Villavicencio is a Colombian city in the department of Meta, 123.7 km away from Bogotá. A journey that takes about 3 hours by road. With a small downtown although with some interesting places to see, the magic of Villavicencio is found on the outskirts of the city, where nature is all encompassing. There you can enjoy some of the most beautiful views in the region. As well as being able to do fantastic activities such as hiking and visiting the llanera fauna in the Bioparque los Ocarros.
Continue reading and find out about the best places and things to do in Villavicencio, while you discover a wonderful place in Colombia and unknown to many. In addition, we offer you some tips and recommendations for your trip such as where to eat or sleep that you can’t miss.
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6 Best things to do in Villavicencio
1. Visiting Los Ocarros Biopark, one of the best activities to do in Villavicencio
One of the favourite things for visitors and locals of Villavicencio is to visit the Bioparque Los Ocarros, a park founded in 2003 for the protection and preservation of the fauna of the Orinoquia region. Its name, “Los Ocarros”, is due to an endangered animal, the ocarro, a giant native armadillo that can be seen in the park. In addition to ocarros, the park has many other animal species, such as tapirs, capybaras, jaguars, crocodiles… In addition, the Bioparque Los Ocarros has an aquarium, a terrarium, a lake where you can take a water bike ride and several trails through the nature to walk in its almost 6 hectares.
Fees: children 12,000 COP (€2.74) adults 15,000 COP (€3.43). Free parking.
Hours: M-F from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; S-S-Sun from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
2. Mirador la Piedra del Amor
The Piedra del Amor viewpoint is one of 13 viewpoints in Villavicencio. Also, one of the most beautiful and accessible. Located on the outskirts of the city, about 15 minutes by car, this viewpoint offers the best views over the city.
At night, you can live the magical experience of contemplating Villavicencio illuminated. And during the day, you can enjoy the beautiful sculptures that are in the viewpoint. Although undoubtedly, the best time to climb to the viewpoint is during the sunset. In addition to enjoying both panoramas, you can see how the sky is dyed in a thousand colours. Among the sculptures is the one that gives the park its name, the Stone of Love, which represents the myth of the frog. According to legend, the woman who touches the frog will become pregnant with twins. In addition, the viewpoint has a restaurant with a terrace where Colombian delicacies are served.
3. Vereda El Carmen
The Vereda el Carmen is a 4.7 km nature trail very close to the centre of Villavicencio. It is the ideal place to connect with nature, breathe fresh air, exercise and enjoy the natural beauty of the plains landscapes. During the tour, you will be able to contemplate the wonderful vegetation that surrounds the trail, as well as different animal species, such as monkeys and many types of birds. At the end of the trail there is a nice viewpoint-restaurant where you can stop to recharge your batteries after the hike and enjoy the views. Put on some good sneakers and enjoy one of the best things to do in Villavicencio!
4. Tiuma Park, a complete llanera experience to do in Villavicencio
One of the best weekend plans in Villavicencio is to visit Tiuma Park. Whether you’re staying at their glamping hotel park or not, visiting the park is a great way to get up close to the llanera culture. Have authentic experiences like riding horses in the land of Colombian cowboys and sampling the local food.
Other activities that can be done at Tiuma Park include zip line riding, rappelling, cattle drive, llanera culture show, water slides, among many others.
Hours: M-F from 8:30 to 17:00; S-S-Sun from 8:30 to 7:00. Admission free, price per activity.
5. Touring the city centre
Although most sightseeing is not concentrated in the city centre, it is worth spending at least a little time strolling through it and taking in some of its interesting sights.
The first, the protagonist of the city, is the Plaza Los Libertadores. It is the main square and the centre of life in Villavicencio. Here you will find a beautiful fountain and a sign with the name of the city for you to take a picture and remember it forever. Also, in front of the square is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen, built in 1848 by the villagers themselves and rebuilt in 1890 after a fire.
Another essential stop on the walk through Villavicencio is Los Fundadores park. Its name is due to a popular sculpture in the park made by the Antioquian artist Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt, which honours the founding race llanera. The park is one of the most beautiful and pleasant outdoor spaces in the city. The ideal place for picnics or just let yourself be carried away by its beautiful tree-lined paths.
6. Parque de las Malocas
If when you travel to new places you are not happy with simply visiting the most touristy spots, but enjoy getting to know the culture of the place, the Parque de las Malocas is an essential stop on your trip to Villavicencio. The park was founded with the premise of promoting and recovering the llanera culture. And for this, the agencies offer tours with experts who explain in detail the various exhibits and traditions of the region. In addition, there are fun activities such as joropo dance classes and walks along the Path of Myths and Legends, where you can hear the best stories of the place. It is also worth mentioning that the Parque de las Malocas hosts the World Coleo Encounter, which takes place in mid-October every year.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to do around Villavicencio
1. The route of the Embrujo llanero
The route of the Embrujo llanero is a nice initiative that has been launched to publicize some of the wonderful people of the department of Meta. It covers about 100 km and a total of 7 villages, the first of which is Villavicencio. It then passes through Acacías, Guamal, Castilla la Nueva, Cubarral, San Martín de los Llanos and ends in Granada.
This route is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the culture of Meta and enjoy its villages, its people and its wonderful traditions. An example of the latter is the “Cuadrillas de San Martín”. It is a horse show considered Cultural Heritage of the Nation, which takes place on the second bridge of November in San Martín de los Llanos.
2. Bogotá
Bogotá, besides being the capital of Colombia, is one of the most tourist destinations in the country. This huge city of more than 7 million inhabitants, catches with its eclectic charm to everyone who sets foot on it. On your visit to Bogotá, you can not miss the Plaza de Bolivar. One of the liveliest places in the city and residence of the emblematic Catedral Primada. The National Capitol is another must-see, an impressive neoclassical building replete with Ionic columns. If you are interested in street art, we recommend the neighbourhood of La Candelaria, with its alley El Embudo. Enjoy a beautiful walk where you can admire the best street art murals in the city.
Another essential place to see in the capital of Colombia are the Cerro de Montserrate, the best spot to watch the sunset and can be reached by funicular. As for museums, the most prominent of the city are the Museo del Oro and the Museo Botero. Admission to the latter is free, and you can enjoy a hundred paintings by the Colombian artist, plus a room dedicated to European artists such as Picasso, Dalí and Monet.
Learn more about the capital of Colombia in Things to do in Bogota Colombia
Where to eat in Villavicencio?
- Asadero La Topochera: A Colombian steakhouse with hearty dishes of tasty and quality meat. Enjoy its cosy and familiar atmosphere and good music. No wonder their big room is always full! Price range €5-15
- Bastimento: One of the best restaurants of typical llanera food in the Primavera Urbana shopping centre. Don’t forget to try their “nido” dessert, delicious and ideal for sharing. Price range € 5-15
- Avemaría:For many, the best place to eat in Villavicencio. In addition to its dishes of Colombian cuisine, there are live shows, such as concerts and circus shows. An authentic experience. Price range €5-15
Where to sleep in Villavicencio?
- GHL Hotel Grand Villavicencio: A fantastic 5-star hotel with a prime location, 7 km from Los Ocarros Biopark. It offers comfortable and elegant rooms, as well as wonderful swimming pools and a restaurant with national and international cuisine. Breakfast included. Price per night €58
- Terraza Hotel Villavicencio: A simpler but equally upscale accommodation, 2.5 km from the COFREM life park. Continental breakfast included. Price per night: €31
- NQ Hotel Orinoquia: A traditional 4-star accommodation, but with all the modern comforts and a fun and unique decor. Excellent à la carte breakfast included. Price per night: €50
What do I need to know before a trip to Villavicencio
- The official currency in Colombia is the Colombian peso.
- The official language is Spanish.
- We recommend carrying cash for small stores.
- Don’t forget about a coverage for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
- Villavicencio is a safe destination, but be cautious with your belongings.
- Remember to wear comfortable shoes for excursions, as well as light, breathable clothing.
- Tap water is drinkable, but our stomach may not be accustomed to its levels of minerality. That is why it is better to drink bottled water.
- Respect the environment, as well as the fauna and flora of Villavicencio.
How to organize what to do in Villavicencio
Sign up or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the stops that interest you most. Don’t forget about the restaurants and bars where you want to eat. You can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference.
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map. You can be inspired by the routes we present in the post.
- There are restaurants where only cards are accepted.
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and everything will be ready for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to do in Villavicencio.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Villavicencio
The climate in Villavicencio is warm throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 32ºC, with March being the warmest month and April and May being the rainiest.
The best time to travel to this Colombian city is between the months of June to September, when temperatures are more pleasant for activities such as hiking through Vereda del Carmen and visiting the Biopark.
The most common means of transportation in Villavicencio are jeeps or busetas. Many of the places of interest are far from the city centre, so if you do not have a private car, you will have to use these transportation services.
The best way to get to Villavicencio is by car or bus from Bogotá. The capital of Colombia is 125km away and the trip by car takes about 2h 50 minutes. If you don’t have a private vehicle you can take one of the Flota La Macarena buses for 33,000 COP (7.5€) that leave from the Salitre Terminal every half hour from 1:30 am to 11:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased both online and at the station.
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