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Colombia🇨🇴 | citiesYopalCasanare plains edge, Cravo Sur riverside, joropo evenings | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Yopal
👀 For curious travelerscity ranked #19
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Yopal is worth a night or two only if you’re heading to or from the Llanos or the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, and that’s what tips it. It sits in eastern Colombia, in Casanare, on the edge of the plains. The center has no colonial charm, so skip it as a destination. One evening I watched a joropo group rehearse in a plaza, and the harp was far faster than I expected. Cash is handy, since some local spots don’t take cards.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #19 city in ColombiaWhat sets this place apart

Yopal works as a practical pause between the Andes and the open plains, which is why most backpackers end up here. It is the capital of Casanare, so you get ranch-country food like grilled meat and plantain without a tour price tag. It also gives you cattle-and-wildlife safaris in the surrounding savanna, led by local guides who know the flooded roads. Hostels are few, but rooms are easy to find. Come for a night or two, use it to organize your onward trip, and don’t expect nightlife beyond a few loud bars with live music.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Parque Central and Cathedral area (Catedral de San José): The town’s everyday living room, with shade trees, vendors and families after dark. Come in the evening when the heat drops. Free, 30 to 45 minutes.
  2. Malecón del Cravo Sur: A riverside promenade along the Cravo Sur with a long walkway, rest areas and fresh breeze at dusk. Locals jog and stroll here late afternoon. Free, about 1 hour.
  3. Parque Lineal La Iguana: A green strip along a creek on the edge of town where you can watch birds and, with luck, the park’s iguanas in the trees. Go early morning before the sun gets harsh. Free, 45 minutes.
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🏘️ NeighborhoodsKey areas and districts to know

Yopal is a spread-out city of the Llanos foothills, and only a few areas repay your time.
  • Centro and Parque Principal: The practical core, with banks, ATMs, bakeries and cheap lunch counters within a few blocks. Walkable, but there are no sights, so treat it as a base for errands and meals.
  • Zona Rosa (around Carrera 29 and Calle 30): Where the evening action is: grill restaurants, bars and loud vallenato. Worth a night, and compact enough to cover on foot.
  • Malecón del Cravo Sur: A riverside promenade with shade and families on weekends. Pleasant for an hour, nothing more.
  • Outer barrios and the ring road: Skip them. They are long, hot and dull, and you need a taxi to cross them.

⌛️ 1 dayHow to make the most of one day

Pace the day slowly, with walking in the cooler hours and a long break indoors when the midday heat peaks.
7:00 AM: Parque Metropolitano La Iguana Walk the lagoon trails while birds are active and the air is still cool.
9:30 AM: Plaza de Mercado Take a short taxi to the market, sample fresh cheese and juice, and look at the plains produce.
12:00 PM: Lunch and siesta Order grilled meat with yuca at a local restaurant, then rest indoors through the hottest hours.
4:00 PM: Barrio streets off the center Wander the less-visited neighborhoods, where people sit outside and cowboy hats are common.
6:00 PM: Parque Resurrección Join families at the lake as it cools, then find live joropo for dinner.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Yopal

  • Dry Season (December to March): Sunny, with highs of 32 to 35°C (90 to 95°F). Best for river trips and roads; holiday weekends fill rooms.
  • Rainy Season (April to November): Heavy afternoon downpours, around 24 to 32°C (75 to 90°F), muddy rural roads, and calmer prices.
  • Festivals: Late June and early July bring cattle fairs and Llanero music, with higher room rates.
Book ahead for long weekends, since Colombian puentes festivos fill local hotels.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: fair for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: highly recommended for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

The center, around Parque Principal, is the best budget choice, with the largest number of cheap rooms and private doubles at roughly US$12 to 25. Yopal has few true hostels, so most backpackers book basic hotels instead of dorms. It is flat, lit and busy until about 9 pm, and you can walk to restaurants, ATMs and taxis. The Zona Rosa is the alternative if you want nightlife close by, though weekend music can run late and light sleepers should ask for an interior room. Both areas are a short taxi ride from the bus terminal.
Best hostels in Yopal


