Terra Colombia on a trip to Casanare

Looking for adventure off the beaten track? The Terra Colombia team had the privilege of making a trip to Casanare (Colombia’s Llanos department) to divulge to you the best advice and other well-kept secrets of this extraordinary region. Ready? Vamos! We’re off on a rodeo of experiences, and we’re taking you with us..

Around Yopal, there’s a gentle harmony between mountainous terrain and tranquil plains, and the further we move away from the Casanare capital, the more the plains stretch out to infinity. Horses are also omnipresent. We enthusiastically begin our few-day escapade with a horseback ride on the family land of Andres, our beloved llanero guide. After improving our lasso throwing skills (it’s as hard as it looks), we enjoy the freedom of the Colombian cowboy on horseback, for an extraordinary experience across the plains, rivers and groves of the Llanos.

In our all-terrain vehicle, we continue our journey through the Llanos savannah. Kilometers of road and breathtaking scenery pass before our eyes, before we arrive at a farm, known locally as « Hato ». This place is a huge nature reserve that never fails to surprise! We come across chiguiros, colorful birds, cattle, a few caimans and even monkeys. Depending on the season, other animals and reptiles can also be spotted, so we head off to some pretty, well-hidden spots and fall under the spell of nature and its animals.Walks can be made on foot, by pirogue or in an all-terrain vehicle to discover the fauna with one of the local guides. Here, silence reigns, it’s both magical and soothing, we feel good and we discover the rich natural heritage of the Casanare.

At the end of our lunch, a nice surprise awaits us, and it’s all set to music! A typical local band plays its best repertoire of local music. On the program: Joropo, traditional Llanos music and dance: The Joropo, traditional music and dance of the Llanos, and the group of musicians share their infectious energy with us to the rhythm of a frenzied harp. At first, we shyly take a few « zapateo » dance steps under the watchful eye of Andres and his friends. Then, like true llaneros dancers, we let ourselves go to the Flamenco-like cadence, Ole!

Casanare is all about landscapes, traditions, music and encounters. We met Seudiel, a man in love with his region. He opened the doors of his property, accessible only to connoisseurs of the llanera savannah, and showed us around with emotion. Seudiel has created a small museum to share his local culture and traditions with visitors, and we also meet his family, having lunch that day with his son in the shade of the trees. To conclude the visit, Seudiel gives us a demonstration of his skills as a llanero horseman: a trip up the river on horseback. This highly technical manoeuvre requires great skill on horseback and judicious use of water currents

Each day offers us new panoramas, new horizons rich in color, and spectacular sunsets and sunrises. As our departure approaches, we’re already feeling a little sad. The Terra Colombia team looksforward to sharing with you the best tips for your next trip to the Casanare!

If, like Terra Colombia, you’d like to discover the Llanos, you can contact one of our experts and ask for a tailor-made itinerary.