Hato El Boral, a working cattle ranch in Colombia's Eastern plains, is a surreal place in the heart of the savannas that has just opened its doors to magic seeking adventurers, nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. The 3000-hectare hacienda is home to exotic bird species, hundreds of capybaras, white-tailed deer, felines, anacondas, caimans, porcupines, anteaters and howlers, which inhabit the extensive savannas, savanna forests, wetlands and lagoons of El Boral. 

Rural guesthouse Posada El Diamante is a retreat for both human visitors and animal visitors. Located just outside the village of San Luis de Palenque, an area of pristine beauty, and about two and a half hours from Yopal it is the ideal base for a couple of days to discover the Llanos' wildlife, culture and sceneries on excursions into the surroundings. Wildlife frequents the property's pastures, orchards, gardens, forest and river beach and makes it a haven for nature lovers and birdwatchers looking for peace and tranquility - and the most amazing starlit sky at night!

The term "Colombian Safari" was first coined at Hato La Aurora, Colombia's biggest privately owned natural reserve and Casanare's pioneering tourism project. Juan Solito lodge caters for visitors on-site and willy jeeps and horses ensure one gets even to the remotest corners inside this 18,000 hectare reserve and catches a glimpse of some seriously stunning and impressive wildlife including anacondas, capybaras, scarlet ibises, deer, wild boars, ocelots and many more - a true adventure and a good one if planned right. Here are 5 reasons why it can be beneficial to book a trip though us rather than venture out on your own or wondering how to get to La Aurora.

​

Casanare and its villages - We look at the department's five most charming little towns

Back in time - Colombia's villages are wonderfully delightful and nostalgic. While the Llanos' main attractions are cowboys and wildlife, they still have a few lovely villages to offer visitors. Mules parked outside the 'panadería', loaded with sacks of coffee, grains or bananas, vaqueros passing through on horses or on motorbikes, elderly villagers leaning on their cane, watching the world go by and smiling at strangers toothlessly, lovingly painted window shutters and walls and neat flower beds and banana plants and papaya trees towering from patios and front yards, pebbled streets and the main square with a church, where surely a bench or two invite to have a seat and watch the villagers go about their daily lives - that's a classic when traveling Colombia and must not be missing in the Llanos either.

On a trip around Colombia you want to see as much of its natural treasures as possible. You are spoilt with choices in a country that tops the diversity hit lists on all levels: people, wildlife, birds, ecosystems, culture. Where to begin? Well, that's up to you. All we say is that technically you can reach a place where you'll see hundreds of capybaras, caimans, deer, exotic birds and even more exotic fauna such as anacondas and pumas in their natural habitat within ONE DAY from Bogotá. A no-brainer if you are looking to organize a jam-packed itinerary across the country. Beware though, this isn't your usual tourist hotspot - it's an off-beat adventure to remember!

​Intrigued? Read on.

Rugged and lush mountain ranges, wild rivers, waterfalls, lofty villages with great views and some fine hiking trails: the Andean foothills are a mystical world of its own. Temperatures are more moderate than in the plains, enabling the cultivation of those rich Arabica beans Colombia is famous for. For a day we rolled up our sleeves and lent a hand to a local coffee farming family, as they were short on workers. (The perfect excuse for us to try our hand at bean picking) 
​