Venezuela adventure holiday
| country: | Venezuela |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 19 Dec 2010: 21 May, 30 Jul, 3 Sep, 8 Oct, 15 Dec 2011: 20 May |
| price: | From £1949 - £2599 (15 days) including flights from the UK. From £1199 - £1699 excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This truly adventurous trip covers an extraordinary range of scenery. Peaks turn to plains in the wildlife haven of Los Llanos. These sweeping expanses are quickly claimed by the undergrowth as you journey deep into the rainforest. Massive Tepuys (table-top mountains) provide some of the most spectacular scenery on the entire continent. From the biggest, emerges the world’s highest waterfall; Angel Falls, plunging almost 1000m from Auyan Tepuy (Devil’s Mountain).
Venezuela is a country of contrasts and variety, both in terms of its population, which is a fascinating mix of indigenous groups, old Spanish families and more recent European immigrants, and its natural attractions. Our trip concentrates more on the stunning scenery which can be found within its borders, but also includes visits to remote Indian settlements and Spanish colonial towns. The most northerly extension of the Andes stretches into south-eastern Venezuela and surrounds the attractive colonial city of Mérida. Although not as high as in other Andean countries, the peaks still reach over 4,800 metres. The highest mountain, Pico Bolívar, is, in common with many other places in Venezuela, named after the South American independence hero.
Caracas & Mérida
The vast plains of the Llanos (pronounced “yanos”) are swampy floodplains during the wet season, but excellent pastureland during the dry, and it is here that many of the country’s huge cattle ranches can be found. The plains are also home to a vast array of wildlife, with more than 500 species of birds, countless caiman and capybaras, as well as more exotic species such as the jaguar, ocelot and honey bear. The Orinoco nourishes the great tracts of jungle which cover much the country, and one of its tributaries, the Río Caura, flows through a large area of untouched rainforest in the south of Venezuela. Several Indian groups inhabit the forests of this region, and their isolation means many of them still follow a traditional way of life.
Los Llanos & Orinoco
The Canaima National Park covers some of the worlds most spectacular, untouched wilderness, criss-crossed by rivers and carpeted in the lower regions by dense jungles. It also encompasses the dry highland plains of the Grand Savannah which are dotted with massive table-mountains known locally as tepuys. Much of the exotic flora of the region is still unclassified, and the fauna includes jaguar, tapir, and rare tropical birds like the Cock of the Rock. The biggest tepuy is Auyan Tepuy, off whose northern cliffs plunge the Angel Falls, at 975m, the highest falls in the world. This weird, other-worldly environment was immortalised as Conan Doyle's “Lost World”.
Canaima National Park
Venezuela is a country of contrasts and variety, both in terms of its population, which is a fascinating mix of indigenous groups, old Spanish families and more recent European immigrants, and its natural attractions. Our trip concentrates more on the stunning scenery which can be found within its borders, but also includes visits to remote Indian settlements and Spanish colonial towns. The most northerly extension of the Andes stretches into south-eastern Venezuela and surrounds the attractive colonial city of Mérida. Although not as high as in other Andean countries, the peaks still reach over 4,800 metres. The highest mountain, Pico Bolívar, is, in common with many other places in Venezuela, named after the South American independence hero.
Caracas & Mérida
The vast plains of the Llanos (pronounced “yanos”) are swampy floodplains during the wet season, but excellent pastureland during the dry, and it is here that many of the country’s huge cattle ranches can be found. The plains are also home to a vast array of wildlife, with more than 500 species of birds, countless caiman and capybaras, as well as more exotic species such as the jaguar, ocelot and honey bear. The Orinoco nourishes the great tracts of jungle which cover much the country, and one of its tributaries, the Río Caura, flows through a large area of untouched rainforest in the south of Venezuela. Several Indian groups inhabit the forests of this region, and their isolation means many of them still follow a traditional way of life.
Los Llanos & Orinoco
The Canaima National Park covers some of the worlds most spectacular, untouched wilderness, criss-crossed by rivers and carpeted in the lower regions by dense jungles. It also encompasses the dry highland plains of the Grand Savannah which are dotted with massive table-mountains known locally as tepuys. Much of the exotic flora of the region is still unclassified, and the fauna includes jaguar, tapir, and rare tropical birds like the Cock of the Rock. The biggest tepuy is Auyan Tepuy, off whose northern cliffs plunge the Angel Falls, at 975m, the highest falls in the world. This weird, other-worldly environment was immortalised as Conan Doyle's “Lost World”.
