» Los Llanos

To the west of Bogota, once the Andean mountains end, the vast plains of Los Llanos begin. This giant 250,000 sq km ecosystem is home to hundreds of birds and mammals and some of the most endangered creatures on the planet such as the Orinoco Crocodile.

During the rainy season from May to October, parts of the Llanos can flood up to a meter. This turns the woodlands and grasslands into temperate wetlands. This flooding also makes the area unique for its wildlife. The area supports around 70 species of water birds, including the Scarlet Ibis.

These vast flat plains make perfect conditions for cattle grazing. Huge ranches of cattle are tended to by Llaneros (Colombian Cowboys) and their way of life is somewhat different from the rest of Colombia. The Llaneros can be identified by their straw hats, ‘jorop’ dancing and unique type of bluegrass folk music known as ‘musica llanera’.