Hiking in Venezuela

Whether you are searching for something to do while on an extended stay in the country, or an adventure holiday, you will find what you are looking for in Venezuela. We offer guided excursions to all parts of this country’s 21 different ecosystems. Here you can explore giant mesas with their own ecosystems, visit the tallest waterfall in the world, see rainforests, cloud forests and plains or just relax in the Andes Mountains. Below are four of the many options available to enjoy this secret paradise.

Roraima Trek (6 Days from US $630 - US $670)
Day 1: Santa Elena-Parai Tepuy-Tek River Camp Beginning in Santa-Elena, a small town 15 kilometers from Brazil, we drive to the small Pemon Indian community of Paray-tepui (1,400 m). From there we hike 4 kilometers and set up camp at the Tek River. Directly ahead, Tepuis Roraima towers above the surrounding plains. To the north is the sister mesa, Kukenan, and even further north three other mesas can be seen on the horizon. The campsite at the River Tek sits at an altitude of 900 meters and provides an excellent opportunity for a refreshing swim.

Accommodations are in tents. (3 hours by jeep, 4 hours hiking)

Day 2: Tek River Camp-Roraima Base Camp We begin the day with a hike to the Roraima base camp at the foot of the mesa (10 km). First, we cross the River Tek and continue along the River Kukenan, following the long incline that leads to the base of Roraima. Long bridges protrude from the mesa into the surrounding grassland along the way, except in the deep ravines where patches of rainforest have escaped the Indians´ fires. We will stop at a deserted military base for lunch. A few hours later, we reach our campsite, near the base of Roraima. The camp sits at 1,800 meters and temperatures drop down to about 15 degrees Celsius in the evening. (6 hours hiking)

Day 3: Roraima Base Camp-Top of Roraima This will be our most challenging day. We trek through a cloud forest, and ascend a 50 to 100 foot wide ramp that runs along the cliff, making access to Roraima possible. The cloud forest that surrounds this vertical wall is inhabited by an abundance of orchids, lush ferns, palms, woody shrubs and delicate flowers. We set up camp on top of the mesa, below a rock ledge that prevents the strong winds and cold temperatures from reaching us during the evening. The locals call this area El Hotel. We will spend a few hours exploring the foreign landscape of black rock near the campsite before retiring for the night. (5 hours hiking)

Day 4: Exploration of Roraima´s Mesa We have a full day to explore the ¨Lost World¨ on top of Roraima. We trek to the Kukenan Window in order to view the eastern wall of Roraima, Matawi Tepui and the jungle of Guyana. We also visit Triple Point, where the frontiers of Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana intersect. Then we explore the Valley of the Crystals (it is prohibited to take a Crystal as a souvenir). If you are brave, you can take a swim in an icy blue well (8 hours hiking)

Day 5: Return to River Tek Campsite After a good nights rest, we head back down to the savannah. We cross the Kukenan and Tek Rivers along the way and before setting up camp. After the long trek, we will freshen up with a cool swim in the Tek River. (6 hours hiking)

Day 6: Tek River Camp-Parai Tepuy Village-Santa Elena We head for Parai tepuy, about four hours away in the morning. From here we will take a jeep to Santa Elena, arriving around 4:00 PM. (4 hours hiking, 3 hours by jeep)

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Auyantepui Trek (8 Days from US $790 - US $995)
The Pemon Indians who lived here called this mesa the House of the Devil, and refused to venture onto it. Auyantepui is the largest mesa in Canaima National Park and home to the world’s tallest waterfall, Angel Falls (979 meters). Auyantepuy has an area of 700 square kilometers and a height of 2,450 meters, and is divided by cliffs, rivers, cracks and crevices.

Day 1: Canaima-Auyantepui Base-Angel Falls-Guayaraca We depart Ciudad Bolivar around 9 o'clock in the morning in Cessnas. From the air, we can see the Cerro Bolivar, one of the largest iron ore deposits in the world, below us like a red wound in the surrounding green. Soon after appear the outskirts of the largest man made lake in the world, Lake Guri. From there we enter the Canaima National Park and Auyantepui. We continue along the eastern wall of the mesa until we reach Devil's Canyon, which swallows us as we follow the meanderings of the Churún River to Angel Falls. We start the trek to Guayaraca (1700 meters), a camp on the first terrace of the mesa, where we will remain for the night. (2-3 hours flight; 3-4 hours hiking).

Day 2: High Sabana-Middle Rain Forest-El Peñon After breakfast we make our way across a typical "high savanna.¨ We then head to the shady and silent sanctuary of the Middle Rain Forest before the sun gets too hot before going to El Peñon (1500-1600 m), where we set up camp for the night. (6-7 hours hiking)

Day 3: El Peñon-Auyantepui-Pico Libertador-El Oso We spend the morning in El Peñon, and then head to the entrance of Auyantepui, called El Libertador. After a one-and-a-half hour walk we arrive at La Paloma, where the wall disappears into the clouds, and we begin climbing the boulders. We stop at Pico Libertador, and then continue approximately 3 more hours to El Oso…a camping spot that will be our home for the next three nights. (6-7 hour hiking)

Day 4: El Oso-Plant Exploration We spend the morning at El Oso. A cascade where you can bathe is about 15 minutes from camp. We spend the evening looking for orchids talking about tepui plant species in detail. (3 hours hiking)

