Venezuela trekking & river expedition
| country: | Venezuela |
| trip type: | Moderate trekking holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 11 Jul, 29 Aug |
| price: | From £2395 (18 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. Price includes accommodation and meals as per itinerary, transportation, National Park fees, tents, porters and experienced local guides. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| late availability: | Late availability on the ultimate adventure holiday to Venezuela, organised by the company that took Ben Fogle and friends there on the BBC series 'Extreme Dreams' |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Often overlooked for its South American neighbours, Venezuela is an immensely diverse country and an adventure holiday here will reward the visitor with amazing landscapes, fascinating culture and overwhelming hospitality.
This trip begins in the capital Caracas before flying south to Ciudad Bolivar and the gateway to the Gran Sabana. The flat-topped mountains of the Tepuis really are another world and unlike any landscape you will have experienced before. Our trek takes us to the mountain of Auyantepui and the source of the Angel Falls.
Unlike the very populated Tepui of Roraima, this is a real wilderness expedition through deep jungle. As we ascend and explore the extraordinary mountain it is easy to imagine the efforts of the great explorers of the 1920’s, who were the first visitors to witness the spectacular Angel Falls.
At the end of the trekking, the expedition continues by river to Angel Falls. We camp overnight at the base of the Angel Falls and spend time taking in the dramatic scene. The adventure ends with a relaxing stay at a fair-trade chocolate hacienda on the Caribbean coast and an opportunity to enjoy some superb and totally deserted beaches.
This is a small group adventure with 4 to 12 in a group.
This trip begins in the capital Caracas before flying south to Ciudad Bolivar and the gateway to the Gran Sabana. The flat-topped mountains of the Tepuis really are another world and unlike any landscape you will have experienced before. Our trek takes us to the mountain of Auyantepui and the source of the Angel Falls.
Unlike the very populated Tepui of Roraima, this is a real wilderness expedition through deep jungle. As we ascend and explore the extraordinary mountain it is easy to imagine the efforts of the great explorers of the 1920’s, who were the first visitors to witness the spectacular Angel Falls.
At the end of the trekking, the expedition continues by river to Angel Falls. We camp overnight at the base of the Angel Falls and spend time taking in the dramatic scene. The adventure ends with a relaxing stay at a fair-trade chocolate hacienda on the Caribbean coast and an opportunity to enjoy some superb and totally deserted beaches.
This is a small group adventure with 4 to 12 in a group.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Caracas. Arrive Caracas, transfer to one of the best hotels in Caracas, located at the foot of Avila National Park. Welcome dinner and a relaxing evening in the city to recover from the journey. |
| Day 2: | Caracas. Tour of Caracas and an opportunity to learn more about the old and new Venezuela. Evening flight to Ciudad Bolivar and transfer to hotel. (B/L) |
| Day 3: | Canaima National Park. This is where our Venezuelan adventure truly begins. Travel on 5 seat Cessnas and enjoy what can only be described as one of the best small plane flights in the world. Land in the village of Uruyen in Canaima National Park .Trek to Auyantepui with our Indian guides and porters. (B/L/D) |
| Day 4: | Trekking. Our first full day of trekking leads through the rainforest and climbs into pristine cloud forest. We encounter the first signs of the endemic tepui flora. Overnight at El Peñon camp. (B/L/D) |
| Day 5: | Trekking. From a height of 1,600m, we continue our climb to the summit of Auyantepui, In places the trekking is challenging and we use a native system of knotted ropes to aid our passage over some of the larger boulders. On the summit plateau we enter a truly different world, Camp at El Oso – our home for the next 3 nights. (B/L/D) |
| Day 6-7: | Trekking. Ample opportunity to explore the vast summit plateau, the mysterious rock formations, the vertical rock walls and endemic plant life that can only be found on the Tepuis. (B/L/D) |
| Day 8: | Trekking. The return journey via El Peñon to Guyayaraca. Overnight camp in the village. (B/L/D) |
| Day 9: | Trekking. Final day of trekking from Guyayaraca to Kavac. We enjoy a barbecue hosted by the native Indians of the village. We spend the night in hammocks in one the huts typical of the village. (B/L/D) |
| Day 10: | Expedition to Angel Falls. Exploring and swimming in the falls of Kavac. We transfer by 4X4 to the start of our river expedition to Angel Falls. We stop overnight in Ibanameru where we spend the night in hammocks. (B/L/D) |
| Day 11: | Expedition to Angel Falls. On the Akanán River to Kuay. (B/L/D) |
| Day 12: | Expedition to Angel Falls. Journeying first up the Carrao River and then upriver to Churún we reach Island Ratoncito, Here we leave the canoes and trek to the base of Angel Falls. Overnight in hammocks on Island Ratoncito, overlooking Angel Falls. (B/L/D) |
| Day 13: | River trip to Canaima. We return down the Churún and Carrao passing the beautiful waterfall El Sapo; our destination being Canaima. Overnight on the shores of the lagoon in the comfortable Hoturvensa Lodge. (B/L/D) |
| Day 14: | Ciudad Bolivar. Leave Canaima National Park for the spectacular flight to Ciudad Bolivar. Afternoon free to explore the historic colonial city. (B) |
| Day 15: | Journey to Paria Peninsula. An interesting journey by road and boat from Ciudad Bolivar to Paria Peninsula. Stay at a fabulous chocolate Hacienda situated near some of the best and least discovered beaches on the Caribbean. (B/L/D) |
| Day 16: | Caribbean coast. A full day to relax on the Caribbean coast. Overnight at the hacienda. (B/L/D) |
| Day 17: | Caribbean coast. A further day at the hacienda to explore the Caribbean coast, visit the local hot springs, the chocolate factory and cocoa plantation. (B/L/D) |
| Day 18: | Journey home. Transfer to Carupano airport for morning flight to Caracas. To connect with overnight flights back to the UK. (B) |
| Day 19: | UK. Arrive back in the UK in the morning. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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The environment: This trip to Venezuela is based upon a small group size which minimises the environmental footprint. This is especially relevant to the very sensitive Tepui mountains. Our trip avoids Venezuela’s tourism hot-spots and explores undiscovered and truly off the beaten track locations. Throughout the trekking and river expedition, we follow a robust policy of “leave no trace” which is relevant to wild camping, flora and fauna, waste disposal, visual and noise intrusion and other land users. We also present briefings to clients on environmental awareness, responsibilities and practice with particular emphasis on highlighting local environmental issues and threats that exist in Amazonia. We provide the opportunity to offset carbon emissions arising from international air travel to Venezuela.
 The local community: Our itinerary is designed to ensure authentic interaction with the local population, customs and culture. This trip provides opportunities to learn and understand more about Amazonian culture and customs through the use of qualified and experienced guides from the local community. We inform clients of socio-cultural considerations and appropriate behaviour, particularly with regard to sensitive areas such as the Tepui mountains. The local economy: We engage local business (tour operators, hotels, restaurants, guides and other ventures) throughout this entire trip and ensure that its economic benefits are shared in an equitable way. By visiting areas where tourism is less established such as the Ayuantepui region and the Paria Peninsula, this trip is contributing to the even distribution of income and economic growth throughout the country. During the trekking itinerary we work closely with the local Pemon community of the Amazon. We use guides, porters and other staff drawn from local villages and other business within the same community. This provides valuable support to the local economy. On the Caribbean coast we stay at a fair-trade Chocolate Hacienda that directly benefits the tourism and manufacturing sectors of the local economy. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |