On a clear morning in Barinas, the light comes up flat and wide over the plains, and the sound you notice first is birdsong rather than traffic. This is a city on the edge of Los Llanos, the great flat country that stretches away to the horizon.
Barinas suits travellers who are heading for the plains and want a base with a city's comforts before or after a ranch stay. It rewards people who are interested in wildlife, wide landscapes and the region's own music rather than in a checklist of monuments.
This guide covers the experiences the sources support: the plains and their wildlife, a safari from a regional ranch, and joropo, the traditional music of the Llanos.
Top things to do in Barinas
1. Wildlife watching in Los Llanos
The plains around Barinas hold anacondas, capybaras and caimans, along with hundreds of bird species. Jaguars and anteaters are present but much rarer, and the region is the last stronghold of the Orinoco Crocodile.
Go with a guide and give the wildlife time and distance. The rarer animals are a matter of luck, so treat every sighting of the common species as the substance of the day rather than something to hurry past.
2. The flat landscapes of Los Llanos
The scenery here is not dramatic in the vertical sense; it is stunning precisely because it is flat, with big skies and long sightlines across the plains.
Plan your viewing around the light. Early morning and late afternoon are when the flat country reads best and when wildlife is most active, so build the rest of your day around those hours.
3. A plains safari from a ranch in the region
Ranches in the region run plains safaris, which is the practical way to get out among the wildlife and the open country.
Arrange your safari through a ranch rather than trying to reach the plains independently, and combine it with your accommodation so you are already in place for the best hours of the day.
4. Joropo, the traditional Llanos music
Joropo is the traditional music of the Llanos, and dancing to it is one of the region's defining experiences.
Ask at your accommodation or at a ranch about where joropo is played, and go in the evening after a day on the plains.
If you only have one day
Morning: Set out early on a plains safari from a ranch in the region, when the flat landscapes are at their best and wildlife is active.
Afternoon: Continue watching for anacondas, capybaras, caimans and the many bird species, and keep an eye out for the rarer jaguars and anteaters and for the Orinoco Crocodile.
Evening: Return from the plains and spend the evening with joropo, the traditional Llanos music.
Frequently asked questions
What wildlife can you see in Los Llanos?
Anacondas, capybaras and caimans are among the wildlife, along with hundreds of bird species. Jaguars and anteaters are much rarer, and the region is the last stronghold of the Orinoco Crocodile.
How do you get out onto the plains?
Go on a plains safari from one of the ranches in the region. Arranging it through a ranch is the practical route.
What is joropo?
Joropo is the traditional music of the Llanos, and dancing to it is one of the things to do in the region.
Decide on your dates, pick a ranch in the region, and start planning your days around the plains and their wildlife.