LOS LLANOS The Great Colombian Cattle Round-Up, Colombia
8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS IN THE SADDLE
500 Horses – 50,000 Hectares – 20,000 Cattle – 30 Cowboys
Overview:
WANTED: RIDERS FOR THE GREAT COLOMBIAN ROUND-UP !
Experience the heartbeat of Colombia…
Saddle up for the ride of your life in the wild, open savannas of Los Llanos!
This is not a tour — it’s a full immersion into one of South America’s most authentic and untouched cowboy cultures.
Picture this: 500 horses, 20,000 heads of cattle, 50,000 hectares of sweeping plains, and 30 rugged Llanero cowboys riding out at sunrise.Welcome to Hato San Pablo, your home for a week of real cowboy work, tradition, culture, and adventure.
Los Llanos are vast tropical plains in eastern Colombia, where open savannas blend with extensive wetlands. This wild and remote region is rich in wildlife—capybaras, caimans, anacondas, and countless birds—and is home to centuries-old cattle ranching and authentic Colombian cowboy culture. It remains one of South America’s most untouched natural frontiers.
Welcome to Hato San Pablo
Upon arrival, you’ll receive your saddle and Capotera (the traditional saddle bag used by seasonal Llanero cowboys). Settle into the historic Hacienda San Pablo, choose your bed, and report to El Caporal, the head cowboy, who will brief you on the work, challenges, and excitement awaiting you in the coming days.
Brace yourself — this is the real deal.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Cowboy Immersion
Twice a year, deep in the Casanare region, Hato San Pablo comes alive with the energy of the annual “Trabajo de Llano” — one of the most emblematic traditions of Eastern Colombia.
During this week, you will live side by side with the Llanero cowboys “de a caballo,” joining them in their daily work:
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Gathering and moving big herds of cattle.
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Marking, treating, and vaccinating.
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Working young horses.
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Crossing rivers on horseback.
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Riding through endless savannas, wetlands, caños and morichales.
Under the leadership of the legendary caporal Olguer “El Cuñado”, more than 30 vaqueros, their horses, and the “madrino” oxen work from dawn in perfect harmony with nature.
You will be part of their rhythm, their culture, their traditions — surrounded by cowboy songs, crackling fires, sunsets that light up the plains, and nights full of stars. This is far more than just an equestrian adventure: it is a deep cultural immersion into the soul, strength, and heritage of Colombia’s Llanero people.
Nature, Wildlife & Authentic Ranch Life
At Hato San Pablo — one of Colombia’s largest cattle ranches — you’ll also experience the incredible biodiversity of Los Llanos:
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Alligators
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Anacondas
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Capybaras
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Hundreds of bird species
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And wildlife at every corner of the ranch
After a long day in the saddle, unwind in the hacienda, dip into the pool, enjoy a hearty dinner, and share stories over ice-cold beers under the stars.
This Is South America at Its Purest
Join us for the Trabajo de Llano — an adventure that promises not just eight days, but thirty new experiences and thirty new friends.
Feel the heartbeat of the Vaquero culture.
Ride with purpose.
Become a true Llanero.
Join the Round-Up. Ride Hard. Live Wild. Llanos Style!
4 Important Points Before Signing Up
1) Weather & Cowboy Work
In Los Llanos, everything depends on the weather — especially the rain. The ranch organizes cattle and sometimes horse round-ups twice a year.
If conditions change, routes or tasks may be adapted. There is always plenty of authentic cowboy work to do.
Flexibility and a positive mindset are essential. This is a sporty and adventurous holiday.
2) Rider Level
To join the cowboy team, you must be a confident and experienced rider.
3) A Different Culture
Life on the ranch is tough, raw, and real. You’ll encounter a culture very different — and often harder — than what you’re used to at home.
We don’t judge; we learn, adapt, and embrace it.
Approach this experience like an anthropologist and become a genuine Llanero (cowboy of the plains).
4) Wimps & Moaners Are Not Allowed
This trip is for strong-spirited adventurers only.
