What our clients say
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"Exceptional Experience
We booked an expedition of the Llanos wildlife during the dry season. In retrospect, our Colombia trip would not have been complete without this experience. We have immersed ourselves in a unique world and would have loved to stay longer. We saw countless beautiful birds, a giant anteater with its baby, a jaguarundi, an anaconda of almost six meters and so much more. We saw singing and dancing cowboys and the llanos from the back of a horse. The landscape in which all this takes place is unreal and dreamlike. Julia took great care of us: there were always refreshing drinks and she meticulously responded to our food preferences and gave us her full attention during the safari. All we had to do was pick up our cameras and Julia would stop so that we could take the best possible photo. Her sunny disposition is contagious and we are very grateful for the relaxed time that we were able to spend with her. Overall, we are extremely impressed by the passion and love that was put into our individually tailored tour, including the excellent selection of local guides. They were not only exceptionally warm but very experienced and respectful when dealing with wild animals. We highly recommend a tour with Wild Llanos to everyone. These were the most beautiful days of our stay in Colombia!" Regine Haehnel, Germany, February 2019
"Fantastic Experience in Los Llanos
During our time in Colombia, my partner and I were very keen to see the wildlife found in the country and were recommended Wild Llanos by a friend as a means of doing this. We are so glad we took the plunge and opted to go on a 3 day trip with Wild Llanos as it was definitely an experience we will never forget. We had a fantastic time canoeing down the river at sunset, eating lunch surrounded by capybara, waking early to experience the howler monkeys' dawn chorus, walking through the local forest to see agouti and capuchins, and taking a safari through the stunning nature reserves where we saw a wealth of spectacular birds and reptiles. We were so impressed by our guide Julia, her knowledge and the effort she went through to ensure we had a good time. The accommodation we stayed in during the trip was great - very friendly locals and fantastic home cooked Colombian food. We couldn't recommend this experience more - the highlight of our Colombian adventure with wonderful guides, scenery and wildlife." Rebecca Hugget, United Kingdom, November 2019
"Professional Company, Amazing Wildlife
We had an amazing 3 day trip with Julia, Seco and Andres. We were a 3 generation family from ages 4 to 71 and it was perfect for all of us (caveat - we are all experienced adventure travelers and outdoors people!). We saw amazing wildlife: giant anteaters, tamandua, foxes, a HUGE anaconda, a gazillion capybara and caiman, and birds galore (and Julia knew all their names!). We met Andres on the first morning, when he took us looking for anteaters on an extra special additional adventure because our daughter REALLY wanted to see them. And he found one! We spend the rest of the trip with Julia and Seco. Julia was an absolutely lovely hostess with lots of knowledge, and Seco is clearly The Man of the Llanos. Just one of those guys you trust 100% from the minute you meet him. We had an incredible trip and recommend Julia and Andres' company 100%. We have run outdoor tourism businesses in remote Alaska for the last 20 years and have very high standards." Gaia Marrs, United States, January 2020
"Incredible and maginificent
Our stay was perfectly organized by Julia and Andres, who were our guides during these 3 days. We did the “Llanos Essential Tour”. Every day we had a different activity - always so magnificent. The horses are adorable, and you learn to ride them as they do in the region. The safari drive is very long from morning until night to watch the nocturnal animals! The third day allows you to go back in time and share the Llanero culture with a local family (magical!). The accommodations are also great (you can see monkeys in the garden!), as is the food, and we always had a reliable driver to wait for us and take us to the various sites. This trip was wonderful and we know we will be back for another one! Thank you to Julia and Andres for their kindness and for sharing these beautiful moments with us."
Manon Gabaribou, France, July 2021
"Safari in Colombia - highly recommended!
It was fantastic to explore the area teeming with so many animals. Julia knew everything and provided lots of insights and a local guide accompanied us to find the wildlife that we did not see: an anaconda in the water, for example, or the little anteater sleeping in a tree. Whether on foot, by 4x4 jeep or on horseback, the safaris are exciting and varied. Plus the wonderful atmosphere at sunset! Especially bird lovers will get their money's worth here. The hosts on the farms are all very friendly and hospitable. This area is different from the rest of Colombia and it is well worth taking a detour to Yopal!" Peter Kast, Switzerland, March 2020
"Head Over Heels for Colombia - Magical Los Llanos!
