Regions for the regional trip The Amazon – Canaima

THE AMAZON

The Amazon, the most famous rainforest in the world, covers almost a quarter of the land territory of Venezuela. This remote and unspoilt region of the country, with its lush green foliage and dazzling mix of colour and energy, is the habitat for more than 680 species of bird which weave in and out of the humid treetops. The mighty Orinoco, the third longest river in South America, flows through the region. The river has a beauty of its own, its sandy-brown waters mixing with the ruddy-brown Rio Negro resulting in a sharp divide of black and brown water flowing side by side until finally merging in a swirling whirlpool.

There are, perhaps, barely 55,000 people living here, making this region a truly special place. Take in the diversity of the busy riverside town of Puerto Ayacucho; wooden canoes paddled by the people of the  Piaroa, Ye’kuana and Corripaco tribes, all wearing jeans, remote villages where Spanish is the second language and, deep in the primary forest, the mysterious and diminishing groups of people who continue to follow a traditional way of life. Discover the veritable ‘lungs of the world’, nature’s fountain of life.

PUERTO AYACUCHO

Puerto Ayacucho is the commercial hub of the Amazon and a town on the border with Colombia. The town reflects the strong influence of the indigenous tribes who live in the region. As well as a good selection of museums dedicated to showing the tribal way of life in the Amazon, Puerto Ayacucho is home to a number of camps for visitors to the region.

Gran Sabana/Canaima region

The Gran Sabana is one of the most discussed landscapes in Venezuela. Massive tepuis stick out above the forest greenery and undulating pastures; waterfalls gush down the sides of these massive batholiths, including Angel Falls. These mysterious tepuis, encircled by mist, which encouraged Arthur Conan Doyle to write ‘The Lost World’, are some of the oldest formations on the earth. Rising above the llanos (plains) of Venezuela’s Gran Sabana, the vertical and rose-coloured cliffs of these mountains with their table-top flat summits, from where waterfalls tumble into the tropical forest, are dramatic and inspirational to see.

Canaima is home to the Angel Falls, one of our most famous sights, located at the heart of the Venezuelan jungle. They are the highest waterfalls in the world; you will be fascinated by the power of the falls from a height of 915m (3000ft). On this tour you will also have the opportunity to see other waterfalls and navigate some of the rapids in local handmade canoes. These tough and sturdy canoes, propelled by outboard motors, are driven by experienced river guides, accompanied by an English-speaking guide, who will tell you about the legends and ecology of this mystical place.

Ciudad Bolivar

Historically known as the main port of the Orinoco River, Ciudad Bolivar is a popular and lively city for travellers en route to the Gran Sabana. Ciudad Bolivar is the capital of Bolivar State and is the base for all air travel into Canaima National Park.

Puerto Ordaz

Puerto Ordaz was established in 1952 as a port for the iron industry and has a reputation as being the place with the highest cost of living in the country. The city is located on the banks of the Orinoco River and has a variety of tourist attractions including zoos, museums and trips along the Orinoco. In addition there are a number of shopping centres, supermarkets and night clubs. Puerto Ordaz is also one of the main entry points for visits to the Gran Sabana with many flights to and from the main domestic airports in Venezuela. There is a selection of hotels, ranging from economy to deluxe, to suit the tastes and budgets of all visitors.

National parks for the regional trip The Amazon-Canaima (amongst the tepuis)

National Parks

Venezuela is one of the ten most biologically diverse countries in the world. Pioneers in environmental protection, Venezuela has introduced many laws concerning the use and enjoyment of these national treasures. As a result of these laws there are 43 national parks and 22 nature reserves (around 21% of the country), 2 bio-reserves, 7 sanctuaries and 5 wildlife reserves. This fantastic combination of boundless and raw beauty makes it exceptionally good for the tourism industry.

The Cerro Yapacana National Park was established on 12 December 1978 and covers an area of 320,000 hectares. It is located in the south of the country to the south west of the confluence of the Ventuari and Orinoco rivers.

The Cerro Yapacana, the natural highlight in the park, is a hill shaped like a meseta or tepuy which rises up dramatically from the wide plains which stretch between the Ventuari and Orinoco rivers, 80m above sea level and rising to 1345m in height.

The Parima Tapirapeco National Park was created to protect important areas of the land formed by the Alto-Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve where there are some beautiful landscapes of great importance as well as a high proportion of natural renewable resources, particularly water. It is the largest national park in Venezuela and the fifth largest in the world. Points of interest include the Guaharibo rapids, the Sierra Parima, Mawedi tepuy and waterfall, Maturaca hill and the petroglyphs of the Arata rapids. Parima-Tapirapeco-Tierra Yanomami: Since time immemorial indigenous people belonging to the Yanomami tribe have lived in this park. Most of the Yanomami people living in Venezuela live in this park, composed of 162 villages containing around 15,000 people.

