Cowboys and Wildlife Horseback Tour
overviewThis itinerary will have you lasso horses, round up cattle and ride among large groups of capybaras, crossing dark palm groves, river streams and lush pastures, stalking monkeys and anteaters, all before the dramatic backdrops of the Andes and the infinite Eastern plains. On riding excursions in two different areas you will be able to observe capybaras, howlers, caimans, herons, ibises, burrowing owls and keep your eyes peeled for anteaters and porcupines as well as learn about and experience the Llanos' cowboy lifestyle and diverse ecosystems. Possible wildlife sightings: Burrowing owls, giant anteater, southern tamandua (small anteater), capybaras, white-tailed deer, armadillos, puma (rare), jaguarundis, porcupine, anaconda, red howlers, capuchins, 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, horned screamers, turtles, iguanas, roseate spoonbills, Orinoco geese, and more. tour factsDuration: 2 days / 2 nights
Departure: Daily (private tour) Availability: Year round Location and sceneries: Two farms near Yopal, 2 hours' drive maximum, encompassing gallery forests, rivers, waterholes, savannas and palm groves.
Tour includes: Transport and transfers, accommodation (2 nights), entrance to reserves and farms, tours as outlined, horse hire, guide, meals as outlined, insurance. Not included: Flights, Extra accommodation, extra meals and beverages, laundry, phone calls, personal purchases, IVA (only applies to residents in Colombia) |
itinerary briefDay 1 Morning arrival, welcome at Yopal airport & transfer to Hacienda La Independencia (25 mins drive). Here we lasso our horses for a ride into gallery forests and flooded forests to look for monkeys and birds. At the farmhouse a hearty lunch awaits followed by a siesta in the hammock. In the afternoon we gear up our horses again for a ride into the savannas to round up cattle and work the herd. We will also visit a colony of burrowing owls and keep our eyes peeled for deer and anteaters - before settling in a chair with an ice-cold beer to watch the sun set behind the distant Andes mountains, as ibises and parrots criss-cross the busy evening sky. Transfer to hotel Villa Lisseth (15 mins) incl. lunch & dinner Day 2 In the morning we drive for approximately 2 hours to a ranch and natural reserve northeast of Yopal, where we set out for an extensive horseback ride along a slow moving river and into the savannas, riding along groups of capybaras and looking for howler monkeys, colorful birds and caimans lurking along banks. After lunch break and a recharging coffee we can either opt for a ride into the savanna to enjoy the golden hour or for a walk and a paddle canoe tour across the water to watch the sunset and the hundreds of egrets come in to roost. Return to Yopal after dark incl. breakfast, lunch, dinner Departure Day Breakfast incl. & airport transfer LodgingCasa Cumbres • 15 mins drive from Yopal Airport, surrounded by nature • Four spacious bedrooms with A/C • Pool and terrace, hammocks, loungers, garden • Bar & laundry service available • Free WiFi |
"Perfect! Can't wait to go back.
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