The following document presents the environmental flow subject under the scope of: some computation experiences developed in Colombia as well as internationally, more precisely in Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and China; the definitions of environmental flow; some calculation methods available and its classification under 4 different focuses (hydrologic, hydraulic, hydrobiologic and holistic), including its advantages and disadvantages; and finally the procedures seen as common in the determination of environmental flows. Moreover this work exhibits a calculus application in which the environmental flow of La quebrada La Reserva and the Guayabero River, located in the Área de Manejo Especial de La Macarena (AMEM), in the department of Meta, is obtained by using the IDEAM method, the indexes with the flow duration curve method and the wetter perimeter method. All these procedure allow the designation of the environmental flow for 5 working stations (2 in the Guayabero River and 1 in the quebrada La Reserva). Finally some recommendations are presented concerning how the determination of an environmental flow must be carried out, information that results from the practical calculation conducted and the consequences its results may have in the study area, The following document deals with the topic of ecological flow, for which the following aspects will be addressed: a description of some calculation experiences executed both in Colombia and internationally, exactly in Costa Rica, Zimbabwe and China; the definitions of ecological flow, some calculation methods and their classification under 4 approaches (hydrological, hydraulic, hydrobiological and holistic), including their advantages and disadvantages; and, finally, the procedures considered generic in the determination of ecological flows. Additionally, a practical application of calculation is shown in which the ecological flow is determined for the La Reserva stream and the Guayabero river located in the Special Management Area of La Macarena (AMEM), in the department of Meta, by means of the IDEAM, of indices with the Curve of Duration of Flows (CDC), and of the wet perimeter. These procedures allow the selection of the ecological flow for 5 defined calculation points (2 for the Guayabero river and 3 for the La Reserva creek). Finally, recommendations are given on what should be done in determining the ecological flow from the calculation application developed and the consequences that the results may bring to the study area., El siguiente documento trata la temática del caudal ecológico, para lo cual se abordarán los siguientes aspectos: una descripción de algunas experiencias de cálculo ejecutadas tanto en Colombia como a nivel internacional, exactamente en Costa Rica, Zimbabue y la China; las definiciones del caudal ecológico ;algunos métodos de cálculo y su clasificación bajo 4 enfoques (hidrológico, hidráulico, hidrobiológico y holístico), incluidas sus ventajas y desventajas; y, finalmente, los procedimientos considerados genéricos en la determinación de caudales ecológicos. Adicionalmente se exhibe una aplicación práctica de cálculo en la cual se determina el caudal ecológico para la quebrada La Reserva y el río Guayabero ubicados en el Área de Manejo Especial de La Macarena (AMEM), en el departamento del Meta, por medio del método del IDEAM, de índices con la Curva de Duración de Caudales (CDC), y del perímetro mojado. Estos procedimientos permiten la selección del caudal ecológico para 5 puntos de cálculo definidos (2 para el río Guayabero y 3 para la quebrada La Reserva). Finalmente se consignan recomendaciones sobre el deber ser en la determinación del caudal ecológico a partir de la aplicación de cálculo desarrollada y las consecuencias que los resultados pueden acarrear para el área de estudio., Especialización, Especialista en Recursos Hidráulicos y Medio Ambiente