Los Llanos cover about a third of Venezuela. From the air they look almost endless - golden grass to the horizon with a few groups of palm trees and slow-moving rivers winding through. In the dry season, the cracked ground is dotted with cattle and birds.
Then the rainy season arrives. From May to October, rain fills the rivers until they spill into the grass. Whole regions become a giant shallow lake. Fish swim through the grass, and herds of capybaras paddle from one dry patch to the next.
The cowboys of Los Llanos are called 'llaneros'. They ride horses across the plains all year, looking after big herds of cattle. They are famous for being brilliant horse riders and for singing as they work. Their songs are accompanied by a harp - not a sound you might expect on a cattle ranch.
Wildlife watchers love Los Llanos because so many animals are easy to spot in the open landscape. Anteaters, deer, caimans, hundreds of bird species, and the occasional jaguar all live here. A single day on the plains can show you more animals than a week in some forests.