Best quality hotels in Colombia

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around like a local

From the bus terminal, a taxi to the center takes about 10 minutes and costs US$2 to 3, which beats waiting for a local bus with luggage. Yopal is hot and spread out, so you will use wheels more than your feet. Traffic is light, and public transport is basic.
  • Walking: Fine inside the center and Zona Rosa, and pleasant after sunset. Midday heat of 33°C (91°F) makes any longer walk a poor idea.
  • Taxi: The sensible default. Most city rides cost US$1.50 to 3; confirm the fare before getting in, since many taxis have no meter.
  • Mototaxi and motorbike taxis: Cheapest at US$1 to 2 per ride and fast in traffic, though the helmet is often optional and less than ideal.
  • Local buses and colectivos: Cost about US$0.50 to 0.70 and run from early morning until around 8 pm, but routes are confusing for visitors.
… read more 👉
From the bus terminal, a taxi to the center takes about 10 minutes and costs US$2 to 3, which beats waiting for a local bus with luggage. Yopal is hot and spread out, so you will use wheels more than your feet. Traffic is light, and public transport is basic.
  • Walking: Fine inside the center and Zona Rosa, and pleasant after sunset. Midday heat of 33°C (91°F) makes any longer walk a poor idea.
  • Taxi: The sensible default. Most city rides cost US$1.50 to 3; confirm the fare before getting in, since many taxis have no meter.
  • Mototaxi and motorbike taxis: Cheapest at US$1 to 2 per ride and fast in traffic, though the helmet is often optional and less than ideal.
  • Local buses and colectivos: Cost about US$0.50 to 0.70 and run from early morning until around 8 pm, but routes are confusing for visitors. Skip them unless you have time.
  • Intercity buses: Services to Bogotá take 7 to 9 hours for US$17 to 25. Shared vans serve nearby towns and cost US$3 to 10.

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)Travel costs and budget guide for Yopal

Expect to spend about US$38 a day in Yopal in high season.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm (high season)US$10 to 15Few dorms, so private rooms often cost more
Dorm (off-season)US$8 to 12Prices ease from April to November
MealsUS$10 to 14Set lunch about US$3 to 4
Local transportUS$3 to 5Taxis and mototaxis
City transport passNot availablePay per ride
Activities/entry feesUS$5 to 8Rivers and wetlands cost little
MiscellaneousUS$2 to 4Water, snacks, SIM data
Total Daily BudgetUS$38Per person, per day, in high season.
Eat the fixed-price almuerzo at midday to save the most money.

source: colombia.travel
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsShort trips worth adding

Yopal works as a base for rural Llanos outings, mostly by shared van or taxi, with trips best in the dry months.
Pozo Azul and Río Cravo Sur: Swimming holes and riverbanks lie 20 to 40 minutes outside town. Budget US$5 to 12 with transport, and avoid Sunday when families crowd the water.

Tilodirán Wetlands: Birds and caiman fill this lowland wetland near Yopal. Roads are rough in the wet season, so go from December to March and expect a guided visit at about US$15 to 30.

Paz de Ariporo: Hikers use the road toward Paz de Ariporo for savanna views. Travel takes 1.5 to 2 hours each way, and a first-timer error is leaving after noon.

Aguazul and Pueblo Viejo: Short rides of 30 to 45 minutes for US$2 to 4 lead to waterfalls and river baths. Pack small bills, as rural vendors rarely change large notes.

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

The Llanos shape the plate here, and carne a la llanera is the one to order: beef or mamona (young veal) slow-roasted over a wood fire, smoky and salty, served with yuca and potatoes. Try hallaca llanera or tungos (plantain parcels) for breakfast, and cachapa corn pancakes, plus fresh guarapo or jugo de maracuyá to fight the heat. Roadside asaderos and the Zona Rosa grill houses serve generous portions for US$6 to 10, while central bakeries sell cheap bites for under US$2.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Yopal is calm for travelers, and common sense covers most risks. Petty theft, mainly phone snatching from motorbikes, happens in the center after dark, so keep devices in a pocket and use a taxi after 9 pm. Solo travelers, including women, report few problems in the Zona Rosa, but avoid drinking heavily with strangers. Rural roads occasionally face blockades, so check conditions locally before day trips. Heat and sun cause more trouble than crime, so carry water.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Two days is enough for Yopal itself, and three if you add a river or wetland excursion. Spend one evening in the Zona Rosa and one day at Río Cravo Sur or Tilodirán. Dry months from December to March are best for outings.
Yopal is reasonably safe for solo backpackers, with petty theft the main issue. Use a taxi after 9 pm, which costs US$2 to 3, and keep phones out of sight in the center. The Zona Rosa is busy and generally fine for a night out.
Yopal is known as the capital of Casanare and a gateway to the Llanos. It is famous for carne a la llanera, Llanero music and cattle culture, plus oil-industry growth. Travelers use it as a base for wetlands and river trips.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Colombian cities near Yopal

Explore more nearby:

  • Sogamoso—Muisca Sun Temple, Sunday market, Lake Tota access| 72 km away
  • Duitama—Potato market, Boyacá crossroads, páramo moorland| 88 km away
  • Tunja—Painted colonial ceilings, gilded chapels, Boyacá capital, student streets| 108 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Yopal deserves one night, two at most. I’d arrive early, book the savanna trip straight away and leave the next day. Stay longer only if rain or a road closure holds up your onward bus.

✈️ When did I visit Colombia?
Did a good 3-week trip around Colombia in August 2014.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Colombia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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