Hato Mata de Palma
Hato Mata de Palma is a friendly ranch-style farmhouse in the Colombian Los Llanos converted to receive visitors.
Hato Mata de Palma, offering traditional ranch-style accommodation, is situated on the nature reserve El Encanto de Guanapalo, 2-2.5 hours' drive from the airport at Yopal – the main town in Colombia’s prairie/wetlands, Los Llanos. Wildlife is especially prolific in the reserve; over 210 bird species have been recorded and it is known that a family of puma resides there.
This is a very friendly property where the enthusiastic proprietors speak good English.The guest accommodation, which has plenty of character, is housed in a single storey building with an open plan kitchen and dining area with traditional aga-style cooker, overlooking a lake. The terracotta-tiled verandah has plenty of cosy seating and hammocks in which to relax and watch wildlife wander by - the grounds are heaving with capybaras. There are just two en suite guest rooms with large windows, traditional antique furnishings, ceiling fan, mosquito netting and newly tiled bathrooms with shower. Home-cooked meals are served – these are very tasty, a good thing as because it’s so remote, you won’t be heading off elsewhere to eat.
The ranch offers all sorts of activities, all guided- safari-style tractor rides, bird watching tours, walks and horse riding.

Our expert's view

Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
My favourite part of my stay here was eating breakfast by the lake, watching a family of capybaras swim alongside the shore. This remote lodge is a really friendly place to stay to see the wildlife of the Llanos with delicious food cooked in the open air kitchen.
Papagaio
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