The Illanos used to be the Amazon rain forest until the Andes mountain range developed, and the Amazon river's course reversed from flowing to the pacific to flowing to the Gulf of Mexico/Carribean Sea.

Gaviotas is an intentional community in the middle of that area. A week after I got back to the States, the F.A.R.C. flew their last hostage through the same regional airport that I went through to get to Gaviotas (Villavicencio).