Wild Llanos Tours and Safaris

10/09/2024

Birds are the real stars on any of our tours. Many visitors come for the mammals and reptiles. And it is hard not to be amazed by the birds, too.

Cute owls, noisy ibises and chachalacas, cheeky toucans and parrots, graceful hawks, colorful herons, mighty vultures, hulking storks, frolicking rails, sandpipers, plovers and jacanas, pretty sunbitterns, the song of meadowlarks, cockoos, wrens, antshrikes and thrushes, the elegant and skillful hunting by jacamars, flycatchers, black skimmers, anhingas and kingfishers, the spectacular leks of manakins, the sudden appearance of a speedy train of crested bobwhites on a savanna trail or that of the elusive crestless curassow on a clearing, the mysterious potoos and nightjars, and don't even get us started on the hummingbirds... Frankly, we could go on forever. (Which ones are your favorites?)

Even non-birders will appreciate the large numbers, colors and displays of some of the Llanos' birds.

For now, we will leave you with this shot of a mixed flock of scarlet ibises, white ibises and bare-faced ibises return to their roost at sunset.

Drop a ❤️ In the comments if you like birds! Drop two, if you are ❤️❤️

Photo:

09/09/2024

Potoo (Nyctibius griseus), a nocturnal insectivore that hunts from a perch. During the day it perches upright on a tree stump, and appears nearly invisible, looking like part of the stump because it stays so completely still, hence its local names: bienparado (upright) or perezoso (lazy). At night their melancholic song sounds a bit like "poor-me-meee" (one of its English nicknames is 'poor-me')

Photo by - thank you!

07/09/2024

Crab-eating fox or maikong patiently posing a few meters from us.

These close relatives of coyotes, jackals and other wild dogs become surprisingly relaxed around humans when treated respectfully over a period of time. This one even had her pups in a tool shed on the farm and nature reserve once.

Photo by our client

05/09/2024

***** The best experience

We are now back in the UK and I can 100% state that our time with Wild Llanos was the highlight of our 17 days in Colombia.
If you adore admiring authenitic and abundant wildlife and farming then this is for you...
If you adore getting off the tourist trail and seeing Colombia in its raw and uncontaminated state then this is for you..
In a country where there seems to be no acknowledgment of 'green policy' or credentials, the Llanos is also being challenged with rice farming, but not to the degree of other areas we saw in Colombia and the farms we stayed on were the 'real thing'
Andres was the perfect informed and good-natured guide and it would be a challenge to list all the birds, mammals and reptiles we were fortunate to see.

Written August 11, 2024
Victoria E
Gloucestershire, UK
Thanks so much, Victoria! It was a joy touring with you around Casanare!

04/09/2024

Just popping in to say 'hi' is Just popping in to say 'hi' is this Amazon whipsnake, ''Chironius carinatus'', a very large, but slender colubrid snake of up to 3m. It is a nonvenomous snake, also distinguished by its pacifistic nature.

Locally common in Los Llanos, it primarily feeds on amphibians. We love that pop of color! 💛

02/09/2024

A client once asked Wild Llanos co-founder Andrés if he was wearing special "animal spotting glasses". Yes, we confirm. He skillfully scans the savannas for giant anteaters and the tree tops for prehensile porcupines. And sometimes there is just something right in front of our nose, like this red-footed tortoise that needs to be relocated safely off the jeep tracks.

We will tell you a little more about our team and their super powers in the next days. ☆

29/08/2024

"Will we see felines on our tour?" is a recurring question from our clients and we always answer any such questions with utmost honesty: "Probably not."

While we see scratch marks, footprints, faeces, half-eaten prey during our tours, only a few handful of our clients have been lucky to spot a puma and even fewer a jaguar or ocelot.

Los Llanos in Colombia pride themselves with populations of said felines, however, our signature species that can be observed much more easily here are giant anteaters and green anacondas (February and March is the best time for the latter). Other cool species include southern tamandua, capybara, red-tailed boa, jabirus, black agoutis, scarlet ibises, various primates, oppossums and porcupines.

Having said this, here is a photo shot by our client Kerstin Dornauer on their Wildlife Tour, while searching for anacondas on foot (funnily, didn't get to see the anaconda, but this female puma, who seemed completely unfussed by us). Always expect the unexpected on any tour, we say!

What makes spotting felines so hard?

They are shy. Unfortunately, ranchers and locals see them as a threat to livestock and people - which results in felines being shot.

Their territory is shrinking at dramatic speed because of big agriculture, which threatens to destroy their last green corridors and safe havens. This also means less areas to access for ecotourism and to find felines.

The list goes on and the topic is complex. It also shows why and how ecotourism can play a crucial role in promoting the safeguarding of such species and their habitats. Particularly if it becomes a viable and attractive alternative for local families and ranchers.

We have teamed up with different nature reserves and farms in the area that are dedicated to responsible ecotourism. And we have witnessed siginificant positive changes in the last years, including increased sightings of felines and other predators.

