Vast and barren, “Los Llanos,” or the plains, seem to be straight out of a gaucho ballad, or the Wild West. With over fifty, known mammals—capibara (the world’s largest rodent), opossum, tapirs, deer, anaconda, monkeys, armadillos, ant eaters, otters, ocelots, and jaguars—you may just see more wildlife than llaneros, or cowboys.

Though most llaneros lead a hard and lonely life, their traditions and folklore have come to be far-reaching. The “joropo,” a local chant accompanied by the harp, “maracas,” and cuatro (a four-string guitar), has come to be associated with their culture and Venezuela’s national musical fiber.

In Los llanos, Yampu offers accommodation at Hato Piñero. Located in the central Llanos (plains), Hato Piñero is a cattle ranch and a nature reserve bordered by three rivers and a mountain range.
A good fit for travelers looking for quiet, comfort and birds, on this 80,000-hectare ranch, you can see up to one hundred bird species a day, from macaws, egrets, herons, storks and fish eagles to ibis (white, scarlet and glossy), osprey, parrots, hawks, black vultures and hummingbirds.

Additional information on this trip:

• Days of Week the Trip can Start:
  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
• Visited Cities:
  The Llanos