I can highly recommend Aventur Eco Tours (now Wild Llanos). As the name suggests, the organisation is a sustainable tour operator that only works with small local businesses. Ground transfers, accommodation and daily excursions were all organised for us, everything went seamlessly. Thanks to our knowledgeable guides and their well-trained eyes, we spotted so many amazing animals. I didn’t know where to look first, there was such concentrated biodiversity! Huge groups of capybaras were ambling around, while caiman slid into water holes beside sunbathing turtles and iguanas clambered in trees. Not forgetting the enormous 6-metre anaconda that we came across. Oh and the array of colourful birds. WOW. Before visiting I was already enamoured with Colombia, but witnessing the abundant wildlife and magic of Los Llanos had me completely head over heels for the country. Thanks Aventur Eco Tours!" Freya Lundgren, Australia, September 2018
"Amazing Safari
We had an excellent time on the safari and the chances to see different kinds of animals were overwhelming. The tour guide and driver were genuinely passionate, well informed and service minded. It completely felt like we were hanging out with friends. Can recommend to everyone!!" Sofia Eriksson, Sweden, February 2020
"Best Place To See South America's Iconic Wildlife
This is the dream location for anyone wanting to photograph the most iconic South American wildlife. There is a better chance of seeing these iconic species in Los Llanos than there is in the Amazon, or anywhere else, due to Los Llanos being flat and open, meaning animals are much easier to find providing incredible and plenty of photographic opportunities. It is completely off the beaten path; it is not touristy; it’s a hidden gem; it’s a complete natural paradise full of countless species; it has a unique cowboy culture like nowhere else. Everything about the place completely took our breath away, and it was made even more special thanks to Julia and Andres at Wild Llanos. We were beyond impressed with the effort they made for us and the professionalism they showed.
I think it’s important to highlight why I think Wild Llanos are so great: Firstly, they care so much about each guest who visits; they make the extra effort to ensure personal requests are met; they are very ethical with what they do and care deeply for the wildlife and conservation in Los Llanos; they are easy going and always seem to be smiling; they are very easy to communicate with and get along with, and they just love what they do so much and their passion makes the tour that more special. Finding specific wildlife is a game of luck anywhere in the world, however, you are guaranteed to see an abundance of wildlife in Los Llanos, and Julia and Andres will do everything they can to make sure everyone’s stay is as perfect as possible and they do their best to try and find the animals that guests want to see, as they did with us. Having been in the company of several tour operators, I can honestly say that I have never had a better experience than I did with Julia and Andres and I will be returning soon. I certainly came away from Los Llanos with a feeling of finding a home away from home, as well as a friendship with Julia and Andres." Matt Senior, United Kingdom, February 2020
"Unforgettable and unique experience in the llanos
I just spent an incredible 4 days in Casanare with Andrés and want to strongly recommend the Wild Llanos experience for anyone looking to explore this amazing region of Colombia. The service was attentive, thoughtful, and highly personalized -- it really was a pleasure to spend those days with Andrés and the many passionate and talented professionals who helped make my trip so outstanding. The combination of stunning natural beauty and wildlife on one hand, with rich and vibrant llanero culture on the other made this one of the most special experiences I've had in Colombia, the country I live in and which I have traveled extensively throughout. I am already looking forward to returning to Casanare for more exciting horseback rides, activities on the cattle ranch, safaris through wildlife reserves, and encounters with llanero culture. Thank you Andrés and the Wild Llanos team for such a phenomenal trip!" Samuel Dulik, Colombia, January 2020
"Fantastic birding and wildlife - and great company!
