About this tour
The wild and magical colombian llanos.
Embark on a journey along the historic cattle trail of Almeida’s province, just outside Bogotá, and immerse yourself in the diverse tapestry of climates and landscapes that define Colombia. Over the course of five days, traverse a spectrum of environments, from the crisp mountain air of Bogotá’s lofty peaks at 2,800 meters above sea level to the sun-drenched plains of Casanare, nestled at a mere 300 meters above sea level. Descend along the cobblestone path of the Royal Road, winding through verdant midlands and lush tropical forests, until you reach the breathtaking expanse of the eastern plains—the renowned Llanos Orientales—teeming with majestic wildlife, awe-inspiring vistas and a unique culture intertwined with cattle ranching and horsemanship.
Description
- Place: From Machetá (Cundinamarca) to Yopal (Casanare), Colombia
- Horse riding vacations, 8 days / 7 nights – 5 days of horseback riding, the last day including cattle work and wildlife observation in a large ranch – Hato- in Llanos). Also available in an extended version, 9 days / 8 nights – 6 days of horseback riding
- Meeting: Bogotá
- Airport: Bogotá
- Weather: Moderate to Warm
- Group: Min 4 / Max 8
- Also available for small (2-3 riders) groups, with supplement
- Price: From USD 2.800 (5 days of horseback riding) and from USD 3.300 (6 days of horseback riding)
- Single supplement: USD 40 per night
- Age: Min 12 / Max 70
- Difficulty: For advanced riders
- Departure dates: See Calendar https://acaballoporcolombia.co/events/
- Rainy Season: April – August, October – November
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bogotá, ground transportation to Machetá
After collecting all riders in Bogotá, we will drive to Machetá, a town located one hour and a half from Bogotá, where we will spend the night at a nice small hotel with a relaxing pool of thermal water . The drive will be besides the old -Camino Real- (Royal Road made of cobbled Stone by indians and slaves during the spaniard colonial period) used for hundreds of years to comunícate the highlands with the Casanare llanos. This road was used to bring cattle on foot from the plains of Casanare to Sisga until the midlle of the 20th century, in a 2 weeks walk. The trip was so hard for the animals that they had to put on their feet a kind of shoes -cachangas- made of fique – a vegetable fiber – so they could finish.
The mountains are astonishing and the change of vegetation and climate almost every hour is very special.
Day 2: Machetá – Chivor
After a short visit to a coffee plantation besides the hotel, will continue descending to Tenza valley following the Camino Real, with a spectacular view of the mountains and the towns of Guateque, Somondoco, Guayatá and Almeida, a region well known for emeralds mines.
Lunch will be at a local´s house in the countryside, traditional homestyle food and in the afternoon after washing the horses in the Somondoco river, will get to a nice hotel besides Chivor dam where we can enjoy the pool.
Day 3: Chivor – Sabanalarga
We will cross the 15 tunnels besides Chivor dam by car (horses in a truck) enjoying a beautiful view of the dam and surroundings and mount again to take and old trail through tropical forest, used in the past by guerrillas and paramilitary to avoid main roads. Will enjoy lunch at a local´s house, with very interesting stories to hear about the violent past times. In the afternoon we will cross the Upia river on horseback and arrive in a farm to have a delicious local meal (ternera a la llanera) and a concert of typical music played by local musicians.
Day 4: Sabanalarga – Monterrey
We will head to Monterrey through a beautiful valley and have lunch besides a river with a natural pool, sometimes can be very hot in this point at noon. In the afternoon will cross the hills that separated us from the huge oriental grasslands that go deep into Venezuela (around 400.000 km2) and have one of the most wonderful views of the trip from this hills, to arrive in the afternoon to a comfortable hotel with a wonderful pool.
Day 5: Monterrey – Tauramena
We will ride through the open Sabanas of Casanare leaving behind the mountains we crossed the previous days, with a faster pace and will start observing the llanos wildlife and vegetation, to arrive in the evening to a large ranch (hato) where we will spend the night and will have the opportunity to practice sleeping in hammock as we learned on day 3!
Day 6: Tauramena
We will wake up early to enjoy a magnificient llanos sunrise, have breakfat and ride along with llaneros in their cattle work routine, observing during the ride different species of birds and wildlife (Ant bears, deer, wild pigs, chiguiros, caimans). After this unique experience will stay another night in the hato and enjoy a show of typical dance in the evening.
Day 7: Tauramena – Yopal – Bogotá
We will head from the hato to Yopal in the morning to visit local tack shops and chinchorrro manufacturing workshops, will have a goodby lunch at a famous local restaurant and return from Yopal to Bogota in the afternoon by plane (dinner not included).
Day 8: Bogotá Transfer Hotel / Airport.
End of this great adventure.
Included
Transfers IN/OUT
1 night of accommodation in a Hotel in Bogotá (Day 7 – double rooms)
Transfer from Bogotá to the start point of the activity
Return by plane on day 7 from Yopal to Bogotá
Professional guide (Spanish –English)
Horses with saddles. Spare horses and saddlebags https://acaballoporcolombia.co/horses/
All meals and drinks during the riding program (lunch box or homestyle meals at local´s houses and dinner in hotels/lodges)
During the ride 4 nights of accommodations in hotels (days 1, 2, 4, in double rooms), 3 nights in hammock in farms in Casanare (Days 3,5,6)
First Aid Kit
Accident Insurance – Includes Covid assistance
Satellite tracker monitored by an assistance company
4×4 Support vehicle wth first aid profesional guide in permanent contact via satellite tracker and 2 way radios with the ride guides and the assistance company
Transport of luggage in private vehicles (1 suitcase per person)
Not Included
X – Alcoholic Beverages. Wine and spirits available on previous request.