What to expect
This adventure takes you to the department of Casanare and to magical places where you can discover the beauty of the other half of Colombia: immersed in nature, you’ll embark on a 4-day, 3-night journey through the plains, exploring various natural and diverse areas within the El Encanto de Guanapalo Nature Reserve, located 2 hours from Yopal, the department’s capital and gateway to the plains region.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Yopal – El Encanto de Guanapalo Natural Reserve – Horseback Safari
Meet and greet at Yopal Airport and transfer by private vehicle to the Reserve (approx. 2 hours). Passengers must arrive before noon to ensure they can complete the itinerary and activities.
Entry to El Encanto de Guanapalo Reserve; it is always recommended to enter during the day, as from the entrance you may encounter herds of deer, peccaries, capybaras, and a wide variety of birds—a taste of what you will enjoy over the next 4 days. Upon arrival, we will welcome you with a light snack, and you will meet your local guide, who will share with you the history of the ranches, how they came together, and how they formed the “El Encanto de Guanapalo Nature Reserve.”
10:00 AM: You’ll embark on your first experience: a guided hike along ecological trails where you’ll explore the ranch’s surroundings and enjoy the magical landscapes and the rich flora and fauna of the Nature Reserve.
12:00 PM: Back at the ranch, you’ll enjoy a delicious Creole lunch, followed by some downtime relaxing in a hammock under a mango or cruceto tree.
3:00 PM: You’ll set out on your first Llanero Safari on horseback through the floodplains—a 3- to 5-hour ride where you’ll spot the abundant biodiversity in our Nature Reserve, including birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish in their natural habitat. Along the way, you’ll share a traditional Llanero snack.
6:00 p.m.: On your way back to the Hato, you’ll be able to enjoy a stunning plains sunset with its
dazzling colors.
7:00 p.m.: You’ll enjoy a delicious outdoor dinner overlooking the ravine, and then retire to your
rooms.
DAY 2: Curiara Boat Ride and 4×4 Safari
7:00 a.m.: Delicious traditional plains-style breakfast featuring hayaca, torrejas, and preparada.
9:00 AM: You’ll set out on a curiara (a type of canoe) ride through the reserve’s ravines (winter season: May to November), where you’ll enjoy the calm waters and the sound of birds accompanying you. You’ll have the chance to try your hand at traditional fishing and learn about this practice used by the people of the plains to catch fish for their livelihood.
11:00 AM: You’ll receive a snack of preparada to refresh yourselves and take a short break.
1:00 PM: You’ll enjoy a traditional Creole lunch outdoors in the shade of a tree, after which you can rest in the hammock area of the Hato house.
3:00 PM: After a brief rest, we’ll head out to visit the other two ranches that make up the Nature Reserve, on 4×4 tours that will let you appreciate the landscapes and be amazed by the wildlife you may encounter along the way.
5:00 p.m.: You’ll enjoy a beautiful sunset in the middle of the savanna with a delicious snack before returning to the ranch.
7:00 PM: You will enjoy an outdoor dinner accompanied by our local guides and their traditional Night of Myths, Omens, and Legends. By the warmth of a bonfire and torches, you will listen to the cowboys tell stories from the region’s oral tradition, ccompanied by the typical sounds of the plains.
8:30 PM: You will retire to your rooms at the Hato.
DAY 3: Craft Workshop and Second Horseback Safari
7:00 a.m.: Upon waking up, you’ll enjoy a delicious traditional plains-style breakfast.
9:00 AM: You’ll have a relaxing morning with a crafts workshop to see how local cowboys use natural resources to create useful items for typical plains work. A local cowboy will teach you how to make a halter, stirrup, or whip from horsehair or leather, just like the ones used on horse tack.
1:00 PM: You’ll enjoy a delicious Creole lunch.
3:00 PM: You’ll set out on a new horseback journey to the Galapagos Heron Colony, where more than 15 species of herons nest, including corocoras, little egrets, and spoonbills, among others. Along the way, you will also encounter birds such as the Orinoco goose, ducks, soldier herons, and curlews.
5:00 PM: You will enjoy a beautiful sunset in the middle of the savanna with a delicious snack before returning to the ranch.
7:00 p.m. – You’ll enjoy a delicious outdoor dinner and rest in your rooms.
DAY 4: El Encanto de Guanapalo Natural Reserve – Regreso
8:00 AM: You will enjoy a delicious traditional plains-style breakfast.
9:00 AM – You will enjoy a morning of relaxation, rest, and contemplation of the landscape, listening to the sounds of nature.
11:00 AM – You will check out, and El Encanto de Guanapalo will bid you farewell with a snack and a packed lunch. Transfer by private vehicle to Yopal Airport.
The end of the experience, the beginning of the memories.
What’s included?
- On-site ground transportation in a 4×4 vehicle throughout the tour.
- Accommodations: 3 nights at the El Encanto de Guanapalo Nature Reserve in a traditional ranch-style lodge, with single, double, triple, or multi-person rooms featuring private bathrooms.
- Full board from lunch on the first day through breakfast on the last day.
- Snacks during the tours.
- Specialized local guide.
- Activities described in the itinerary.
- Entrance fees to the reserves and sites mentioned.
- Rental of rubber boots (winter and rainy season).
- Medical assistance insurance.
What’s not included?
- Air transportation: Bogotá – Yopal – Bogotá.
- Activities not described in the itinerary.
- Accommodations: additional nights at the destination.
- Bilingual English-speaking guide.
- Personal expenses and gratuities.
- Services not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Consumption of beverages, alcoholic drinks, or food not
specified.
For additional activities and supplementary information, please consult the attached document.
View your full itinerary here
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