In March 2019, a group of 6 of us spent 4 days and 3 nights birding around Yopal and the Los Llanos with Wild Llanos. This was after a week spent birding in the Andes Mountains between Medellin and Bogota. Wild Llanos is owned and run by Julia and Andres, who are a very likeable and fantastic couple. I realized before the adventure began that we were going to be in good hands. Our flights into Yopal got changed to a less desirable time. Julia handled getting us booked onto new flights, which removed a lot of stress about the trip for me, and met us at the airport to begin our adventure. Andres was our guide for the 4 days. He is originally from this area, has a great knowledge of the local birds and wildlife, and knows when to be where throughout the different seasons... in addition to being a great guy to spend 4 days with. Los Llanos was a great addition to our trip. The grasslands east of the Andes Mountains were much a different habitat than we'd seen previously in Colombia. The birding and wildlife in the area are fantastic, with my highlights being Wire-tailed Manakin on lek, along with many Ibises, Roseate Spoonbills, Boat-billed Heron, Hoatzins, Jabirus, Sunbittern, Horned Screamers, Common Potoo, and a wonderful Spectacled Owl (and many, many more). Other wildlife sightings included Tamandua, Howler Monkeys, Caiman and Capybara. For lodging Wild Llanos had us staying in Lisseth Villa near Yopal. It was way more than I'd expected. Villa Lisseth has large and modern rooms, AC, a swimming pool, and fabulous, local food prepared by the family who run the place. For me it was my favorite food of the trip. I am hoping to visit Colombia again soon, and will definitely add on another adventure in the Los Llanos with Wild Llanos as part of that trip! Maybe during the wet season, and maybe with a bit of mountain biking thrown in!" Roland Kilcher, United States, March 2019
"FAVOURITE Experience and Tour Company!
As a family with two children (3 and 6 years old) we experienced the highlight of our two-month trip to Colombia with Wild Llanos. Individual design of the tours, relaxed, personal, incredibly accommodating and nice - to name just a few of the advantages when traveling with Wild Llanos. Not to mention the area! If you really want to experience Colombia and share time with the local people, then you have to go visit this place. We wish there were more than only 5 stars, we and our little girls would have liked to have given 10. We will be back!" Kerstin Dornauer, Germany, February 2020
"The Highlight of our entire Colombia Trip
In early March 2020, we spent three days on the road with Wild Llanos. The advance contact by email was nice already. Based on our interests we were recommended the Llanos Wildlife Tour of 3 days and it was absolutely PERFECT! Everything was very well organized from start to finish.
Because we speak little Spanish, we were accompanied by someone from Wild Llanos throughout; Julia speaks fluent English and Spanish, which enabled us to communicate well with the locals. In addition she is attentive and extra fun! We spent two nights at Hato Altamira, where we were the only tourists! The family is very hospitable, runs around all day with juices / water and cooks delicious! The program was discussed with us every day and we could also indicate what we wanted to do. It was a lot of fun to go on safari with the special jeep, and the walks were great too! We also really appreciated the 'siestas' in the hammocks. It was wonderful to be 'in the middle of nowhere' for a few days and enjoy the quiet surroundings. Of course we arrived hoping to spot some wild animals ... maybe some capybaras? But the experience was beyond our expectations ... We saw hundreds of capybaras, as well as caimans, so many beautiful birds, an anteater, a boa, deer, wild boar and ... a PUMA! This really was the highlight! The experience will stay with us forever. We look back with great pleasure and the tour with Wild Llanos was definitely the highlight of our 3-week trip through Colombia! Highly recommended! Julia and team, thanks again for your good care and the wonderful days!" Floor Ebbers, Netherlands, March 2020
"Absolutely Amazing Wildlife Adventure
We wanted to do something a bit different to the standard tourist destinations. We are really interested in wildlife and so wanted to encompass some of that in our trip. A google search yielded Wild Llanos ran by Andres + Julia. Julia gave us a brochure after registering our interest and we were sold!
