Back

Wildlife-spotting in Los Llanos

ColombiaLlanosNepuno4

Observe the abundant wildlife of the savannahs and wetlands of the Llanos in eastern Colombia. 

One of the marvels of wildlife viewing in the prairies and wetlands of Los Llanos in Colombia and Venezuela is the ease with which you will observe a real cornucopia of birds, mammals and reptiles. Unlike the tropical rainforests of the Amazon and Orinoco basins, these savannahs are sparsely covered with high level vegetation, so all the creatures endemic to the region are exposed to view.

Set out on a safari, guided walk or horseride from one of the welcoming hatos (ranches) which occupy the region at any time of the year and you are bound to be blown away by not only the variety of species but also of the sheer numbers. Your guide will help you identify the species – a task facilitated by the animals trusting and curious nature - as in the Galápagos islands, they have no reason to fear the human being as a predator.

In a typical three day stay, you will see some and maybe all of the following (as we did on our last visit): capybaras, howler monkeys, deer, tortoises, anteaters, anacondas, armadillos, caimans, crocodiles, sloth, frogs and iguanas. The list of bird species is endless, including toucans, garzas (egrets and herons: notable for congregating in garceros in massive numbers), macaws, spoonbills, scarlet ibises, jabiru storks, kestrels, whistling ducks, doves, lapwings and burrowing owls. The spectacle is without comparison on the continent: even the Brazilian Pantanal struggles to compete.

Colombia
The Colombian llanos

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

0 1 2 3 4 5