Day 5: Campo Lecho-River Trek-El Oso After breakfast we are on our way to Campo Lecho behind a big bend in the Churún River. Walking through this desolate landscape of black rock, small islands of plant life reveal an astounding variety of mostly endemic plants. We leave this plain and enter a rainforest near the river. If you wish, we can swim and jump from rocks into the red, clear water. We continue to a place where the river disappears into the rocks and reappears 300 meters later leaking out of the rock fissures. It is time to start on the trek back. We return to El Oso around 4:00 pm. (6-7 hours hiking)

Day 6: El Peñon-Guyayaraca We break camp in the morning and head to El Peñon. From here it is a long way to the bottom, but at least it is all downhill. We negotiate the descent with care especially where the ropes help us through the difficult spots. We continue through a stretch of rainforest until we reach Guyayaraca, where we will stay for the night, around 5 or 6:00 pm. (7-8 hours hiking)

Day 7: Guyayaraca-Kavac From Guyayaraca we will continue to Kavac, which we know only from the air. Cold drinks are available and we will enjoy a special Kavac chicken barbecue. We spend the night in hammocks in the typical round huts of this village. (6 hours hiking)

Day 8: Cave of Kavac-Ciudad Bolivar We take a trip to a nearby canyon where we swim part of the way to a very impressive waterfall in a cave like opening called Cave of Kavac. Later in the evening we will take the Cessnas back to Ciudad Bolivar and it is farewell to a unique "Island in time." (2 hours hiking)

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Humboldt Trail (3 Days from US $55 - US $60 per day)
Pico Humboldt gets its name from the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, who came to the Andes to study local species, as well as record the relationship of temperature to altitude. Along this trail, we trek to lagunas and alpine lakes as well as hike through deserts and forests. Along the way we will see a plethora of local plant and wildlife ranging from the endemic freilejon plant to the Rufous-tailed and Steely-vented hummingbird. Without a doubt, this mountain was appropriately named after a legendary naturalist.

Day 1: Cloud Forest-Páramo-Coromoto Lake Departing from Mérida, our driver takes us to Mucuy (2000 m), part of the Sierra Nevada National Park. The path goes up into the cloud forest. This is an area of dense vegetation, imposing ferns, bromeliads, bamboo, trees covered with a variety of other plants, mosses, hanging vines, and an abundance of winged creatures.

We will pass several streams and small waterfalls along the way. We then continue to the páramo. Camp will be made at Coromoto Lake (3200 m), an alpine lake teeming with trout. (45 min. by jeep, 4 hours hiking)

 Day 2: Laguna Verde-Laguna del Suero After packing up, we head off for Laguna Verde (4,000 m), named for its brilliant emerald color and located at the base of the impressive Humboldt (4,992 m) and Bonpland (4,890 m) Peaks. A little further on, we set up camp at Laguna Del Suero (4,200 m), which is nestled in the tranquil setting of the surrounding mountains. (5 hours hiking)

 Day 3: We start our trek back to Coromoto Lake. After lunch, we continue our decent to La Mucuy where our jeep waits to bring us back to Mérida. (6 hours hiking, 45 min. by jeep)

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Condor Pass (3 Days from US $55 - US $65 per day)
The Condor Pass trek takes you through a chain of mountains called La Culata, which are opposite the Sierra Nevada. Like the Páramo, La Culata treats hikers to vast, windswept vistas across a treeless terrain. Many endangered species live in this Park where condors soar over the mountain peaks. These ridges explode in vibrant colors with a variety of wildflowers. You will find magnificent waterfalls and the velvety leafed frailejon. There is an optional ascent to the top of Pan de Azucar Peak (4747) that neither require mountaineering equipment nor experience. The panoramic view is awe-inspiring. A clear day will reward you with the sight of Lake Maracaibo to the north, and the entire Sierra Nevada range spreading out to the south.


Day 1: Páramo-Laguna Negra-San Rafael-Piedras Blancas The scenic drive to the Páramo takes us through the spectacular Venezuelan Andes with a chance to see local villages along the way. We stop at Laguna Mucabaji (3800 meters) and continue 4 kilometers to Laguna Negra, where the black water presents a perfect mirror of the trees on the surrounding mountainside. From here we drive to the Condor Reintroduction Station, to learn about this valiant effort. Then we descend to the Andean village San Rafael de Mucuchies. Saying goodbye to our driver, we hike a few kilometers to our camp at the base of Piedras Blancas Peak (4,762-m), where Scree-covered mountain slopes will surround us for the night. The sandy scree is a marvelous mixture of whites, pinks, and pale yellows, which contrast greatly with the grays and whites of the jagged upper mountain peaks. (3 hours by jeep, 2.5 by hiking)

Day 2: Corrie de Frailejon-Montaña Pan de Azucar The ascent continues as we pass through a spectacular corrie, we see some of the rare 150-year-old frailejon plants that can grow to 2 meters tall. Camp will be set at the base of Montaña Pan de Azucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain). (5-6 hours hiking)

Day 3: Coloradito Forrest-Mucunuque River-Mérida We begin an optional trek towards the summit in the morning. From the top (4,700 m), there are magnificent views of Lake Maracaibo, the peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and far away, the Sierra del Cocuy in Colombia. We then continue our trek, crossing an area densely colonized by red-trunked Coloradito trees, the tallest species of tree in the world. We arrive at a confluence of valleys whose streams combine in the Mucunuque River, a tributary of the Orinoco. Finally, we descend through one of the most beautiful valleys in the Venezuelan Andes, passing through villages and cultivated fields to meet our driver, who will bring us to Mérida. Along the way we visit some local arts and crafts vendors and possibly the local trout farm. (6 hours hiking)