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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Yopal
Spend 1–2 days in Yopal for a quick taste of the Llanos, then use it as a hub for wildlife day trips.
Yopal, capital of Casanare, sits at the edge of the Eastern Andes and the Llanos. The city centre is walkable, with a central park, museums and easy bus/taxi links. One full day covers the main sights; a second day allows a wildlife reserve visit or a hike to the Virgen statue.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season, milder heat)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season, road work)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 60,000–80,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 120,000–150,000 excl. bed · High COP 200,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police, ambulance, fire 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee with toast | COP 4,000–6,000 |
| Arepa con queso | COP 3,000–5,000 |
| Sancocho de gallina (bowl) | COP 12,000–18,000 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | COP 12,000–15,000 |
| Bus ticket to Bogotá | COP 50,000–70,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EYP · El Alcaraván Airport
- Flights to Bogotá and Bucaramanga
Typical fares
- EYP → Yopal city centre (taxi)
- ≈ COP 15,000, 10 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The city centre is walkable; taxis and city buses are cheap and frequent. No Uber/Lyft.
See and do
Known for
- Central Park and historical museum
- Parque La Iguana and River Cravo Sur
- Statue of the Virgen (viewpoint)
- Reserva Natural El Encanto de Guanapalo
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Reserva Natural El Encanto de Guanapalo | Arrange transport via the reserve’s website; about 2 h drive each way | ≈4 h total |
| Statue of the Virgen | Local bus or taxi to trailhead, then hike | ≈5 h round‑trip (incl. hike) |
Sleep
- Hotel La Bendición
- Near km 3 via Sirivana, basic rooms, good for short stays
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedisˈkulpe |
| Thank you | Graciasgraˈθjas |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwanˈto ˈkwesta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?ˈdonde esˈta el ˈbaɲo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads to Villavicencio may be under maintenance (check before travel).
- Stay aware of heat; carry water and sunscreen.
Yopal is generally safe; use normal city precautions, avoid isolated areas after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Yopal yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Central Park and historical museum
- Parque La Iguana and River Cravo Sur
- Statue of the Virgen (viewpoint)
- Reserva Natural El Encanto de Guanapalo
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Yopal, revision 4904506 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4904506
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Yopal
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, ambulance, fire123
US consulate in Bogotá; Colombian police 123 for emergencies.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/yopal). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.