Canaima National Park
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly to Caracas Fly to Caracas. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Hotel - 1 night |
| Day 2: | Merida To Mérida This morning you will fly to the attractive Andean city of Mérida. In the afternoon you drive to the village of Jají, which has retained its traditional colonial character. The drive leads you through green high- altitude Andean countryside and where a great variety of tropical fruits are cultivated. In the middle of the cloud forest you find beautiful waterfalls. After visiting Jají we travel to a so-called “Trapiche”, where you can taste freshly pressed sugar cane juice – still processed here in the old way – and observe this procedure. The sugar cane is squeezed out and the juice is fed into big pans where it is turned into syrup, which is then dried into bars. The sun-dried cane is used for the fire, which heats the pans. Please note that the press will normally only function during the harvest period. You spend the next two nights in a traditional hacienda in the cloud forest just outside Mérida. Hotel - 2 nights |
| Day 3: | Merida Mérida Today is a free day to explore the city. Mérida is perched on a mesa between two Andean ranges, with a spectacular backdrop of snowy peaks known as the five white eagles. It is a fast-growing city but retains some of the landmarks of its magnificent past when it was a major centre for coffee and sugar cane production. There are more parks than in any other city in Venezuela, as well as some fine museums, including the Colonial Art and Science and Technology museums, a beautiful cathedral and the Government Palace on the Plaza Bolívar. The market is a showcase of regional delicacies such as smoked cheese, "dulce de Guayaba" (crystallized guava chunks wrapped in leaves), flowers, all manner of fruits and vegetables, weavings and pottery. Please note that the cable car from Merida to the summit of Pico Espejo is now closed, and it is unclear when it will reopen – we are no longer able to offer this optional excursion. |
| Day 4: | Laguna Mucubaji and Laguna Negra We drive further into the Andes today - the tropical banana plantations around Mérida give way to the more austere vegetation of the páramo, a landscape of high altitude plains brightened by the flowers of low-lying plants such as the frailejones, flowers shaped like a monk’s habit. With few insects at this altitude, plants must resort to showy colours to attract pollinators. We walk to the Laguna de Mucubaji and the Laguna Negra (the black lagoon), a tranquil glacial lake on the páramo at 3,536m, whose deep, dark waters mirror the surrounding hillside vegetation. We also visit the condor sanctuary at Pico del Aguila. |
| Day 5: | Los Llanos Today we leave the highlands and drive to the llanos. These plains occupy about a third of Venezuela’s territory, and are fantastically rich in wildlife of all kinds. We drive via Barinas (about 6 hrs) to Hato el Cedral, a cattle ranch from which we explore the pastures, water-meadows and creeks in search of some of the 300 recorded species of birds, including scarlet ibis, hoatzin, screamer, soldier stork and spoonbill. If we’re lucky we may see jaguar, ocelots, anteaters and even honey bears, and there is no avoiding the thousands of capybaras (largest rodent in the world) and caiman. Hotel - 1 night |
| Day 6: | Los Llanos This morning we will have another 4-hour excursion to further explore the countryside around Hato el Cedral. The mode of transport used in the excursions will vary according to season – 4 wheel drive vehicles are used in the dry season (December to April), while a boat is used during the wet season (May to November). In the afternoon we drive to San Fernando de Apure (approx. 2.5 hours) for an overnight stay. Hotel - 1 night |
| Day 7: | Orinoco River After breakfast we set off for Puerto Ayacucho, a jungle town in the far southwest on the banks of the Orinoco River. We make three river crossings on the journey and also pass by some bizarre sand dunes on the middle of the llanos wetlands. After a short orientation tour of the town, Indian museum and market we drive to our lodge beside the river, where we can look down on the mighty Orinoco and watch the sun set over the river and its surrounding hills: an impressive sight. Hotel - 1 night (D) |
| Day 8: | Indian village and jungle walk Today we will visit an indigenous village, to learn about agriculture, basket weaving, hammock and trap making. We will also observe various local plants and their medicinal uses. A walk through the jungle will allow us to see the famous “24-hour ant”, so-called because the pain from their potent stings can be felt for a day afterwards. Afterwards we visit the “Tobogan de la Selva” a natural water slide with pools. In the afternoon we normally take a boat tour on the Orinoco River (although if the weather is too wet the boat trip is too dangerous and cannot operate). We return to our lodge in the evening. Lodge - 1 night (B,L,D) |