We are excited to share this journey with you, our guests and clients. ♡

28/08/2024

Scene at a waterhole in the Llanos, where different species coexist in an omnipresent struggle for survival: Spoonbills, ducks and black-necked stilts hunting invertebrates and spectacled caimans preying on fish and birds.

27/08/2024

Wonderful Llanos Adventure - Highly Recommended *****

We had a really wonderful trip with Andres on their 'Llanos Essential Tour'. We enjoyed so many different experiences - horse riding through forest and grassland, spotting wildlife and rounding up the cattle; safari drives through a wild grassland landscape; and a visit to Seco's farm where we had a totally lovely and fascinating time by the river seeing many aspects of the traditional way of life in such lovely company. Wonderful people, food, music, chocolate making, river crossing, etc. etc. Andres was a brilliant guide - so knowledgeable, helpful and fun. The hotel near Yopal was one of our favourites on our trip and we wished we'd had longer there! Andres also helped us enormously on our onwards journey by driving us up through the Andes on 4WD terrain to a connecting bus (as the road was closed). Thank you, Andres and Julia, so much and we wish you every success with your business.

AliceK2233
Edinburgh, UK
Written August 7, 2024

26/08/2024

The black-collared hawk inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and swamps, where it primarily preys on fish but also on small mammals, reptiles and insects.

de: Fischbussard
lat: Busarellus nigricollis

25/08/2024

Every parent at least once during their day.

23/08/2024

The stories surrounding this reptile are taller than it is in length.

At up to 9 metres and over 100 kg, the green anaconda is the largest snake in the world.

The sultry swamps and tropical alluvial plains of South America are its natural habitat. It spends most of its time in the water, perfectly camouflaged. This is one of the reasons why they are so difficult to see.

Towards the end of the dry season, in February and March, the chances of a sighting in the Colombian lowlands increase from 0% to around 90%. Hardly anywhere else can one see the green anaconda as easily as here, in vast savannas and unspoiled ranches.

Our team of expert guides knows exactly how and where to spot the water boa. In the small window of time between February and April, we organize high-quality anaconda expeditions.

On these tours our team searches along seasonal lakes, waterholes, swamps and river beaches. And sometimes crazy things happen, like in this photo: an almost 5-metre-long anaconda makes its way across the track of our jeep. Just like that. From one waterhole to another. A stroke of luck, as the muscular reptile only moves slowly on land, allowing us an extended photo session.

Will you be joining us next season?

Photo: Guide and Wild Llanos co-founder Andrés measuring against the green anaconda.

Learn more at

East Colombia teems with some of South America's best wildlife and holds some of the continent's oldest and most alive cowboy cultures, all before the backdrop of wild plains, wetlands, rivers, gallery forests and distant Andean mountain ranges. This is C

22/08/2024

***** One of the best travel experiences I’ve had
Jun 2024 • Tripadvisor
"This was the best thing I did in one month in Colombia and one of the best things I’ve done travelling anywhere. If you have an interest in wildlife, going on a proper adventure (but with beautiful accommodation so you have all the comforts), getting off the beaten track and experiencing local culture, this trip is for you. The whole team involved were super helpful when organising the trip and went above and beyond throughout the two days I was on the tour to make my experience as enjoyable as possible. Over the course of two days, I saw an incredible amount of wildlife, rode through flooding forests and savannahs in sight of the Andes, visited traditional ranches, ate delicious food and stayed in beautiful accommodation all in incredible landscapes. This is so worth coming off the beaten track for and just a completely unique experience that fully immerses you in local culture and the wild areas of the Llanos. Andres and Julia were incredibly welcoming, exceptional company throughout and deserve all the success with this venture and I really hope to be back for more experiences in the future."
- Matthew H, UK
Thanks so much!
Venture off the beaten tourist path in Colombia & experience wildlife, culture and pristine nature: [email protected]

20/08/2024

Hi Julia,
We just arrived home in the Netherlands. We enjoyed the tour a lot - both the beautiful nature and the great service of the team during the tour and at the Hato! We discussed what we liked most and the horse-riding scored many points, the girls loved it and I must say that I too really enjoyed stepping through the wetlands on horseback. The food got high marks and we were especially impressed that there was a different, and very tasty, vegetarian option every meal. My favourite moment was seeing the giant ant-eater moving towards and past us in an unconcerned manner as we stood in a field during sunset. And last but not least we loved the enthusiasm and explanations by Santiago - he did not only provide a name to every bird we spotted but he also provided us an excellent insight in the history and (current) challenges of Los Llanos. We will certainly recommend your tour to anyone travelling to Colombia :-) ~ Job and family
Thanks so much, guys!

18/08/2024

The lyre-tailed nightjar (Uropsalis lyra) inhabits northwestern South America. Its outermost tail feathers may measure 60 cm (24 inches) or more, accounting for 80 to 90 percent of the bird's total length!

This guy was perched before a spectacular rock wall along a scenic hiking route in the Andean foothills near Yopal. Photo by our clients Bonnie and Kapo from Hong Kong, taken during a tailor-made experience. Thanks!