The Duida Marahuaca National Park was established in 1978. It covers an area of 210,000 hectares with evergreen forests, including tepuy lowland forests, scrub and tepuy grasslands. Its main attractions include El Picure, Marana and Wamajatada waterfalls; El Rayao rapids; petroglyphs near La Esmeralda; and walkways along the banks of the Cunucuma and Cano Negro rivers. In the park you can also go on trips in native canoes, go birdwatching and spotting flora and fauna, go rowing and boating and even camping. There are over 200 species of bird in the park (many endemic to the tepuys); 10% of the vegetation is endemic to the region.

Canaima National Park is located in the Macizo Guayanes region of Bolivar state, in the south east of the country and was established on 12 June 1962. It is considered to be one of the oldest land masses on the planet and includes the upper basin of the Caroni River. The landscape is dominated by open savannah which highlights the massive mesetas, also known as tepuis. These are tall mountains with very steep sides, from which ascend vertical walls, and whose summits are rocky and flat. This protected area is divided into two sections: Canaima and Gran Sabana

The tour includes

• First aid kit
• Airport assistance
• Excursions to the falls
• Overflight, as described
• Pre-departure information
• Life jacket for each passenger
• Accommodation, as described
• All meals and non-alcoholic drinks
• Services of an English-speaking guide
• Transportation by land and boat in Canaima

The tour does not include

• Items of a personal nature
• Domestic flights (we can book these for you)
• Accommodation in Merida (we can book this for you)
• Any fee to enter the Canaima National Park costs US$ 10.00
• Tours, meals, alcoholic drinks and other services not included in the itinerary
• Tips to local staff, costs incurred in the organisation of the trip, such as non-refundable air tickets, insurance policy or additional costs incurred by flight delays, cancellations or missed connections

We recommend that you bring with you

• Swimsuit
• Binoculars
• Sunglasses
• Pocket torch
• Suntan cream
• Malaria tablets
• Camera and film
• Adjustable sandals
• Lightweight clothes
• Sun hat, cap or visor
• Waterproof jacket or cape
• Biodegradable soap and shampoo
• Insect repellent with 50-90% Deet
• Comfortable and hard-wearing shoes and boots

How to get to Venezuela

Below you will find information on travelling from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States. Almost all international flights arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport, which is located in Maiquetia (28km north of Caracas). A few flights go to Maracaibo, a city in the west of the country.

Natoura Travel & Adventure Tours became an IATA international agency in February 2010 and our IATA number is 95-502945. We can help with competitive prices for international flights for both single and round-trip flight tickets. Please contact us for help in finding the best flight for the start of your adventure.

From Australia and New Zealand: Flights from Australia and New Zealand to Caracas go via Los Angeles. Below is a list of airlines that offer this service.

• Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.com)
• Qantas (www.qantas.com)

From Canada: There are several companies that operate flights to Venezuela from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver via Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Below is a list of these airlines with their respective places of departure and arrival.

• American Airlines (www.aa.com)

From Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Caracas via Miami or Dallas-Fort Worth.

• Continental Airlines (www.continental.com)

From Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Caracas via Houston.

From Europe: Other airlines also have regular flights to Caracas; below is a list of these airlines as well as flights from cities across Europe which have services to Venezuela.

• Air Europa (www.air-europa.com)
• Air France (www.airfrance.com)
• Alitalia Airlines (www.alitalia.it)
• Iberia (www.iberia.com)
• Lufthansa Airlines (www.lufthansa.com)

European cities which have direct flights to Venezuela: Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Lisbon.

From the United States: Many of the flights from the United States leave from Miami and arrive into Caracas. Some companies also have direct flights from New York, Atlanta, Newark, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Orlando. The Grupo Taca airline flies from Los Angeles to Caracas via Mexico City and San José, Costa Rica. Below is a list of these airlines with their respective places of departure and arrival.

• American Airlines (www.aa.com)

From New York, Miami or Dallas to Caracas or Maracaibo.

• United Airlines (www.united.com)

From New York, Chicago or Miami to Caracas.

• Continental Airlines (www.continental.com)

From Newark (New Jersey), Houston, Orlando, Chicago, Miami or New York to Caracas.

• Delta Airlines (www.delta.com)

From Atlanta to Caracas.

• Grupo Taca (www.grupotaca.com)

From Miami to Caracas; from Los Angeles to Caracas via Mexico City or San José.

Note: If you have any questions about timetables or availability, please call or email us and we will do our best to help you.