Casanare Trail Ride

Introduction
Orinoquia Colombia
The Colombian eastern Llanos were colonized more than four centuries ago and to this day, horses are fundamental in the daily work of the llanero man.

This equestrian crossing is made to honor the llanera culture, in remembrance to the use of the old royal roads and cattle inns, sleeping some days in hammocks with mosquito net.

This will be three unforgettable days, riding on typical Creole horses descendants of Arabs and Spaniards of 400 years ago in the style of the llanero man, a total cowboy. We will ride in the McClellan saddlers known in the eastern Llanos as Galapagos.

We will eat a snack called  Bastimento, which was what the llanero used to eat on his long journeys through the savannas.
 

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a progressive ride where nights are spent in 5 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: Holiday Inn Airport Hotel in Bogota
Night 2: Finca El Paraíso or Eco-hotel la Fortuna
Night 3: Hato Banco Largo
Night 4: Accommodation in Guariamena
Night 5 & 6: Holiday Inn or Hampton by Hilton 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.

Finca El Paraíso
This finca has a garden and an outdoor pool where guests can relax. It offers basic but comfortable accommodation in double occupancy room for groups of up to 8 people. All rooms have air conditioning and most rooms have shared bathrooms. Other amenities include a pool table, board games and table tennis facilities.

Eco-hotel la Fortuna
If there are more than 8 people, we will use this accommodation. This small hotel offers double or single occupancy room, all with private bathrooms.

Hato Banco Largo
This property is set in a beautiful natural environment. It offers simple accommodation in hammocks with mosquito nets and shared bathrooms and showers. At this accommodation, you will have the opportunity to share the Colombian cowboy (llanero) way of life with authentic llaneros.

Accommodation in Guariamena
The accommodation is very basic with external bathrooms and showers.

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 and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Itinerary


Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

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

Day 2: Introduction
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer from the hotel to the El Dorado airport for the flight to the city of Yopal. At the Alcaravan airport we will pick you up and  transfer you to the El Paraíso farm. General orientation on accommodation with welcome cocktail, then lunch, rest and in the afternoon we will make a presentation about the crossing and introduce you the staff, people such as the "cabrestero", the "chocotero" the guides, and other participants.
The horses will be chosen and induction will be done. Then around a fire we would hear some songs about the work in the llanos that will locate us in  the context for our llanera experience. Dinner, rest to start the journey the next day.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at El Paraíso farm

Day 3: Ride to Hato Banco Largo
Breakfast then departure for the crossing, we will go to the hato Banco Largo located in the town of Orocue, we will go through the oil well of Rancho Hermoso to the old cattle ranch of Santa Teresa and real cattle roads then we will cross the pastures in Orocue, observing the big farms on both side of the road.
At the end of the day, we will arrive at the hato Banco largo, where we will hear the songs of more than 120 species of birds that spend the night there, we will be received by them as well the manager of the hato, a native llanero and his family that will offer us a delicious creole dinner and while eating it they will delight us with their stories, songs and legends of the llanos. We will spend the night in hammocks with mosquito nets as the llaneros used to do on their trips long time ago.
Riding 7 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hato Banco Largo

Day 4: Hato Banco Largo to Guariamena
The tautacos (Buff-necked Ibis) will wake us up with their morning songs, we will have breakfast and we will leave to visit the “Garcero” of two hectares that belongs to the hato, there we will see alligators and turtles in the Trinchera canal, then take the way out to the crossroads of Guariamena, where the old cattle ranches of Tanganica and Camoruco were, passing through forests, estuaries and savannas of multiple colors. Arriving at the Agua verde canal, if it’s winter time or if the flows have increased due to rain, the horses will across the river and we will go through a handmade bamboo bridge; if it’s not we can pass riding the horse. Arriving at the royal pass of Guariamena, their habitants will receive us with a Creole dinner, and we will enjoy a counterpoint performance of llanero musicians and finally we will go to sleep.
Riding 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight in Guariamena

Day 5: Guariamena to La Quesera
After breakfast we will leave to the town of Maní. Along roads we'll see birds, lagoons and morichales (Mauritia flexuosa), and finally arrive at the farm "La Quesera" where we will say goodbye to the horses and continue by vehicle to the pier on the Cusiana River to go have lunch and watch the sunset over the river. We will have live musical groups and llanera dance performances to leave to go to Yopal.
Riding 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Yopal

Day 6: Altamira Reserve Safari
Breakfast then departure for the photographic safari in the Altamira reserve in the town of San Luis de Palenque, one hour and forty five minutes from Yopal. Upon arrival we will take a refreshing drink and begin our tour through the reserve where we will see: chigüiros or Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), deer (Odocoileus virginianus), babillas (Caiman crocodilus), among other species in their natural habitat. Lunch in the hato Mata de palma and sunset in the Altamira canyon where we could do artisanal fishing of the Caribe fish or piranha. Dinner and return to the hotel in Yopal.
Riding 5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Hotel in Yopal

Day 7: Departure
Breakfast then visit to the Creole saddlers to the city of Yopal, lunch break and then departure to the airport. Return to Bogotá.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch

Rates and Dates for Casanare Trail Ride

Dates Note: This trip can be arranged at any time of the year depending on availability

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
• Underwear
• socks
• Pajamas
• Bag for dirty clothes
• runners or boots
• 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.