Safari & Prairies Horseback Adventure

overview


Our trip takes us to a ‘hato’, a vast cattle ranch, parts of it declared private natural reserve and home to hundreds of capybaras, to white-tailed deer, to big cats such as pumas, to anteaters and stunning birdlife. On daily horseback tours we can observe an overwhelming number of wildlife before those open and infinite landscapes of Los Llanos.

Lose yourself in the surreal beauty of prairies melding with big skies, of wetlands mirroring clouds and amongst literally hundreds of capybaras and striking birds, herds of wild horses and majestic zebu cattle. This three-day tour means a full immersion in the Llanos region - you will meet cowboys, cattle ranchers, people that walk and ride barefoot and do not care much for modern technology but are ready to chant cattle songs, track an anaconda and navigate the savannas on horseback.

Possible wildlife sightings: 
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​Burrowing owls, giant anteater, southern tamandua (small anteater), capybaras, white-tailed deer, maikongs, armadillos, puma (rare), jaguar (very rare!), anaconda, jaguarundi, various species of ibis such as scarlet ibises and buff-necked ibises, species of herons including whistling herons and night herons, various hawks such as savanna hawks, kites, falcons, parakeets, macaws, swallows, flycatchers including fork-tailed flycatchers, yellow-crowned parrots, various woodpeckers and wood creepers, jabirus, various hummingbirds, agoutis, spectacled caimans, red-footed tortoises, hoatzins, turtles, iguanas, Orinoco geese, roseate spoonbills and more. ​

itinerary

Day 1
Arrival during the morning, welcome at airport & transfer to natural reserve. Already along the way we will keep our eyes open for wildlife. Welcome at the farmhouse & lunch
Afternoon horseback ride to explore the surroundings and stalk wildlife
incl. lunch & dinner

Day 2
Early morning walk to stalk wildlife, if we like. After breakfast we embark on a horseback ride to observe wildlife and enjoy sceneries. We will cross waterholes and savannas. Artesanal fishing is optional. 
Lunch break from 11 am to 3 pm to avoid heat of the day.
Afternoon ride to explore remote corners of the reserve. We enjoy the sunset and ride into the night to stalk nocturnal wildlife, with the moon and the milky way as our guides.
incl. breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3
After breakfast we embark on a horseback ride to observe wildlife in the open prairies and savanna forests. Return to Yopal in the afternoon.
incl. breakfast, lunch

tour facts

Duration: 2 nights
Departure: Daily (private tour)
Availability: Year round
Location and sceneries: Large natural reserve about 110 km from Yopal, encompassing prairies, wetlands and waterholes. You may also experience ranch work and cowboys in action.
Tour includes: Transport and transfers, accommodation (2 nights), entrance fees, tours as outlined, local guide (additional English speaking guide if desired), meals full board from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 3, drinking water and refreshments, insurance. 

Not included: Flights, Extra accommodation, extra meals, alcoholic beverages, additional tours and horseback rides, Wifi, laundry, phone calls, personal purchases, IVA (only applies to residents in Colombia) 

Lodging

Farmhouse inside the natural reserve

• 2 hrs drive from Yopal, situated inside a 9000 ha large ranch, partly natural reserve
• Simple spacious bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
• Terrace and porch with hammocks and sofas to lounge 
• Home-cooked meals
• Wifi available for a fee
"The three day horse tour was absolutely the most incredible travel experience I've ever had. Cannot say enough! Just go and see for yourself!" 

​Christine Shaner, United States
"3 special and wonderful days - Time went by way too fast and we would have loved to stay longer. It was an excursion into a magical world!"

Anna von Behr, Germany
"If you love to be off the beaten path, have a desire to immerse yourself in a living cowboy culture and seeing animals living freely in their natural habitats, don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience."
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Ricky Grater, United States
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