| Day 9: | Caura Lodge Today we head to the Caura River. The landscape here resembles a hilly savannah. This region offers an impressive panorama with palm trees scattered throughout the area, and black granite outcrops poking out of the green savannah. At around 7-hours, this is our longest driving day, but we are rewarded at the end with a fantastic barbecue at the Caura Lodge. We will spend the next two nights in hammocks at this beautiful colonial-style house on the banks of the river. Hammocks (B,D) |
| Day 10: | Cerro Cangrejo After breakfast we take dugout canoes upstream in order to reach relatively untouched parts of the jungle, where only small native settlements can be found. After stopping at one of these villages to learn about the traditional way of life amongst the indigenous population, we leave the boats behind and hike uphill through the forest to the ‘big rock’ of Cerro Cangrejo for stunning views over the dark green virgin rainforest. Along the way we will see lots of orchids and bromeliads and, if we are lucky, we will see toucans and macaws in flight. Lodge (B,L,D) |
| Day 11: | To Ciudad Bolivar This morning we drive for around 4 hour to Ciudad Bolívar, an important port and site of the first bridge built across the Orinoco. We will have the afternoon at leisure to explore the city – there is a riverside promenade, a fine modern art museum and many colonial buildings, including an impressive cathedral. Hotel - 1 night (B) |
| Day 12: | Boat to Angel Falls We transfer to the airport this morning for our flight to Canaima. If weather permits we will have an impressive view of the Grand Savannah and its Tepuys. Upon arrival in Canaima, we embark upon a boat trip to the mighty Angel Falls. We are taken along the Carrao and the Churun rivers. On the way we will pass Pozo de Felicidad (“Well of happiness”), Isla Orquídea (“Orchid Island”), Cañon del Diablo (“Devil’s Canyon”) and Wey Tepuy. We pass close by the impressive Auyan Tepuy whose steep walls tower over the river. We will spend the night in hammocks at our camp on Ratoncito Island. (NB during the dry season which runs from January to May, it may not be possible to reach the Angel Falls and an alternative itinerary will be offered ). Hammocks - 1 night (B,L,D) |
| Day 13: | Angel Falls hike and Sapo Falls This morning we hike for about 50 minutes through the jungle for a spectacular view of the Angel Falls. The falls take their name from American aviator Jimmie Angel, whose plane became stuck on top of Auyan Tepuy in 1937, but they were first sighted by a Venezuelan explorer 25 years earlier. Even in the wettest months, the falls are so high that by the time they reach the bottom of the Tepuy the waters have been blown into a fine mist. We will have the chance to bathe in a lagoon near the base of the falls (NB this will depend on the amount of water in the falls, as it may be dangerous if the river is swollen). In the afternoon we will take the boat back to Canaima, stopping at Sapo Falls. These spectacular falls are quite broad, and it is possible to cross from one side to the other following a path behind the falls – definitely an unusual experience. We return to the dugouts and continue downstream to Canaima, where will spend the night in a simple yet comfortable guesthouse. Lodge - 1 night (B,L) |
| Day 14: | To Ciudad Bolívar The morning is free to relax by Canaima lagoon, and around midday we fly to Ciudad Bolívar for an overnight stay. Hotel - 1 night (B) |
| Day 15: | Caracas We fly to Caracas today, and the trip ends at Caracas airport. Those on group flights will be taken to the international terminal for the return flight to London. (B) |
| Day 16: | Arrive London Arrive London |
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Our small group adventures are designed to impact as little as possible on the regions through which we travel – this trip is no exception. We employ a professional, local Group Leader, stay in small, independently run hotels and dine in local restaurants - all of which benefits local people by providing valuable employment and evenly distributes the money we spend whilst in country. Our mini-trek in the Andes is organised by the local community, under the auspices of the ‘Programa Andes Tropicales’, a project funded by the EC to develop community-controlled tourism in the region. We also visit Hato El Frio in the Llanos, a ranch that pioneered conservation tourism in Venezuela some thirty years ago. Our stays in indigenous communities such as the Panare and the Ye’Kuana afford us considerable insights into their way of life, and provide much-needed revenue for these communities, money spent, directly benefiting our hosts.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Other charities that we work closely with include Born Free Foundation and The Travel Foundation, a UK charity that has been established to promote responsible travel practises throughout the whole of the travel industry. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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. |