Julia was excellent over email correspondence, and able to suggest which tour was most suitable for our needs, and advising on appropriate things to bring with us. We went on the 4 night Llanos Highlights Tour- and it was such a great time. Logistics were easy- Andres picked us up from Yopal Airport which was easy to get to from Bogota, even for people who speak only a few words of Spanish. Andres was a fantastic guide- and able to show us his home country with great knowledge of all the wildlife, culture and history. We stayed a two different lodgings during the tour- both of them traditional Colombian type places; with great home cooked local food- we were never hungry with the continuous helpings of fruit, plantain, rice and meats. The hosts of these places were both very friendly and accomodating. Julia picked us up from the first nights stay outside Yopal and drove us to the ranch where we had an amazing morning horse riding. Even for myself who has never ridden, it was great. Andres got us to lassoo and saddle our horses which was a great experience. The horse trek took us through fields, forests, streams and swamps. Great stuff! The horses were well looked after and in good condition. We then went onwards deeper into the Llanos. Over the next three days we went to several nature reserves; in the safari pick up truck Andres uses. He was always able to spot and pick out the multitude of birds and other wildlife. We were taken in a canoe in a caymen infested lake, watched capybaras up close, saw foxes, tortoises, and so many birds I cannot mention them all. We are not great birdwatchers; but it is truly a bird haven. We were taken to a working ranch museum ran by the inimitable Seco for the day- A true Llanerno rancher- who even swam across the swollen river in his farm with his horse to show us the old ways! He joined us on a safari tour the next day to help find animals and even got stuck in trying to track down an anaconda. There was plenty of time to wind down and relax in the heat of the day in a hammock wherever we were; and Andres even managed to rustle up a few beers to enjoy along the way. We always felt looked after and never unsafe. We will never forget the time we had in Los Llanos, green grasslands, with the big skies, great wildlife- which we observed at close quarters but never felt exploitative. We have no hesitation in recommending Julia + Andres as tour guides through their beautiful country." Tom Naylor, United Kingdom, May 2019
"Awesome!
We had originally booked 3 nights and then ended up adding another one because everything was so great. The people at our lodge were so warm and really did their best! The excursions were great, we saw so much wildlife, it was awesome! The guides have eagle eyes and track down every animal. The food was outstanding, even for me as a veggie no problem at all. Saying goodbye was not easy and we really had to blink away a few tears. Thank you for everything, we will keep this wonderful trip in our hearts :-)" Ursi Schilliger, Switzerland, November 2019
"Superb Safari to discover a wide variety of fauna
A superb tour day, which Julia had organized so well. Everything was perfect, we saw a lot of wildlife: turtles, capybaras, caimans, iguanas, deer, and a multitude of birds including the giant Jabirus. The midday break was also superb: well seated around a table under large trees and right in front of the lagoon where we could observe all the fauna (it reminded us of Namibia). The food was delicious. The afternoon was just as rich and ended at a nesting area with hundreds of birds ... And finally a cold beer! This tour company is a must to discover the llanos. Julia is a charming person who knows the region and the local fauna very well. Everything was perfect from start to finish. An agency to recommend to all nature lovers ... Unforgettable experience. For wildlife enthusiasts this type of safari is ideal!" Christian Goubier, France, May 2019
"Trip of a Lifetime - the ultimate horse trekking safari
Our adventure with Wild Llanos was simply epic. A short review could never do justice to the experience we had - the trip of a lifetime. Julia was simply a pleasure. A wonderful host, guide and great planner. The whole safari on horseback - our honeymoon - was planned to the smallest detail, with super accommodation, personal chef and thereby amazing food, and of course the ultimate local guide and cowboy, Seco. Our sights of endless birds, capybaras, electric eels, wild horses, anteater, deer, and not to mention a puma stunned us and have given us memories we will never forget. We give our highest recommendation to make the trip to Los Llanos and let yourself be taken on the most exciting and memorable experience of a lifetime by Julia and her crew." Hans and Nina Ebbensgaard Murillo, Denmark, December 2019
"Wonderful - Off the Beaten Track
Los llanos turned out to be the highlight of our trip. Julia was both charming and knowledgeable and showed us some amazing sights which will stay with us for ever: a horseback safari that culminated in the sight of a giant anteater with its newborn clinging to it, a canoe safari at dusk with scarlet ibis' coming into roost and a stroll to the Virgen del a Pena, followed by a refreshing swim in the Cravo Sur river. Julia is a wonderful and insightful guide building up a business with local ranchers that looks to capitalise on the diverse and rich ecosystems of Casanare." Charles McMicking, United Kingdom, March 2020
"IN AWE of how beautiful the savannah looks
First time on a horse and it was truly magical! The place, the people and the animals gave me an experience I will for sure never forget. Being in awe is how I would describe my time there. After one month in Colombia and 6 months backpacking all over the world this tour is still one of my favourite moments of the whole experience. Everyone involved in organising is professional and really passionate about what they do. I love it when people go out of their way to help you experience their favourite part of the world. To the hosts at our homestay, who cooked amazing food, to the guides and to Julia and Andres who showed us the beautiful savannah I want to send a thank you from my heart!" Simina Niculae, Romania, December 2019
"Awesome Wildlife and Horseback Riding Experience!
