The Venezuelan Plains: A Journey Through Hacienda Doña Bárbara

The Venezuelan Plains: A Journey Through Hacienda Doña Bárbara

In a brutal journey through the Venezuelan plains, a vast expanse of savannahs and rivers, are a unique ecosystem that is home to a rich biodiversity and a vibrant culture where my drone was able to capture some brutal and unique images in our country. In the heart of this region is the Hacienda Doña Barbara where we were very humbly hosted for several days and taught many things I did not know, an emblematic place that evokes the essence of Venezuelan literature and rural life. This post explores the beauty of the plains through aerial photographs taken with a drone, the wildlife that inhabits this land and the experience of sailing through its rivers while contemplating unforgettable sunsets, watching the fishermen and the birds that live here plus the crocodiles and alligators of the plains.

The Hacienda Doña Barbara, inspired by the famous novel by Romulo Gallegos, although it has nothing to do with Doña Barbara but if something in common or kinship she was a lawyer the owner of this hacienda lawyer is a symbol of the struggle between civilization and barbarism in Venezuela. This place is not only a literary reference point, they owners tried to bring the past to this wonderful place, but also a place where you can experience the llanera life at its best.Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, the hacienda becomes a starting point although it has nothing to do with Doña Barbara, this hacienda is becoming one of the best haciendas in the state recovering spaces that in previous years had been completely abandoned to explore the vast plains that extend as far as the eye can see.

Aerial Photography: A New Perspective
Drone technology has revolutionized the way we capture images of the world around us. In the Venezuelan plains, aerial photographs offer a unique perspective of the natural beauty of the region as the birds that are very jealous of their land on several occasions tried to attack the drone. From the heights, you can observe the extensive fields of grass, the meandering rivers and the fauna that inhabits this ecosystem, such as the tapirs, chiguires, cattle and other species that live here in peace and tranquility.

The images taken from the air reveal the majesty of the plains. You can see herds of wild horses galloping freely, herds of loose cattle, on the days we spent here we were asked the favor of herding the same cattle and collaborating with the llaneros grazing in the distance and birds of various species soaring through the sky. As I show you in the photos, so are every day in these magical and unique places.

The Fauna of the Llanos: A Close Encounter
The savannas of Venezuela are a refuge for a great variety of wildlife, from birds that wanted to attack the drone in many opportunities since I had to take it down, they were very aggressive and jealous in their virgin and unexplored territory and mammals to reptiles and amphibians. In this ecosystem, the biodiversity is so high that it is common to see a variety of species in a single area as shown in the images of the chigüire and the birds very cardel drone.
**Birds in the Sábanas
Birds are one of the most impressive groups in the savannas. With more than 300 species, the vast savannas are an ideal destination for lovers of the biodiversity of these birds, I am told that many foreigners come to visit this ornithological hacienda. Some of the most common birds in the savannas include the carrapato, the sparrow hawk, and the water tiger, which move through the sky in search of food.

During certain times of the year, the plains become a refuge for migratory birds looking for food and a place to nest, what they wanted was to knock down the drone, the few that I saw that's why we must respect their space and if we see that they are angry remove the drone..

Boating on these waters is an experience that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the surroundings.it is one of the greatest experiences of my life with the photos I have I hope to reach an age where I can look back on these adventures with great joy As the boat moves along, you can observe the changing landscapes: from the banks covered with dense vegetation to the extensive grassland areas that extend on both sides of the river.as the fishermen go about their business we did not stop to ask what they were fishing for.

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During the tour, it is common to find groups of capybaras resting on the shore, or caimans sunbathing on the rocks. I took pictures of them but this is a drone post aerial photos I will try to include them in the next opportunity. The tranquility of the water and the singing of the birds create a magical atmosphere, where time seems to stop at sunset. Watching the birds flying as well as the chiguire and snakes is something magical.

A Visual Spectacle of Sunsets One of the most memorable moments of any visit to the Venezuelan plains is the sunset. As the sun begins to descend on the horizon the animals begin to go to their burrows or homes after a long day in the Venezuelan savannahs, the sky is transformed into a palette of vibrant colors: for me I went in the rainy season I did not have much luck with the sunsets in the plains so I must return to come back for a breathtaking visual spectacle.

**Nature Unfolds
Nature unfolds in all its splendor in the plains with this spectacle of blue skies with chick yellow. The vegetation is exuberantly green, it is impressive how green the plains are, with trees and plants rising in all directions lush with fruit and life for both the llaneros and the animals. The sound of birds and insect songs fill the air, creating a relaxing atmosphere in harmony with nature.

that leaves everyone breathless. The sunsets in the plains are a true gift of nature, where the golden light of the sun is reflected in the waters of the rivers, creating a mirror effect that duplicates the beauty of the landscape. It is the same with the greenness of the grass, the brown of the rivers and the blue sky of the afternoon, something unimaginable for me, I do not know if you have the same feeling when you see them.

Sunset on the Plains: A Moment of Calm and Reflection.
From the boat, visitors like us were able to enjoy this spectacle as the sun slowly sets, illuminating the clouds with a warm glow. The shadows of the trees and the fauna lengthen, and the birdsong becomes a soft murmur that accompanies the fall of the day. Here we only hear the birds of the place and the mosquitoes of the night as well as the swamp frogs.
trees and wildlife lengthen, and the birdsong becomes a soft murmur that accompanies the fall of the day. This moment of calm and reflection invites travelers to appreciate the grandeur of nature and the peace found in the plains. It is incredible these ecotourism trips that I am dedicating myself to making and documenting for you.

The Llanera Culture: Traditions and Customs
In addition to its natural beauty, the Venezuelan plains are a melting pot of culture and traditions. Life at Hacienda Doña Bárbara is steeped in llanero customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Music, dance and gastronomy are fundamental elements of this vibrant culture. During our stay we shared with several llanero shows and they also taught us how to milk the cows and goats, something I already knew, but sharing is a brutal experience.

The Llanera Culture: A Celebration of Life
The llaneros are known for their skill in cattle breeding and horse taming, I had the opportunity to tame my beautiful wild filly hahaha. It is a tradition that goes back centuries, and has been passed down from generation to generation. In the hacienda, the llanera culture is lived in all its splendor, with parties and celebrations that invite everyone to join and celebrate life in this land.arriving the first day we were delighted with a beautiful girl and her singing recio just from the llano s

The Gastronomy of Llanera: A Delight for the Senses
The llanera gastronomy is an important part of the llanera culture. Typical dishes such as the pabellon criollo, which combines meat, beans, rice and plantains, cheese made on the hacienda and arepas, are an essential part of the local diet. The food is prepared with fresh, local ingredients, reflecting the richness of the land. The hacienda itself is self-sustaining and does not depend on anything or anyone for food, everything is local.

An Unmissable Destination
The Venezuelan plains, with their breathtaking natural beauty and rich culture, are a destination that deserves to be explored. I invite you to live these experiences in the flesh at this hacienda for real. Hacienda Doña Bárbara offers a window to this fascinating world, where wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and llanero traditions are intertwined in one experience. I came away with a great experience as in each of the experiences very different from the other with this I say goodbye until the next one.

photos of my authorship used drone dji mini 2