CASANARE map pic

Discover Los Llanos Orientales, the eastern plains of Colombia, on this week-long horseback riding trail. The llanos is a vast tropical plain made up of savannas, woodlands, and grasslands to explore on responsive and willing horses. Travel from the highlands around Bogotá to the eastern plains, traveling on horseback along the ancient pathways and experiencing the many different climates and cultures of Colombia. This horseback riding holiday is for those with a keen sense of adventure who want to experience a Colombia rarely covered in guidebooks.

This horseback trail vacation takes riders from the high plateaus of the altiplano to tropical open plains, teeming with wildlife. Visit thermal pools to rest weary muscles while staying in local, authentic haciendas and hotels. One day is spent observing the locals gather cattle on the ranch, and another is spent in a hammock at the top off the llanos. This is an adventurous trip; some of the accommodation is basic and riding days can mean between 6-9 hours in the saddle so a reasonable level of fitness and a positive outlook is required.

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from JK of Jersey city on 08/01/2023

Ride Summary
Challenged myself to the next level
What was your overall impression of the holiday
Overall impression
Unicorn Trails sales staff

Riding tour leader

Additional Comments
Thorough Covid measure
Horses and Tack

Additional Comments
Robust and well schooled horses for endurance ride
Meals

Accommodation

Miscellaneous

Was this trip accurately described to you beforehand?
YES
Please give more details to explain your response:
Was there anything you should have known and were not told? NO
Please give more details to explain your response:
What could we do to improve this ride?
How would you rate the difficulty of this ride out of 10 where 1 is very easy and 10 is very advanced?
9
Please explain why you scored it as you did:
The temperature will get scorching hot towards the last 2 days. You should be used to riding under the scorching sun.
Would you recommend Unicorn Trails to your friends?
YES
Please give more details to explain your response:
I keep ticking my bucket list
May we use you as a reference for other people wishing to go on this ride?
YES
Any other comments:
This trail is NOT for weak riders. It requires endurance and generally good cardio fitness.
You will experience the most authentic Columbian culture and landscape. The most hospitable people in the world are Columbians. Please don't come to expect first world level of accomodation and food. Limited civilization and you will not have hot water throughout the expedition. If you are a seasoned traveler who is not going to complain about every single thing you are used to in your first world country then this trail will open up your eyes and you will remember this experience forever.
Unicorn comments: Thank you for your feedback. Glad you enjoyed the trail despite the heat! :)

Day 1
Pick up in Bogotá and drive to Machetá (1.5hr), to spend the night at a small hotel with a relaxing thermal pool. The drive follows the ol Camino Real (Royal Road made of cobbled Stone by indians and slaves during the Spanish Colonial period). It was used for hundreds of years to connect the highlands with the Casanare llanos, and was used to bring cattle by foot on a 2 week journey from the plains of Casanare to Sisga until the middlle of the 20th century. The trip was so hard for the animals that they made shoes from fique, a vegetable fiber, so they could finish the journey. The mountains are astonishing and the change of vegetation and climate almost every hour is very special.

Day 2
Macheta - Chivor: After a short visit to a coffee plantation beside the hotel, continue descending the Tenza Valley following the Camino Real, with a spectacular view of the mountains and the towns of Guateque, Somondoco, Guayatá and Almeida, a region well known for emerald mines. Lunch will be at a local´s house in the countryside, with traditional home style food. In the afternoon after washing the horses in the Somondoco River, check into the hotel besides Chivor dam where and enjoy a refreshing dip.

Day 3
Chivor - Sabanalarga: Today the group crosses the 15 tunnels besides Chivor dam by car (horses in a truck) before mounting to follow an old trail through tropical forest that was used in the past by guerrillas and paramilitary to avoid main roads. Enjoy lunch at a local´s house and a chance to hear about the local past. Cross the Upia river in the afternoon and arrive at a farm for a delicious local meal (ternera a la llanera) and live local music.

Day 4
Sabanalarga - Monterrey: Head to Monterrey through a beautiful valley to have lunch beside a river and a natural pool. In the afternoon, cross the hills that separate the riders from the huge grasslands that extend deep into Venezuela (around 400.000 km2, 200.000 km2). This is an unforgettable view of the trip from the hills. Arrive in the afternoon at a comfortable hotel and enjoy a refreshing dip in the pool.

Day 5
Monterrey - Tauramena: Ride through the open Sabanas of Casanare leaving the mountains behind. The pace is faster in the llanos. Arrive late afternoon at the hato (ranch) to spend the night and an opportunity to practice sleeping in a hammock.

