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The immense plains of Los Llanos take up nearly a third of the country’s area. They are one of the continent's premier wildlife viewing areas. Some of the most abundant species are alligators and capybara, the world's largest rodent with a length of over one meter. Other common species are river dolphins, jaguar, pumas, howler and capuchin monkeys, anteaters and anacondas. However, the livelihood of the region's inhabitants, the Llaneros, is most closely linked with domesticated animals. The Llaneros have a reputation for being extremely skilled horsemen. Most work on hatos, enormous ranches with cattle often numbering in the tens of thousands.
This huge region comprises Barinas, Apure, Portuguesa, Cojedes and much of the Guárico and Anzoátegui states. To the north lies the coastal region, to the west the Andes, and to the south and east the jungle, separated by the Río Orinoco. The Río Apure bisects the region horizontally, separating the Llano Alto (upper plains) and Llano Bajo (lower plains).
Los Llanos has two very pronounced seasons. During the wet season, from May to November, much of the land becomes flooded and extremely verdant. In the dry season, the land becomes parched and dusty, with most vegetation turning brown and yellow. While the scenery is more picturesque in the wet season, wildlife sightings are far fewer – the best viewing comes when water is scarce, causing animals to concentrate at the few watering holes.
Visiting during the dry season is preferable; it rains nearly every day during the wet season, limiting visibility and making for rough conditions, and mosquitoes are numerous and voracious. The rain can, however, offer a break from the searing heat – the average high temperature is around 27°C during both seasons.
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