Orinoquia Natural Reserve

Introduction
Orinoquia Colombia
In this tour we will ride through the natural reserves of the Orinoquia.

Hato La Aurora is a Natural Reserve of the Civil Society (RNSC - Reservas Naturales de la Sociedad Civil) of 17,000 hectares, in which 16,000 are currently Important Area for the Conservation of Birds (AICA - Área Importante para la Conservación de las Aves). The trip time to the hato is about 5 hours starting from Yopal to Totumo - Paz de Ariporo over 180 km by land. Altitude of 320 meters above sea level.
 

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a progressive ride where nights are spent in 3 different locations. 

Description
All accommodations on this trip offer basic comfort and warm hospitality. Wi-Fi is only available while staying at hotels in Bogota and Yopal.

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Bogota
Nights 2, 3, 4 & 5: Hato la Aurora (3 nights at Ecolodge and 1 night in a fundo)
Night 6: Hotel in Yopal

Holiday Inn Airport Hotel in Bogota
This hotel, conveniently located just a few minutes away from the airport, offers modern rooms. All rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, satellite TV and a private bathroom.

Eco Lodge Juan Solito
During your stay here, you will be surrounded by nature while enjoying basic comfort and privacy. This accommodation overlook the Ariporo River and offers to sleep in a private palm tree cabin with its own bathroom. There are also some rooms located in the main building, all with private bathrooms as well. All rooms are equipped with light and a fan. The architecture follows the traditional style of the region with high ceilings. There is no Wi-Fi available at this property.

Holiday Inn Express in Yopal
This recent hotel offers comfortable ensuite rooms all fitted with a TV, air conditioning, a safe and a coffee machine. There is also a beautiful outdoor pool on the rooftop, offering views of the city.

Hampton by Hilton in Yopal
Rooms all come with air conditioning, a mini fridge, a safe and a private bathroom. There is a rooftop with great views over the mountains and the city.

Room Occupancy
Single supplement is mandatory is we cannot find another rider to share.


Meals
All meals are included in the trip. The food is local Colombian cuisine. All meals are eaten at the accommodations.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to most dietary restrictions with prior notice.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Itinerary


Sample itinerary - subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival
Transfer from El Dorado airport to Hotel in Bogotá.
Overnight at Hotel in Bogotá

Day 2: Fundo Cascabel Ride
Transfer from your hotel to the airport for the flight from Bogota to Yopal in the morning, then transfer to the hato la Aurora. Welcome at the hato, general orientation about lodging, activities, and meet the horses. Once comfortable after lunch, we will ride to the Fundo (typical house in the hato inhabited by the people that takes care of the natural reserve) Cascabel to admire the Llanero sunset, then we return to the hotel and tour through the facilities, and finally, dinner.
Riding 3 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Juan Solito

Day 3: Wildlife Ride
After breakfast we will cross the Ariporo river in slabs with the horses to start the great adventure through the savannas of Casanareñas full of native fauna. Then, we will go to the estuary of the babillas (Caiman crocodilus) and feed them!
We will have a typical lunch in this location to continue to the Lagoon of the Capibaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) where we will see hundreds of them. We will go through the burrows of the Morrucos o mochuelos (Athene cunicularia) to continue the green water fundo where we will sleep similar to the llanera style in hammocks with a mosquito net.
Riding 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Fundo

Day 4: Nature Ride
We will have breakfast then we will take “the jaguar road”, if we are lucky we will see some of the traces or footprints of the jaguars and pumas, then we will go to the main house of the hato that was inhabited by the Jesuits many years ago at the time of the colonization. This reserve promotes the conservation and research of these felines in agreements with the Pantera Foundation.
Here we get to admire herd of deer (Odocoileus virginianus), large herd of  chigüiros (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), and buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). In the corrals we will see how the horses work there and their modalities of lasso to the llanera way. At the end of the day we will get to sleep at Juan solito the Ecolodge after hearing some harp tunes, songs, and local performances. Dinner at the Ecolodge.
Riding 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Juan Solito

Day 5: Caño el Indio Ride
On this day we will go looking for the trace of the anacondas (Eunectes murinus) in another area of the reserve. We will go to the “Caño el Indio” where we will also fish.
Riding 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Juan Solito

Day 6: Last Ride
First breakfast then we will ride this day through the forests of native plants and orchids. We will say goodbye to the horses and go sailing through the majestic Ariporo River to the Caño del Indio. Lunch and then departure to Yopal. Dinner and overnight in Yopal.
Riding 3 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Yopal

Day 7: Departure
Today after breakfast we'll visit and watch Colombian paso fino horses on the track and rope, lunch and visit the area of the Creole saddlers of the city of Yopal, check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport. Return to Bogota at the end of the afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Rates and Dates for Orinoquia Natural Reserve

Dates Note: Sold Out Dates (as of 5/17/21): Dec 22 2021 to Jan 2 2022

Other Info
Meeting: Bogota airport
Airport: Bogota
Transfer: Bogota

Climate:
                                                Bogotá area

• Easy-drying seamless pants ideal for reducing skin chafing
• Long-sleeved shirts
• A set of clothes for the day and an extra set of clothes in case we  would require an extra change
• Riding helmet (recommended for all trips)
• Equestrian gloves if you use them
• Hat for windy conditions

• Waterproof jacket (in rainy season April-November)
• Comfortable T-shirts
• shirts
• Pants
• Shorts
• socks
• Pajamas
• Bag for dirty clothes
• bathing suit
• bath shorts

• Personal items
• protection against insects and sunscreen that’s environmentally friendly
• personal medicines
• handkerchiefs
• camera
• Sunglasses with straps
• Canteen or thermos (if you have them): we count with water dispenser to fill them
• Small flashlight.