Villavicencio city - Meta

Distance from Bogotá: 88Km.
Altitude: 467mts s.n.m.

Villavicencio, the capital of Meta, has great economic, commercial and tourist growth. The commerce is the most dynamic sector, mainly concentrated in the cattle farming, the agriculture, and the crude oil and gas exploitation.
 
It is to the west of Meta, is located on the foothills of the oriental mountain range, near to Guatinia River, and surrounded by streams like Parrado and Granade.

Villavicencio is the cradle of Colombian Song Festival that is dedicated to llano typical rhythms, showing the cultural richness in different musical rhythms, typical of llanero people.

Climate

The climate is humid, with average temperature of 27ºC. The raining season begins in April to August; from December to March it is not very rainy. The environment humidity is 80%.

Tourist Attractions

Concha Acústica Arnulfo Briceño

It is considered tourist viewpoint, from there people can have spectacular views to the city.
I was created in order to have musical, folkloric and cultural events for Colombian and foreign people.

Botanic Garden of Villavicencio

It is located 2 Km. away from the capital, by road to Azotea neighborhood, covers 40 hectares of native forest.
It was created in 1983; it promotes the preservation and spreading of vegetation, researches, environmental and ecological education; so that it is the perfect to further the knowledge about Villavicencio vegetation.

Monument to Cristo Rey

The monument to Cristo Rey, was inaugurated in 1954, it is located in the high zone on Redentor hill, situated in Llano avenue. It is the perfect place to enjoy spectacular views to the city.

Parks

Parque de la Vida (park)

It is one of the best attractions for recreation and sport in the llano, has conference halls for having cultural exhibitions, restaurant, swimming pool and green areas. It is located on the Circunvalar avenue.

Parque de los Libertadores

The Libertadores park is considered one of the best one in the capital; there, the busts of Simon Bolivar and Francisco de Paula Santander are located.

Las Malokas Park

Las Malokas shows the culture of llanos, taking part in the Colombian history, in an environment surrounded by exotic flora and varied samples of bovine, equine and other animals.

Inside the thematic park, there are exhibitions about the worse life world, it is the perfect place to learn about them, its habitat, characteristics, the stables, the llano work, the cultivation area of manioc banana and tapocho.

It has the best stables in the region where many breeds live. In the “manga de coleo” the llanero work is dramatized , how they mount horses, milk cows, lasso calves and the horse racing.

Outside the manga de coleo, people can taste the cutlet, the mamona, the hayacas and the cachapas typical food of llanos.

Opening days:
Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00hrs

Ticket price per person:
5.000Pesos
 
El Hacha Park

It was built in 1977 in honor to Jose Eustaquio Rivera, poet and novelist who wrote “The  Vorágine” whose book is about legends of llanos of Amazon jungle and the Orinoco. The axe represents the farm laborer effort.

Ocarros Bio Park

Los Ocarros Bio Park, a natural reserve, is a place dedicated to natural richness of the region. There, people will appreciate many animals and the diverse fauna. It has big green areas, paths, serpentarium and aquarium.

It is the firs zoo in the country where live regional animals of the llano, has different ecosystems, varied fauna and typical flora of Colombian Orinoquia.

It is 3 Km away by Restrepo – Cumaral road, in front of the cemetery “Jardines del Llano”, covers 6,3 hectares including two hectares of a lagoon.

Opening days:

Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16.00hrs
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9:00 to 17:00hrs

Ticket prices:
Younger than 12 years: 6.000
Adults: 8.500

Activities in Villavicencio

Ecoturism: The ecological diversity, the fauna, the flora in reserve and the endemic species are so wonderfull. The landscapes are worthy of admiration because of the wild life.

Motorboat trips: People will enjoy the motorboat trips by Manacacias, Yucao and Meta which is the main one and crosses diagonally from the centre of Colombia to the northwest.

Fishing: There are many clubs that organize excursions, tournaments in Meta, Manacacias, Yucao rivers and other ones.

Hiking: For people who loves adventure, this is the perfect place to do long walks by paths watching wonderful landscapes, waterfalls and natural wells.

Birdwatching: The different types of birds decorate the colorful landscapes, there are endemic species, migratory and aquatic birds in the morichal of llano.

Agrotourism: There are appropriated places for agrotourism, thanks to its infrastructure, the ranches, the natural reserves and all referent to llano culture.

The visitor can rest in agro-tourist ranches that has rural environment where people can appreciate the daily work as cattle farming, agriculture, fish farming; also taste the typical food, enjoy listening the llanera music or practicing horseback riding.

Cultural events

- Festival of Colombian song
- International Joropo´s festival
-  World  Coleo Tournament