Ruta Piedemonte Llanero

Location:
Villavicencio , Colombia

Other Activity Types:
Scenic route

By Lorraine Caputo

Ruta Piedemonte Llanero follows the eastern edge of the Cordillera Oriental. On one side, the mountains scrape the sky, and, on the other, the endlessly flat land merges with the heavens. The route wends passes through Bioparque Los Ocarros and Centro-Cultural Etno-turístico El Maguare of the Uitoto indigenous. Restrepo (Kilometer 16) has an interesting church, nearby are the saltflats Salinas de Upín (3 kilometers / 1.8 miles away) and natural pools in the Río Caney. Cumaral (Kilometer 23) has the best rodeo ring in the department. Other attractions include Río Guacavia and Lagos de Samacanda. Some 70 kilometers (42 miles) on are two hot springs spas: Termales Aguas Calientes and Termales de Guaicaramo.

Getting There
If traveling in your own vehicle, follow Highway 65 northeast out of Villavicencio. Just outside of the city are two tollbooths, and a third beyond Cumaral. For public transportation hop on a collective pick-up from Calle 37E and Carrera 28 in Villavicenc

Travel Tips: Highway 65 continues to Barrancas de Upia, at the border of Casanare Department and Yopal, the capital of that Department. From there other roads connect to towns in Boyacá and other departments. The road is said to be safe as far as Restrepo and possibly as far as Cumaral. Some agencies in Villavicencio offer tours on this route. If you wish to travel further than that, check locally for the most current security situation.

Many of the villages have lodging and there are a number of rural hotels along the way.

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring: Water, snacks; binoculars for wildlife watching; camera; swim gear to take a dip in the pools or hot springs; insect repellent, sun block, hat; loose, light-colored, cotton clothing.

Bioparque Los Ocarros; Centro-Cultural Etno-turístico El Maguare (Tel.: 8-664-8105 / 311-231-6365, E-mail: santiagokuetgaje2@yahoo.es, Web: www.etniasvivas.org; Entry: $2.65); Termales Aguas Calientes and Termales de Guaicaramo. Journey the other Rutas: del Amanecer Llanero and del Embrujo Llanero; take a wildlife tour into the llanos; stay at an agro- or eco-tourist country inn.

Currencies accepted
Colombian Peso