17/08/2024

Thanks so much to our client, Bonnie from Hong Kong, for this lovely review! It was a pleasure having you guys! Wildlife pictured: burrowing owl and tufted capuchin. We are saving a spectacular pic from Bonnie for separate post: a lyre-tailed nightjar (whoaw!!)...

16/08/2024

The green anaconda lives in stagnant water in swamps covered by aquatic plants, where temperatures exceed 30°C all year round: places that no humans would choose as a habitat.

Thus, the tales surrounding the elusive reptile are taller than herself in length, and though there are no reported cases of anacondas eating a human, she would theoretically (and anatomically) be capable - which has fueled people's imagination ever since.

A large female (at least double the size of her male counterparts!) feeds as little as 1–4 times per year and spends most of her time preserving her energy, lurking in muddy waters or occasionally basking in the sun.

We have found specimen among dead tree branches in rivers, in seasonal lakes and artificial waterholes, basking on river beaches and sandbanks, in muddy puddles and in swamps, in tree caves, scrubs and embankment caves, and even out on the pasture making her way across.

February and March are hands down the best months to spot the aquatic , when the water levels are lowest, and thus, her territory is smallest.

You can join us here in Colombia on small group excursions or private tours during that time. Just head to wildllanos.com for deets or email us at [email protected] 🐍

PS:
has a very complete article on the fascinating : https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/reptiles/green-anaconda-facts

14/08/2024

A very cute encounter - and only a day late for .

13/08/2024

Travel comfortably, experience spectacular wildlife - with professional guides that enjoy what they do! ⭐️

12/08/2024

Giant anteater observation at the El Encanto de Guanapalo nature reserve, while out hiking 🥾

12/08/2024

Casanare - where moments aren't fleeting...

Instruments from left to right: cuatro, maracas, bandola. The latter is the queen of llanero music, such beautiful sound ♡

The Gualteros family of San Luis de Palenque giving our clients a fantastic impromptu show!

Thanks to our guests Stefanie S for the wonderful photo!

10/08/2024

☆☆☆☆☆ "Travel professionally, reliably and comfortably from A to Z! The choice of accommodation and the food along the way were excellent. Wild Llanos has incredibly competent and warm staff at all locations we visited. This made the trip very personal and provided many great insights. The nature is magnificent in its vastness and overall, in my opinion, the Llanos are underrated."

Thanks, Stefanie S., for booking with us and for these encouraging words! We loved exploring, riding, rounding up horses and cattle, and discovering with you guys!

31/07/2024

The magic of the Wild Llanos 🤠

Thanks to our client Stefanie for these photos!

29/07/2024

Just a scarlet macaw wishing everyone a happy start into the week!
.. the curious macaw looks down on us from the trunk of a moriche palm, which is of crucial importance for the ecosystem of the Llanos, as they serve as breeding grounds and versatile food sources for a variety of fish, mammals and birds. Our wildlife expedition takes us to the remote Buenaventura Nature Reserve, where moriche palms are being reforested. This special place near the tributaries of the Orinoco is a treat for wildlife lovers and nature photographers!

Join us on wildlife tours in the Llanos to enjoy stunning birdlife and fascinating landscapes www.wildllanos.com / [email protected]

19/07/2024

There is something so hauntingly beautiful about a Llanos' sunset in those infinite open wild spaces that leave us in awe. The peace and quiet, the colors, the end of the day, the head full of memories and new impressions, the heart so contempt and the hair a blissful mess, our cheeks glowing with delight (and possibly sunburn), the mellow air, warm and soft, the smell of dust, the distant snort of a horse, night hawks calling. There is nowhere like here. The middle of nowhere. Yet it feels like the center of a world, unknown and mystic, wild and beautiful.

17/07/2024

A thirsty Southern Tamandua at the waterhole in perfect light. Often they become active at night, at dusk and dawn, "hunting" for termites along forest edges, inside gallery forests and savanna scrubs. The rest of their time these passable climbers snooze in tree caves, tree forks and corozo palm trees.

Join our tours for a chance to observe this small species of anteater in their natural habitat. 😍 -> [email protected]

16/07/2024

Studying a beautiful red-railed boa as it basks on a dead branch!

14/07/2024

Southern Tamandua taking a mud bath to combat itchy parasites.

Photo taken by our client Jan Wagmann from 🇨🇭 - at a waterhole just next to our accommodation on our Wildlife Tour.

www.wildllanos.com

13/07/2024

This large anaconda was on her way to a waterhole to lurk for prey. We were so lucky to witness it!

Would you be interested to join us for a specialist anaconda expedition of 5 nights next dry season?

06/07/2023

"Amazing Experience!
This was the highlight of our Colombia trip! We spent two days in Los Llanos. Our tour guide Santiago was amazing, as was everyone else on the staff, including our driver and co tour guide. My partner and I am just going through the photos now. We saw capybaras, anteaters, and so much bird life. What a wonderful time! Will recommend this to everyone who is planning to visit the country!"

Varun P via TripAdvisor, June 2023