Hato El Cedral
Working cattle ranch with rudimentary facilities, offering access to a wilderness of abundant animal and bird life.
The Hato El Cedral ranch is set on a working cattle ranch in the Llanos – a vast, sparsely populated region of savannah, wetlands and forest. Rooms are simple but provide the essentials: a ceiling fan, mosquito net and hot showers. There is also a buffet-style restaurant and a small swimming pool. Some buildings are slightly shabby around the edges but if your focus is on the wildlife and scenery this should not detract from your stay.
A day's schedule is typically composed of a couple of 3-hour excursions by boat, jeep or open-sided truck – one in the morning after breakfast and one in the late afternoon. The guides speak limited English, but the sight of the plethora of birds and animals is jaw-dropping.
Visitors to Venezuela should be aware that government intervention is prevalent even across the private sector. The hato is a case in point and since being taken over by the government and managed from Caracas, the level of service and maintenance has been reported as rudimentary. Come here to see the birds and animals, but not for luxurious accommodation with top quality personal attention.
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
Great lodge and wildlife location. We moved from an ok room at the back to a lovely one at the front. Could get very busy at mealtimes with large groups descending on cramped buffet - but thats not what you're there for.
MS, Oxford
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.
Carrie Gallagher - Travel Consultant
A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Escorted Groups team.
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Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Consultant
Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.
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Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Consultant
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made team.
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Ben Line - Travel Consultant
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Manager of the Tailor-made Department.
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Lina Fuller - Travel Consultant
Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.
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Hannah Donaldson - Travel Consultant
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is an invaluable part of our Group Tours team.
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Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Consultant
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
