Frequently Asked Questions

The Llanos have a notorious image across some travel guide books, and hence, aren't even mentioned in most. However, bear in mind that the "Llanos", the flatlands, cover about a third of Colombia and cannot be generalized. Safety issues relate especially to some mountainous areas in the northern Llanos close to the Venezuelan border as well as to the jungles in the south towards the Amazonas, they do not affect the department of Casanare or the areas we are operating in.

The capital of Yopal is a relaxed city of about 150,000 habitants with a small town feel and the city and surroundings are safe as is road travel to get here from Villavicencio and Tunja/Sogamoso.

Our tours and treks only lead into safe areas. Please feel free to chat to us if you have any particular questions.

Yopal is an all year round destination. The average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius and every season has its vantages.
The months April/May to September bring regular showers – nature is in full bloom and lush green! This is the time when the prairies and forests look like a fairytale at night, dotted with trillions of fireflies. The savannas partly turn into wetlands with stunning mirror lagoons reflecting cloud formations, and the rivers are navigable by boat. Wet season is also breeding season for many species including herons, tortoises and spoonbills. There is the opportunity to visit the birds’ nesting colonies – and watch the spectacled caimans lurk in the water below the chicks’ nest.

October and November are wonderful months with nature still lush, fireflies at night and somewhat moderate temperatures.

The months December to March/April are the hottest, sunniest and driest, perfect for swimming in the now clear and less torrential rivers, and ideal to spot huge quantities of birds, now concentrated around the remaining sources of water. If you are into birding then horned screamers, scarlet ibises, woodstorcks, jabirus and chicks of thick-knees and burrowing owls will amaze you. The dry savannas also increasingly attract termite nest loving anteaters. The anaconda has a smaller refuge with water getting scarce, so there is a high chance of finding her, too. Many trees blossom in the brightest colours – yellow and purple!

A yellow fever shot is highly recommended for the Llanos and any tropical region in South America.

Malaria is not an issue and prophylaxis for malaria is not required or necessary. As a general measure to prevent any tropical fevers we recommend to cover up at all times when traveling throughout los Llanos.

We have criollo horses for any level of riding experience – from calm to feistier. Please make us aware of your experience, so we can find you a horse that matches. We may also ask for your weight/height measures to help match the horse. It helps to feel comfortable on horseback as we’ll typically be crossing streams and lagoons as well as muddy terrain – all of which the horses master reliably and with confidence.

Our services:
- Airport welcome & transfers (bilingual available)
- Accommodation in Yopal, in the rural surroundings of Yopal and across Casanare near or inside natural reserves
- Transport with driver
- Tours and activities, e.g. wildlife observation tours, hikes, horse treks and bicycle tours, incl. refreshments, drinking water, insurance, guide, entrance fees to private treks/reserves/farms, transport from/to Yopal - (full day tours include lunch, too)
- Bilingual tour guiding in English and German
- Special occasions / events / meals / tours: cultural shows, romantic dinner in the plains, lunches, picnics, city tour, corporate tours, group travel, honeymoon, anniversary, team building ... you name it, we make it
- Flight tickets upon request

If you are in Yopal for more than a day, you may like to book a package including accommodation, meals, activities and airport transfers. A package will take the hustle out of planning your vacation and guarantee high quality accommodation, authentic food and good service as well as us being your bilingual point of contact throughout your stay. If language isn't a problem and/or you are not too fussed with the aforementioned benefits, then you can also just book day tours (or half day tours) while organizing accommodation and other services yourself. ​This can be particularly useful if you are traveling on a budget.

While we aim at offering fair prices by optimizing distances of travel, times of travel and other factors, we do not price at the expense of quality and safety.

• All transport vehicles are officially operating "white" cars with public service licenses and trained drivers - all are 4x4 pick-ups to master any terrain and provide enough space for luggage. They are clean, modern and comfortable with air-conditioning.
• We have personally tested and refined the tours, itineraries, items, places, facilities, horses, boats, cars, guides etc. - this takes time and is part of the work we do and ensures the quality we offer.
• Service providers, such as drivers, chefs, guides and artists, are contracted - they either set their own price or are paid above average. We refrain from price dumping, as we feel everyone should benefit fairly and equally from tourism and also that the income affects morale and motivation - both of which are paramount to have an excellent experience. After all, we are not paying people to handle goods but to serve humans during their most precious time: their vacation!
• Most of our tours include several services that we feel support the quality of the experience and also benefit the goals of a social enterprise - for example will we include refillable and reusable water bottles (which you can take with you afterwards) to avoid plastic waste, we include little souvenirs such as a pack of coffee from our coffee finca hike to support the farmers and because it's a nice take-away, drinks at local tiendas and snacks may also be included and much more.
• We revise, evaluate and update our business practice and tour guiding practice constantly, so it complies with the law, the Colombian tourism norms and our own set of quality and safety requirements. For this we visit workshops, fairs and are part of associations such as ACOTUR.
• All tours come with an obligatory outdoor insurance in case of accident or illness.
• Most of our tours are tailor-made. We invest time and research to send you a personalized itinerary for your specific needs.
• We do not rush, we do not fuss, we do not skimp, we go the extra mile - because it's your holiday and it should be special!

We believe by offering high quality services we can best serve our guests, our partners, our employees, our local communities and the environment. Learn more about traveling with us.  

We will kindly ask for a deposit of 30% of the total price. You can pay online by credit card. Otherwise please let us know your country of residence (or where you are holding an account) and we may be able to advise on alternatives. The remaining amount (70%) typically is due 6 weeks before the start of your tour. Terms and conditions apply.