the miracle that created the Casita and gave the Madrigal family their powers. It is a place of both tragedy and rebirth, representing the family's history and their connection to the land. For the creators of Encanto, using the Caño Cristales as a reference was a way to ground the magical story in the breathtaking and unique biodiversity of Colombia, ensuring the film's aesthetic was as authentic as it was visually spectacular.