Day 1, Saturday: Arrival
Arrival and reception at Maiquetia International airport. A 30-minute transfer by bus to Caracas. After having checked in your hotel, your day is at leisure.
Day 2, Sunday: Gran Sabana
Morning transfer to Airport for flight to Ciudad Bolívar. Transfer by bus to "Santa Elena de Uairen". A 12-hour ride across the flat steppe land (Llanos), the jungle of "Imataca", and up to Gran Sabana. You reach Sta. Elena de Uairén at the Brazilian border, where you will be met. Overnight stay at a standard hotel.
Day 3, Monday: El Paují
Depart, by jeep, along the Brazilian border to "El Paují". Pass Indian huts and gold digger camps; stop for photographs and a dip in some bathing pools. In the afternoon reach "El Paují. Try your hand at gold washing at a local mining site. In the evening, meet for dinner at local restaurant. Spend the night in tents.
Day 4, Tuesday: The Amazon jungle
A 30 minute walk through savannah and jungle to reach "El Abismo", the edge of the high plateau of the Gran Sabana with a clear view of the Brazilian jungle below. Explore the region's caves and a variety of orchids. Return along the rough road to Sta. Elena, where you will overnight at a small hotel. Tonight you will enjoy the local nightlife with the natives.
Day 5, Wednesday: Rio Branco
Today you will travel south for 3 hours crossing the steppe lands, with the landscape changing from flat grasslands with small rivers & palm groves to jungle, arriving in Boa Vista on the border of Brazil. Your first adventure starts here, riding up the Rio Branco by boat, hopefully see the fresh-water dolphins. Fish for piranhas and then grill for dinner. Spend the night in tents on the river's shore.
Day 6, Thursday: Rio Branco and Boa Vista
After a 5 - 6 hour journey you arrive back at Boa Vista and set up camp on the river shore. Tonight you can experience Brazilian life.
Day 7, Friday: Rock Paintings and Return to Venezuela
Depart Boa Vista and return to Venezuela. Arriving in "Santa Elena de Uairén" where you will spend the night in a small hotel.
Day 8, Sat: Jasper Falls and Palm Groves
Head north in the jeep and cross Gran Sabana which rise to 3,000m above the savanna, palm groves, and rivers. Visit the waterfalls Kama Merú, Arapan Merú, Quebrada de and Suruape. Depart for the Indian settlement "Iboribó" and set up tents for the night. Walk to the Chinak Merú waterfall and return to the Indian village to watch the sun set. Overnight stay in your tents.
Day 9, Sun: Walk to Karuai Falls
In the morning depart Iboribó to "Kavanayén", an old missionary station of the Franciscan order. You will come across the native Pemón Indians who live here in their huts. After an extremely difficult 15-km stretch of road you reach Karuai. This small paradise is ideal for swimming or just sunbathing on the big rocks. Overnight stay in 2-man tents.
Days 10 & 11, Monday & Tuesday: River Excursion in Dugout Canoe
Accompanied by Indians, you paddle down the Karuai River in a dugout canoe. At the Salto Hueso (Bone Falls) waterfall, you portage and paddle further downstream to reach "Salto Techinén". From the edge of the waterfall you can see the massifs "Chimata" and "Akopán". This region is very isolated and is only inhabited by a few Indian families. For two days you camp on the banks of the river. After sunset explore the river to view animals like the Lapa (large water rodent), venado (deer), and tapirs. End the day beside a campfire.
Day 12, Wednesday: Kavanayén Mission Station
Back to your starting-point Karuari, you load your vehicle and drive back on the same route to Kavanayén. Overnight stay either in the dormitories of the missionary station or in your tents.
Day 13, Thursday: Ciudad Bolívar
Return to Sta. Elena and travel northwards on the local bus. From the Gran Sabana you drive down to the "Imataca" jungle region, the home of the gold diggers. You pass through the region of "km 88", "El Dorado", and "Tumeremo", reaching Ciudad Bolívar in the evening where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 14, Friday: Angel Falls
Your day at leisure. Visit the colonial centre of Ciudad Bolívar, go shopping or stroll along the riverbank. Overnight stay in your hotel.
Day 15, Sat: Return to Caracas
|