Los Llanos Orientales, or Orinoquía region, characterizes the great eastern plains of Colombia and Venezuela, past the Andes mountains. It is an area of extensive grasslands that has long attracted avid naturalists and horse riders thanks to its incredible biodiversity, cowboy culture and magical remoteness.
The region was once home to impressive Hatos (ranches) of more than 50,000 hectares, where discerning travellers seeked impressive wildlife and uncompromised privacy. It was the remoteness, plus Colombia’s period of conflict that left the Orinoco one step behind in terms of tourism, however, also allowing for the spectacular preservation of its culture and fauna.
With Corocora Camp, the Orinoco is back, and the region stands more proudly than ever. Still largely wild and untouched, it is a haven for wildlife appreciation, adventure travel and profound cultural connection – not another visitor in sight.
Nature
Birds & Wildlife
The region’s varied landscapes of wetlands, savannas, rivers, palm groves and gallery forests attract and nourish an extensive array of wildlife of rare mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.
On land, guests can expect to see giant anteaters, capybaras, caimans and dashing white-tailed deers in abundance, spot howler monkeys between tall forest trees, and if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the rare pink river dolphin, a puma or a prowling jaguar on the hunt for prey…
Home to over 350 exotic bird species, Los Llanos Orientales is a birdwatchers paradise. 19% of the world’s bird species can be found in Colombia, making it the world leader in terms of bird species biodiversity; most evident in this vast region thanks to its varied landscapes and water deposits. Spot red-bellied macaws and roseate spoonbills, jabirus, blue-crowned motmots, chestnust-eared aracari and the iconic scarlet ibis…to name but a few!
Llanero
The Culture
Los Llanos’ natural remoteness also makes its culture uniquely distinctive from anywhere else in the country. The Llanero cowboy culture is characterized by centuries of traditions bound to the land through cattle farming and calling, barefoot horseback riding, traditional music and chants, and even anaconda catching.
A day’s hard work herding cattle is often rewarded with a traditional parrando llanero, a feast, where impressive pieces of meat are barbecued on long sticks around a roaring open fire, as the sounds of harp and guitar together with the llanero’s poetic chants recount the regions’ landscapes, tales and legends – best enjoyed as the famous blood orange sun sets over the vast Eastern plains.
Weather
Seasons & Weather
The seasons in the Orinoquía region are divided into the wet (winter) and dry (summer) seasons.
The dry season lasts from December to March, enjoying warmer temperatures and a light breeze. Guests can expect to see impressive bird migrations during this period, as species search for the remaining water deposits in the region.
The region’s wet season falls between April and November, with some very impressive rain showers! The landscapes change quite dramatically during the rainy season, as large sections of the plains become flooded and greener than ever, attracting ample mammals to the water.
When to Visit
When to visit Los Llanos entirely depends on each client’s preferences, as there is no one season best to visit the region.
April and December are particularly beautiful times to visit Corocora Camp, as these months fall at the turn of the seasons. This means the weather conditions are slightly less extreme, and visitors can enjoy a range of wildlife on both dry land and some flooded plains.