Villavicencio
Villavicencio is the capital of the department of Meta, one of the largest in extension in Colombia, the capital opens the way to know the culture of the eastern plains, where we find its gastronomy, typical dances like the joropo, practices such as coleo, and tourist attractions full of natural beauty and one of the most beautiful things is to enjoy its sunset with its arreboles.
Founders Park: It is a large park that occupies a large area of land, and in the square of the park is the monument to the founders of the Colombian artist Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt.
Los Ocarros Biopark: It owes its name to an armadillo, which runs at high speeds through the departments of Meta and Vichada. The park is located on the Villavicencio - Restrepo road. The park is home to 193 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish. There is a large natural side fed by the waters of the aguas claras stream. The fauna is in its natural habitat without barriers in landscapes that mimic their environment.
Malocas Park: A park that tells the llanero culture where there are trails that tell myths and legends, such as the llorona, the patasola, the devil among others. As well as the typical house of the llaneros and their lifestyle. To make an ecological horseback riding, and the weekend according to its operation demonstration of coleo.
The Navel of Colombia: Leaving Villavicencio via Puerto Lopez we arrive at a large plain where there is a large monument, which marks the geographical center of the country.
Guejar Canyon: a 2 hours and 30 minutes by car in a special place nestled in large and ancient rock formations, which are part of an extensive formation of the Serrania de La Macarena. During the trip to Mesetas, a town in the department of Meta, you will find different waterfalls of sizes that sometimes exceed 20 meters in height. Depending on the weather conditions you will enjoy the emerald green river. Species such as butterflies, birds, otters and babillas inhabit the river. The tour is done by rafting, which is classified as level 3 of 5 that exist.
Attend the International Joropo Tournament, the festival, held in June or July, is an annual event that brings together national and international spectators, where on these dates you can have cultural events in the city.
In October takes place World Meeting of Coleo, experts from large farms will arrive to test their skills with the horses to bring down the cattle, accompanied by the Joropo and rhythms of the harp and maracas, is one of the most important events of Vaquería in Latin America.
You have to experience the recognized llanera gastronomy, it generally consists of dishes such as mamona (grilled beef) accompanied by potato, yucca, plantain and guacamole, sancocho de gallina, rice bread rings, tungos, pisillo of beef or fish, cachama or mojarra la brasa, hayacas and cachapas of tender corn wrapped in banana leaves.
- Villavicencio has a climate between 20 and 30°C, so the type of clothing you can wear is spring-summer, very light clothing. The vegetation is abundant due to its constant rains so you should take this into account in your trip.
- To arrive to the city you can do it from Bogota by land to 117 km approximately 3 hours trip. Also by air with national airlines.
- For transportation within the city you can use the cab service requested by some application or requesting it from the reception of the hotel or restaurant where you are. Another recommendation is to use the transportation provided by your travel agency in case your trips are to a nearby place in the department of Meta.
- You will find a wide variety of accommodations from conventional hotels to large ecotourism farms, resorts and camping areas.