This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Villavicencio.
Located a four-hour drive from the Colombian capital, Bogota, Villavicencio, is the gateway to Los Llanos. These vast grasslands are used as the feeding grounds for the Colombian cowboys' (gaucho) stock, and they really come to life during the rainy season when the plains flood and the birds flock in. A Villavicencio hostel is the perfect place to base yourself when exploring the area, no matter what time of the year you visit.
Villavicencio is hot and humid, with average temperatures ranging between 28 and 30 degrees, so it is important to choose a Villavicencio hostel with air conditioning or a fan. There are only a small number of hostels, and they are mostly located around Avenida 40 and Calle 15. It is also recommended that you come prepared for rain, especially between the months of May and October.
There are a number of a parks and monuments to visit in the city, along with an interesting zoo, Bioparque Los Ocarros, which is home to a variety of animals native to South America. It is easy to spend a few hours here walking amongst the enclosures. What is the best part? You can purchase food at the ticket booth to feed the turtles and ducks.
If you are looking to get out of town and don not have your own transport, it is going to be very difficult to move around, as public transport is not reliable and there are not many tour agents that operate here. The area has suffered with poor travel security in the past and, as things are improving, it is possible that in the future more options will be available.
If you are looking to beat the heat, then Villavicencio boasts a number of shopping malls, a cinema, and possibly the most famous bar district in the whole of Colombia. Zona Rosa is the place to be when the sun goes down, with bars and restaurants lining an entire street. Like the rest of Colombia, the party does not really start until late, so it is a good idea to organise a late check out or an extra day for recovery at your Villavicencio hostel.
Villavicencio is not the most exciting place in Colombia to visit. Weekends draw large crowds from the region, but it is otherwise a sleepy city with its own unique personality that is worth exploring if you have the time available and are ready to get your sweat on.
Written by local enthusiast for Villavicencio hostels
Global Runaways