Day 6
Tauramena: Wake up early to enjoy a magnificent llanos sunrise. After breakfast, ride out and help with the cattle work routine. There is a chance to see the different species of birds and wildlife (Ant bears, deer, wild pigs, chiguiros, caimans) of this region. Stay a second night in the hato and enjoy a show of local dancing and live music.

Day 7
Tauramena – Yopal - Bogota: Leave the hato and head to Yopal in the morning to visit local tack shops and chinchorrro manufacturing workshops. Enjoy a farewell lunch at a well known& local restaurant before returning from Yopal to Bogota in the afternoon by plane (dinner not included).

Day 8
Bogotá Transfer Hotel / Airport: End of this great adventure.

Accommodation for nights 4, 6 and 7: There is limited availability of rooms and beds in some venues. Please confirm in advance if you prefer a bed instead of a Hammock (Chinchorro)

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

Horses & Riding

There are 16 horses available for riding, ranging in height from 14hh-15.2hh. All the horses have some Colombian Criollo in their blood, even the Anglo Arabs are used in 80 and 120km endurance rides. Anglo Arabs crossed with Colombian Criollos makes them particularly suitable for several day, long distance rides. English tack is used although there are also some trail saddles. Some of the terrain is tough and includes river crossings, riders should also be confident at negotiating steep ascents and descents. There are opportunities to trot and canter but the pace is not overly fast.



Guides are professional and multilingual (fluent in English and Spanish) and are equipped with mobile phones, 2 ways radios and a satellite tracker so they can call for assistance if needed. Groups comprise a minimum of 2 riders and maximum of 12 riders.


Rider requirements

This ride is suitable for experienced riders. You should be confident at all paces, over tough terrain (including mountainous and river crossings) and expect long hours of riding. There are 5 days on horseback with between 6-9 hours riding per day. A total of 180km on horseback

Riders must not exceed the weight limit of 85Kg. The minimum age is 12 years old, children must be accompanied by an adult. Riding hats are mandatory for under 18s and are available to borrow.

Weight Limit

The weight limit for this ride is 187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

Nights are spent in authentic, clean and comfortable 2*, 3* and 4* hotels and rural haciendas with private bathrooms and good food, but do not expect luxuries such as air conditioning during the ride. Please also be aware that cold showers are normal in Colombia. On Day 4, 6 and 7 of the trail you'll spend the night in a hammock on a terrace like the locals. The hammocks are provided and are known as “chinchorros”; made of very fine thread which makes them very comfortable, and are part of llanero´s (llanos cowboys) equipment. They carry them in their saddle bags, and as the plains have very few people, the farms are huge and distances very long, so often they have to sleep in the open which is where the hammock comes in useful! The facilities on Day 4 are basic with a hose shower and shared bathrooms. There is limited availability of rooms and beds in some venues. Please confirm in advance if you prefer a bed instead of a Hammock (Chinchorro).



The trail travels through remote areas of the country, with very little tourism, you can expect diverse landscapes, mountain scenery and wonderful people.



Accommodation for nights 4, 6 and 7: There is limited availability of rooms and beds in some venues. Please confirm in advance if you prefer a bed instead of a Hammock (Chinchorro)



Plentiful home-cooked meals are provided on some days, giving a taste of Colombia's traditional cuisine. Other days you will eat in a local restaurant. Some of the most common ingredients are beef, fish, chicken, goat, cassava, potatoes, rice, plantains, tropical fruits, corn cakes, vegetables. Tea, coffee, beer and soft drinks are all included. Wine and spirits are not included and riders can purchase these separately when dining in a restaurant.


Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Documents - Visa and Consulate Info

2024: NB: The Colombian President announced that a travel visa will be imposed on citizens from the United Kingdom. According to current information and although not confirmed, this measure would come into effect from December 24, 2024. Please check with your consulate when booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. Passport and Visa requirements can change regularly depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. All travellers will be required to show an onward or return ticket valid within the 90 day period allowed for their entry into Colombia as a visitor. Between 24 hours and 1 hour before departure, you must fill out the ‘Check-Mig’ form, available on the Migración Colombia website. You will receive a confirmation email that you will need to present upon arrival in Colombia. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/colombia In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Colombia.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/colombia

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions


Climate Summary

This ride travels to the central eastern plains of Colombia, known as Los Llanos. There are two defined seasons, a dry season between December and March and a wet and rainy season between April and November. The daytime temperature of day 2-3 is between 18-25 degrees Celsius and between 15-20 degrees at night. It gets warmer by Day 4 -6 and you should expect daytime temperatures up to 35 degrees and up to 25 degrees at night. Pack some warmer clothes for the first and last night in Bogotá which is much cooler.

