On a boat trip in the Llanos, you can spot caimans, capybaras and turtles. Another highlight of a boat trip is fishing for piraña’s!

Walk
Before the hike with Jeremiah began, we crossed the river by boat so we could hike on the other side of the river. Because the water is low in the dry season, he didn’t turn the motor on, but pushed sticks into the water to move forward. Later I learned that the water is as much as 2-3 meters higher in the rainy season.

Caimans
We were hiking by the river, when Jeremiah said very quietly; “look next to you.” A few feet away there was a caiman in the water. We saw two more, lying motionless in the water for a very long time, ready to strike for passing prey!

Natural Selection
I told Jeremiah that the landscape was even drier than I had imagined. He said this was the end of the dry season, hence the huge drought. During the “natural selection,” the older and weaker animals die in the harsh conditions. Other animals we saw on the hike included capybaras, turtles and a beautiful macaw.

Afternoon boat trip
Together with Dutch couple Ted and Anneke and their Colombian translator Gabriela, we took a boat trip down the river in the afternoon.

It was very relaxing to quietly observe the animals from the boat, such as agoutis (they look like small capybaras), howler monkeys, many birds and wild pigs. A caiman was beautifully “posing” on a small beach. Because the river is quite narrow, we were able to observe the animals from up close.

Capybara family
We saw a family of capybaras whose little ones were drinking with the mother. Earlier we saw the babies running through the sand, soo cute! Because it is so dry and hot, the capybaras stay close to the river to cool off.

Fishing for piranhas
We stopped on a sandbar to fish for piranhas. I did not have much luck and fed the fish rather than catching them. So the piranha that was caught afterwards -with a very fat belly- was named after me -:)

Written by Jeanette
Travel date: February 2020.

Check out our travel guide Casanare -the Colombian safari– for more info. Need a hotel in Yopal prior to your trip? Then check the options here.

Anaconda
At another spot we saw an anaconda of about 5 meters long. The anaconda was easy for guide Giovanny to spot because the water was low. The animal was laying quietly in a corner…I didn’t think I would ever be able to spot an anaconda so close!

Siesta at Hato la Aurora
To escape the heat between 12pm and 3pm, we spent that time at the main house of Hato la Aurora. We were welcomed to the ranch with a (miniscule) cup of coffee.

There were many little birds and also 2 macaws, so there was plenty to see. Furthermore, we could wander around and see the working tools of the Colombian cowboys. Due to a funeral in Yopal, only two people were working. The rest of the workers were in Yopal, so it was very quiet at the ranch.

In search of jaguars
After lunch and a wonderful siesta in the hammock, we continued the safari. Our mission: to look for jaguars! The day before, Giovanny had seen a mother with baby and of course we were hoping to spot them too! During a stop for a walk in the forest, guide Giovanny spotted jaguar tracks. The tracks were not fresh, but Giovanny decided that we were going to have a look in the forest anyway.

Giant anteater
We had to be very quiet so as not to startle the animals. At one point, we heard leaves cracking…. I felt that everyone was excited. At one point, we saw a giant anteater running through the forest. These are nocturnal animals, so we were lucky to see this special animal!

Countless birds
After this, we went to another lagoon, again with countless species of birds. We stayed here for a while, to spot the birds and wait to see if the jaguars would show up. We were not as lucky as the safari goers the previous day, as we did not spot the jaguars. Honestly, it didn’t matter much to us because the safari was more than successful anyway. We enjoyed the sound of all the birds and the tranquility for a while longer. With the sun setting, the view was absolutely stunning. In the dark we drove back to the river, for the crossing to the lodge. Here, the crew was already waiting for us again with a tray with glasses of lemonade. 😊

Check out our travel guide Casanare – the Colombian safari- for more info. Need a hotel in Yopal before or after your safari? Then check here the options.

Well-meant “arrangement”
The taxi ride I planned to take in the afternoon turned out to be an extended sightseeing trip. Intern Javier from hotel Casa Morales, was afraid that the taxi driver would charge me too much, as a “solo traveler.” Therefore, he suggested to go with me. He had also already arranged another driver: Ms. Aurora, who was an acquaintance of the hotel, would drive us around. Cheaper than a regular taxi driver of course -:) I was a little overwhelmed by all this well-meant “arrangement,” but decided to accept the offer.

Sightseeing trip
Aurora drove us first to Historia and Piedras, but it turned out to be closed. Then we headed for the Mirador on the other side of town. On the way we would stop at Doña Barbara restaurant, the restaurant that is said to have the best arepas in Yopal.

The best arepas in Yopal
Restaurante Doña Barbara turned out to be a very cozy place. We had a coconut lemonade there and ate cheese arepas, which totally lived up to their reputation. I never had such delicious, well-filled arepas! Alejandro explained that later in the year, the Garzas (herons) come to the plains in front of the restaurant, to breed. As far as you can see then, there are birds and people come here especially to enjoy the view from a special platform. The restaurant is then a hot spot with stalls selling all kinds of food.

The Flintstones
On the way to the Mirador, we stopped at restaurante Mozarella Gourmet, a theme restaurant about the Flintstones. Too funny!

Viewpoint
From the Mirador de La Virgen with the statue la Virgen, we looked out on the lights of Yopal. It was bustling with people who came for the view and athletes walking up and down the hill. Fruit, drinks and (of course) arepas were being sold. I’m sure it must also be beautiful during the day to look out over the plains and mountains. After our visit to the Mirador, we were in the mood for a beer and headed back toward town.

Bogotá Beer Company
At the Bogotá Beer Company on the la T nightlife strip , we enjoyed a beer and exchanged WhatsApp numbers. I said goodbye with a promise to bring Dutch cheese on my next visit to Colombia.

Hospitality
Yopal had surprised me: there was enough to do to keep myself entertained for a day and the people were super nice. These people made the difference for me between a nice trip and a great trip!

Written by Jeanette
Travel date: February 2020, updated September 2025

Want to know more about a Colombian safari from Yopal? Check out here for more info.