The ecoregion covers the transition zone between montane forests in the Andes and the llanos, or lowland grasslands.

The Apure–Villavicencio dry forests ecoregion runs along the eastern edge of the Andes of Colombia and Venezuela from the southwest to the northeast.

In Venezuela it covers parts of the states of Portuguesa, Barinas, and Apure, and in Colombia it lies in the departments of Arauca, Casanare, and Meta.

[3] The Apure–Villavicencio dry forests ecoregion has an elevation of 130–400 metres (430–1,310 ft) above sea level, sloping up from the plains to the base of the mountains.

In the departments of Casanare and Arauca there are alluvial fans that extend to the Llanos, with heavily drained soils that are acid and infertile.

[2] The Uribante–Arauca forest refuge in Venezuela holds Amazon region species such as Capparis sola, Licania latifolia, Dichapetalum latiflium, Henrietella rimosa, Leandra aristigera, Maxillaria equitans and Piper hermannii.

Plant species found only in the refuge are Inga thibaudiana, Machaerium paraense, Ormosia nobilis, Pterocarpus santalinoides, Miconia matthaei, Simaba paraensis and Aegiphila scandens.

[2] Endangered mammals include Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) and mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque).

On the Venezuela-Colombia border oil refineries have polluted the groundwater and the Arauca River with high levels of sodium.

[10] A total of 691 square kilometres (267 sq mi) of woody vegetation was lost from the dry forests.