4 Days 3 Nights
Colombia
15
1
HATO LA AURORA 4D3N
In this tour, you will have 2 full days of Llanero Safari at Hato La Aurora in search of the Casanare ‘Big 5,’ which are: Capybara, Anaconda, Anteater, Otter, and Jaguar, as well as deer and other species. On the first day, you will take a canoe ride along the rivers surrounding the reserve, and on the last day, you can optionally do a horseback riding activity or a hike by the natural trails near the lodge observing its fauna along the way.
Itinerary
Itinerary Expand All
CANOE ACTIVITY
On this day, a person from the local team will welcome you at the airport of Yopal or will pick you up at your hotel in that city. Then you will have a 4-hrs. transfer to Hato La Aurora in 4x4 cars passing by great landscapes and observing wildlife along the way. You will have lunch at this place, which is known for its wildlife conservation efforts and its endemic species. You will have an afternoon tour in canoes to watch aquatic fauna in the rivers of the reserve.
FULL SAFARI DAY
On this day, we can start the tour very early in the morning in order to have a better chance to see birds and wildlife. Or optionally, we can start after breakfast. You will have a full day Safari in 4x4 cars searching the big-5 of the reserve: Capybara, Anaconda, Anteater, Puma & the Jaguar. The guides will advise you about the best spots, moments and strategy to spot wildlife without disturbing it at this immense wildlife sanctuary.
FULL SAFARI DAY
On this day, after breakfast, you will have a second full day Safari in 4x4 cars searching the big-5 of the reserve: Capybara, Anaconda, Anteater, Puma & the Jaguar. The guides will advise you about the best spots, moments and strategy to spot wildlife without disturbing it at this immense wildlife sanctuary by the same or different path depending on how successful were the sightings the day before and guides criteria.
HORSE-BACK RIDING
On this day, after breakfast, you will have a horse-back riding activity, where you can experience the local culture and see some fauna along the way, you will also learn about the conservation balance between the cattle and the ecotourism activities. In the afternoon, after lunch you will have the 4-hrs. transfer in 4x4 towards either your hotel or the airport in Yopal to get there between 15:00 to 19:00 depending on how early you need to be in that city.
Cost Info
Cost Info
Included
- ACCOMMODATION
- ROOMS
- ACTIVITIES
- MEALS
- TRANSFERS
- GUIDANCE
- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE CARD
Not included
- National and international flights.
- Activities, additional drinks or elements not described in the plan.
- Tips, snacks and souvenirs.
- Personal items not described in the itinerary.
- English or other languages speaking guides/translators
Add-ons & optionals
Add-ons & optionals
- Flights from & to Bogota or any other Colombian city. The price would depend of the dates and the anticipation the flights are booked.
- English or other languages speaking guides/translators, according to availability of guides for the desired date, in this case it is advisable to book in advance.
- Private single rooms for just one person for 100.000 COP (25 USD approx.) additional per night.
- Upgrade to a higher accommodation such as Savannah Orinoquia Lodge in a different reserve, but with less chances to see animals like jaguars, that can be quoted upon request and confirmation of availability in that hotel.
- Specialized guides for special itineraries.
What to take?
What to take?
- Hat and/or other sun protection for the head and neck.
- Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the reflection of the sun.
- Long-sleeved shirts to avoid sunburn and mosquito bites during outdoor activities.
- Wear comfortable pants and avoid jeans.
- Waterproof, preferably quick-drying clothing or a rain poncho during the rainy season.
- Rubber boots are mandatory and at least one pair of shoes to change (there will be some to rent at the lodge but there are not all the sizes or you can buy them in Yopal).
- Sunscreen and mosquito repellent.
- Protection for electronic devices since they may be susceptible to damages due to humidity and/or rain.
- Non-disposable rigid container to refill water (canteen or thermos).
- Day-packs for carrying personal stuff, hydration, snacks and other elements during the outdoor day activities.
- Flashlight.
- Personal documents and count with your own medical insurance.
- Personal medicines and first aid kit.
Recomendations
Recomendations
The ecosystems of Hato La Aurora area are special, therefore it is important to follow the recommendations in order to avoid or diminish any negative impact on them, as well as being prepared for a pleasurable experience, according to that:
- It is necessary not to have significant physical limitations, since the area does not have an infrastructure that facilitates activities for people with limited mobility.
- It is important to reduce waste generation (single-use plastics). According to that, it is important to take your own rigid non-disposable recipient for liquids.
- Follow and abide by the instructions of the guides and authorities during each of the routes and tours.
- Take your cautions against mosquitoes, such as hat, long-sleeved clothes, repellent, among other cautions you or your doctor might consider.
- You should count with the yellow-fever vaccination. Ideally you should have it at least 10 days before your visit to the destination.
- Currently, there is no major outbreak of contagious disease or mosquito transmission in the areas to be visited. However, if there is an outbreak or important biological risk in the destinations to be visited, it will be informed in a timely manner prior to the trip.
- We recommend the use of binoculars to wildlife watching and moisture-protected cameras.
- You will visit a destination with a great level of conservation of ecosystems with special flora and fauna. However, wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed, please take into account that they are in their natural habitat and humans can’t control or influence in their behavior.
- Do not get too close to the animals, do not interrupt their natural behavior and do as less noise as possible during the sightings in order to have better chances to see the wildlife of the region.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol and/or psychoactive substances during the activities mentioned in the plan can be harmful to your health and safety.
FAQ'S
FAQ'S
WEATHER CONDITIONS & BILINGUISM
It is necessary to be properly prepared for the weather conditions of the destination which are detailed below, but as this is an approximation, please note that they may vary. Also, keep in mind that it might be difficult to find bilingual staff or people at the destination.
Hato La Aurora:
Temp. Min: 18ºC Max: 30ºC, slightly humid climate / (350 m.a.s.l.)
ATM´S
It is advisable to carry cash for extra expenses during the trip since access to ATMs and dataphones at the desert are non-existent and the last place to withdraw money is Yopal.
PHONE SIGNAL & WIFI
You will visit a destination where there is good phone and internet signal. Once you leave the urban areas you might have poor or non-existent phone connectivity.
There’s Wi-Fi with decent but not perfect signal in the dining area of the Lodge.
TIPPING
Tipping is not mandatory, but if you consider you can tip the guides and/or other staff with an amount from 20.000 to 50.000 COP (5 to 12 USD approx.) per day of service.
SEASONS
- The dry season in Colombia ranges from Mid-November till March.
- The water levels will be lower and the hikes in general might be easier as you can expect less mud and drier trails.
- The chances to observe wildlife in general are higher during the dry season.
- Getting by car to off the road paths will be easier, making the transportation times shorter to those spots in the reserves.
- Migratory birds might be easier to spot during the dry season.
- The rainy season starts in April and ends in mid-November, being May and October the rainiest months in Colombia and from June to September a softer rainy period.
- In the rainy season you can expect to see rivers with higher levels and more imposing, with a greener vegetation.
- Availability of rooms during the dry season might be difficult to have, especially in march, therefore, it is advisable to book in advance if you want to travel during this season.
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