Classic Wildlife Safari 4x4
​across the reserves of San Luis

​We traverse a hato, an extensive cattle farm of savannas dotted with lagoons and streams that are declared nature reserves. This is the ideal tour for a photo safari. Large groups of capybaras, spectacled caimans, deer and wild pigs as well as Llanos birdlife and red-footed tortoises make for great photo opportunities. Throw in ranch life, cattle herds, wild horses, beautiful sunsets and fishing piranhas for an unforgettable day out in Colombia's plains. There is even a chance to sight anteaters, the anaconda and armadillos and a very slight chance to spot felines such as jaguarundis or the puma.
Duration: The hatos of San Luis can be visited on a day tour starting around 7:30 am from Yopal and returning at around  8 pm. This day tour is also part of the Llanos Wildlife Tour (3 days).
Location and sceneries: Situated a smooth 1.5 hours drive northeast east of Yopal well out in the flatlands with distant views of the Eastern Andes on clear days, the nature reserves of San Luis are your easiest option spot some of the Llanos most exotic wildlife. Over 4000ha of native savanna, dry and wet savanna, lagoons and streams are home to large numbers of capybaras and other exciting wildlife.
Possible wildlife sightings: Armadillos, burrowing owls, capybaras, great horned owls, giant anteater, southern tamandua (small anteater), 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 and white-tailed hawks, falcons, parakeets, cardinals, macaws, swallows, flycatchers including fork-tailed flycatchers and vermillion flycatchers, yellow-crowned parrots, various woodpeckers and wood creepers, wood storks, jabirus, various hummingbirds, the jaguar, agoutis, wild pigs, white-tailed deer, foxes, spectacled caimans, red-footed tortoises, hoatzins, turtles, boas such as their biggest family member, the anaconda, ocelots, pumas, iguanas, Orinoco geese, roseate spoonbills, piranhas and many more. ​
Highlights and activities 
  • ​Ride on the back of a pick-up truck for a photo safari
  • Get close to hundreds of capybaras including their offspring
  • Sight wildlife that has become rare in other parts of the Llanos from a small distance: white-tailed deer, swarms of scarlet ibises, roseate spoonbills, red-footed tortoises, spectacled caimans, pumas, ocelots and armadillos to name a few.
  • Fish your own piranhas for lunch - delish!
  • Enjoy a typical lunch at the farm house and meet the Llaneros that work here
  • Set out on walks along lagoons and into savanna forests to discover wildlife and birds with your local guide
  • Enjoy the sun's setting in the open savannah with the Andes in the distance and an ice-cold beer in hand

At an additional cost we can arrange for horse rides across the wetlands and bike tours on the savannas' dirt treks - think riding with hundreds of capybaras and deer! Horseback or tractor rides are also recommended to reach "El Garcero", a fascinating but difficult to access nesting place of hundreds of herons and spoonbills (June to September).
Tour includes: Transport from/to Yopal and across the farms (4x4), entrance to two nature reserves, local Spanish speaking guide (a bilingual guide can be booked at an extra cost), drinking water, lunch, insurance. 
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