We know that we are probably not allowed to say this, but we must admit that the Eastern plains of Colombia are our favorite destination in the country. We are talking about the massive region between the Eastern cordillera of the Andes mountains and the Venezuelan border in the north-east.
Colombians call this region “Los Llanos”, which translates to flatlands and it is easy to see why they do so. It is an area that is characterized by extensive grasslands and plains in which real roads are almost non-existent and where only few people live.
Thanks to these characteristics, the area is home to a variety of animals that is uncommon in South America! Wild animals like anacondas, anteaters, toucans, otters, deer, howler monkeys, capibaras, caimans, and many more live peacefully with the cows of the ranches that you will find located at many kilometers from each other.
Even though the plains might seem endless after a while, you can also find magical places like the pink river of Caño Cristales here.
The local people mostly live of ranching and/or cattle breeding. They still do things the traditional and old-fashioned way so don’t be surprised to see a real “cowboy” (Llanero) ride a horse barefoot.
Horses are loved by their owners and they generally are ridden by well- trained and gifted horsemen. Don’t miss out on trying the delicious local food because the meat comes from free-range animals.
