Colombian Orinoco

The eastern “llanos” are one of the best tourist destinations in Colombia. They are part of the great Orinoco basin, which covers an area of approximately 989,000 km², making it the third largest in South America; it covers most of the Venezuelan country. In Colombia, it is located to the east and has an approximate area of 345,520 km². The Colombian Orinoquia is mainly made up of the departments of Casanare, Meta, Arauca, Vichada, and part of Guaviare, Guanía, Boyacá and Cundinamarca. It integrates mountain ecosystems, Andean and Amazonian foothills, rainforests, and, of course, the extensive natural savannas, some of which are flooded most of the year, such as those of the departments of Casanare and Arauca, and others of the highlands or non-flooded, such as those of the departments of Meta and Vichada. Its heterogeneity makes it an area with diverse landscapes, biodiversity, and cultures, which make up an interesting region still little explored, that for many years was a forgotten territory by Colombia, where the armed conflict had a strong impact. Today, it is reborn with great potential for nature tourism, with countless attractions and biotic richness, as well as good people eager to move forward and achieve the longed-for peace in the country through sustainable development.

Casanare

Source: www.gifex.com Our main products are focused on knowing and valuing the vast biodiversity of the flooded savannah ecosystems, mainly in the department of Casanare, which makes it one of the best tourist destinations in Colombia. The ecosystems of Casanare are compared to the vast African savannahs, however, there are animals typical of the neotropics, such as large herds of capybaras, deer and numerous flocks of birds. There is a high probability of finding anteaters, anacondas, as well as the possibility of an encounter with the continent’s largest felines such as jaguars and pumas. In terms of biodiversity figures for this department, scientific reports show us: Birds: 650 sp. Mammals: 200 sp. Reptiles: 65 sp. Fish: 567 sp. Amphibians: 49 sp. Plants: 1,479 sp. Butterflies: 175 sp. Ants: 89 sp. Its capital is El Yopal, located in the foothills of the eastern cordillera in the piedmont zone.

Yopal

Its capital is El Yopal, located in the foothills of the eastern mountain range in the piedmont zone. It is a small city with a population of approximately 150 thousand inhabitants. Its average annual temperature is 27°C. It has all the facilities, a complete gastronomic offer, both local, national and international, in addition to an offer of banks, shopping malls, local and chain hotels and rural lodging. It integrates El Alcaraván Airport (EYP), with a representative offer of 2 airlines (Easyfly and Avianca) with more than five daily frequencies from Bogotá.

Weather

The region has a particular climatic behavior during the year, having two strongly marked seasons, one of them the rainy season (winter), between the months of May to November, and the other, the dry season (summer) between the months of December to April. Its average temperature is 27°C. The changes in the landscape are quite noticeable in both seasons, both seasons have great scenic attractions and the animals have different behaviors that are worth enjoying. That is why it is worth traveling more than once to this wonderful place, one of the best tourist destinations in Colombia.

Economy

The economic base depends on extensive cattle ranching in the savanna zones. In the last decade, rice and oil palm production have increased extensively. As for industry, much of the department’s development is based on oil production, which boomed a few years ago and today operates moderately. Tourism is an emerging activity and is still in the process of positioning itself in the country.

Culture

The llanero culture is characterized by its strong roots, which is related to the management of livestock since ancient times along with the arrival of the Jesuits in 1659, which configured a culture of cowboys, horses, savannas, great journeys, among others. Its traditional folklore is based on the music and dance of the “joropo” that integrates instruments such as the harp, cuatro, bandola, maracas and songs to its landscapes, fauna, flora, love and land. The region also integrates indigenous communities of the Salibas and Sikuanis ethnic groups, who were the first settlers and are currently settled in indigenous reserves.

Gastronomy

Typical dishes composed with meats such as: meat “a la llanera” called “mamona”, roast pork, different types of fish and soups. In addition to varieties of bananas prepared in different ways, cassava, various tropical fruits and vegetables.