This is a quality tour, that allows you to experience the wildlife in Colombia. Andres & Julia were amazing hosts filled with knowledge about their area. They have an interesting and beautiful spot next to the jungle and the ride was unique where we searched for animals. The horses we rode were well cared for and well trained, allowing us to view monkeys, burrowing owls, anteater, capybaras, deer, porcupine, anaconda, red howlers, tortoises as well as tons of birds. Andres was filled with knowledge about all of the wildlife we saw and spoke both Spanish and English. The meals we had were delicious, and the accommodation they provided was excellent. I have my own tourism business with horseback riding tours and this excursion fulfilled all of my expectations for what I wanted to experience in Colombia. Highly recommend."
Kathy Buttigieg, Canada, March 2021
"Incredible trip!
My husband and I really wanted to visit los llanos, but weren’t sure what to do, or where to start with planning a trip there. We found Wild Llanos Tours through tripadvisor and checked out their website and were very excited by the tours they offered. We were not disappointed at all! I have lived in Colombia for 4 years, and I can honestly say that wild llanos tours is one of the best trips I have done in the country! We did the 4 days 3 night trip and each day was spectacular. We saw so much wildlife with hardly any other people around. My personal highlight was the horse riding at finca la independencia (horse riding through fields and jungle with Andres the owner of the company) and meeting Seco, a former llano competition winner, and just an incredibly interesting and lovely person. We also loved our stay in el diamante house after the safari. We were woken with howler monkeys and took a morning stroll through the grounds of the house to see monkeys and we even saw a giant anteater there. Our driver Alvaro was also fantastic! This really was an experience we will never forget and we want to thank Andres and his family for this wonderful trip."
Lucie Jones, UK/Colombia, March 2021
"Top Notch Service
To photograph wildlife at a place that takes two days to drive back and forth to from Bogota, I don't want to start my day searching where to drive to find my photographic subjects. I wrote to Wild Llanos and pestered them with all sorts of questions, changed travel plans twice, and always had a great response. They prepared an itinerary so we could visit different places, see a broad range of wildlife and even payed attention to some minor preferences comments I had made weeks before the trip.
We had a great driver and very good guides, but what made the trip special was that all bookings had been done paying attention to every detail. What a pleasure it was to enjoy a trip without hearing: "Ay que pena con ustedes, pero ..." Thank you very much ! I can´t but highly recommend this operation." Peter Rockstroh, Germany/Colombia, March 2021
"Great organisation, knowledgable guiding - we felt so very welcome
Andres is like an encyclopedia - extremely knowledgeable about the area, the topography and most of all the local flora and fauna. We had a wonderful tour spotting birds and monkeys and we loved riding in the river. On top of all we got a real cowboy and cowgirl experience moving cattle from one area to another. The trip ended with a gallop across the fields – a milestone experience for my partner who had his first proper day in the saddle ever, and the riding was followed by a lovely lunch. We felt so very welcome at this friendly family run farm; every need cared for, every experience safe and with a personal touch; the home made lemonade, the fresh pastry, the home made lunch, the hammocks in the shade and the hats to keep us cool. We truly hope we will be able to come back and visit again."
Siri Ingul, Norway, September 2020
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