Climate Chart

Health

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

Health authorities have classified Colombia as having a risk of Zika virus transmission.

Dengue fever, malaria and yellow fever are present throughout the country, although the coastal and southern states with lower altitudes are the most affected, especially during or shortly after the rainy season between April and November. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Cases of Chikungunya virus have been confirmed in Colombia.

Tap water is safe to drink only in Bogota. You should drink only bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Colombia and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

Health (ride specific)

There are no vaccinations required and there is no malaria in this part of Colombia.

Electricity

In Colombia the supply voltage is 110V. If the appliance or its power supply are not dual voltage rated, the single voltage appliance will have to be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly

Mobile, WiFi and charging

In Colombia the standard voltage is 110 V. The standard frequency is 60 Hz. The power sockets that are used are of type A / B
In towns and villages there is mobile Internet access and phone coverage everywhere. During the riding trip full time coverage is not guaranteed and there is almost no internet access.
If using a GoPro please ensure you have the permission of the group to be filmed.

Packing List

- Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted riding helmet of the current standard which is PAS015 or BSEN1384 (One can be provided, but we recommend you bring your own)
- Gloves
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended but sturdy shoes with a definite heel are acceptable (such as walking boots)
- Chaps
- Comfortable clothing
- 4 or 5 T-shirts and 2 shirts with long sleeves
- A second pair of shoes for the evening
- Hat (a nice Colombian hat can be bought on location)
- One towel
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Lip sunscreen
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- Head torch
- Valid international passport
- Travel Insurance
- Pocket money (you can change EUR/£/USD in the airport)

* It is recommended to put your luggage in a soft travel bag instead of a hard suitcase. 10 bags are easier to get in the backup vehicle than 10 suitcases,

Provided by hosts:
Riding Helmet
Saddlebags
Reusable bottles

Programmes

8d /7n programme with 5 riding days. Available on set dates.

Departure Dates

2025: 2 (Full) Mar; 1 Sep; 30 Nov; 26 Dec*(* New Year Trail)

Pricing
No single supplement payable if willing to share with someone of same sex. Should you wish to book a single room, please see supplement price below.

Please note that single rooms are subject to availability.

No of   
days/nights
Riding days Product item description £
20258d/7n5double pp2,259
20258d/7n5single supplement 7 nights285
20258d/7n5supplement for group of 2-3245
No of   
days/nights
Riding days Product item description
20258d/7n5double pp2,715
20258d/7n5single supplement 7 nights339
20258d/7n5supplement for group of 2-3289
No of   
days/nights
Riding days Product item description US $
20258d/7n5double pp2,909
20258d/7n5single supplement 7 nights365
20258d/7n5supplement for group of 2-3315
No of   
days/nights
Riding days Product item description SEK
20258d/7n5double pp31,745
20258d/7n5single supplement 7 nights3,969
20258d/7n5supplement for group of 2-33,399
Recommended Reading

We're avid readers here at Unicorn Trails and if you're interested in reading more about the area before you travel, or want to get into the cultural background, here are some suggestions that may inspire you. Click on the links for more information.



100 Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The defining novel of magical realism, this is a family chronicle revolving around an imaginary village. The haunting strangeness of the Colombian interior, as it must have been perceived by the first Spaniards, is beautifully conveyed in the course of a journey in which the village's early settlers encounter a Spanish galleon mysteriously stranded in the middle of a jungle. The rest of the book develops into what can be interpreted as a poetic history of Colombia; a timeless classic.

La Vorágine” (The Vortex)  by José Eustasio Rivera, a Colombian classic of the early 20th century, telling the story of a couple trying to escape Bogota´s society to live in the Eastern plains and Amazon forest during the rubber fever. There are translations of this novel in English, German, French and Russian.

The Mango Orchard: The extraordinary true story of a family lost and found   A young Englishman who travelled in Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico, in part to trace the fascinating story of his great grandfather's adventures in Central America a century ago. There is a great twist at the end, which we won't spoil.



For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit  www.thelongridersguild.com   

Also a fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com


Other Country Information

2024: NB: The Colombian President announced that a travel visa will be imposed on citizens from the United Kingdom. According to current information and although not confirmed, this measure would come into effect from December 24, 2024. Please check with your consulate when booking.


Travel Summary

Meeting-point (getting there):
Bogotá Airport (BOG)
Transfer:
2025: Return transfer to Bogotá airport included.
Flight Guide:
2025: London to Bogotá return from £885pp (Season Dependent)
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