In addition to the lodges listed, many of the tour agencies in Mérida arrange trips to the Llanos. Price wars wage on the streets of Mérida, however, by opting for the cheapest options you may find yourself in an overcrowded van and sleeping in primitive conditions. That said, 4-day, 3-night tours from Mérida run between $150 and $400 per person; the price includes transportation, meals, and a variety of tours. The price range generally reflects the level of luxury you'll find in transportation and accommodations.
Isolated Lodges or Hatos -- Hato is the local term for a very large expanse of land. It designates a ranch or farm much larger than a finca or a hacienda. With the recent boom in eco-tourism, hato has also become the local term for an isolated nature lodge. Hatos in Los Llanos range from almost luxurious lodges with boats for river and lagoon excursions and large, open-air safari-style trucks for land tours, to basic camps with a zinc shelter over a concrete slab where hammocks are hung inside mosquito nets. Tours at the more basic hatos are usually conducted by foot or horseback and, occasionally, in boats.
