Venezuela | Tailor-made and Independent holidays | Active & adventure | Islands in Time
Islands in Time
The secret heart of the Gran Sabana is the unique setting for this circular journey by river and on foot through a hidden world of breathtaking scenery.
In what must be one of the most magnificent landscapes on earth you travel through constantly changing surroundings in a barely-known land of majestic tepuis, beautiful rivers and pristine waterfalls, lush forests, rolling grasslands and remote Pemón villages.
We work with a local Pemón family who know the area very well and who have friends and relations in most settlements. Although few visitors come, many adult Pemón have travelled out of the area at various times and are familiar with the modern world.
On the river you travel in curiaras: wide dugout boats powered by outboard motors—rugged and well-suited to these conditions. Camping is at wilderness sites prepared by the local communities; your guide brings good quality tents and there are hammocks with mosquito netting so you can choose whichever you prefer.
Note: with four or more people you could continue further south on the Karuay to Wonkén, an even more remote and beautiful trip which we pioneered in 1998.
Puerto Ordaz
Day 1 LD Fly from Caracas to Puerto Ordaz, where you meet your guide. There may be time to stretch your legs by the thundering rapids on the Caroní River that forced Sir Walter Ralegh to turn back from his quest for El Dorado, before heading south to overnight at a tourist lodge in the rainforests below the Gran Sabana.
Gran Sabana
Day 2 BLD Ascending the dramatic escarpment that rises out of the rainforest, pause for magnificent views back across the forest, then the road emerges onto the high plains of the Gran Sabana for your first views of the tepuis. Turning off the road, drive to Iboribo village and walk to the magnificent Chinak-merú waterfall nearby. There are great views of Sororopán-tepui and Ptari-tepui as you drive to a remote point on the Karuay river below Karuay Falls, where you meet your Pemón boatmen. Overnight at a riverside campsite. As well as Ptari-tepui and Sororopán-tepui, now to the east, today and tomorrow you will start to see the major formations of tepuis of the Karuay valley to the south, and Auyán-tepui (where Angel Falls lies) far in the west.
Karuay river journey
Day 3 BLD Our first taste of river travel is a gentle 1hr journey to Salto Hueso. Our second curiara is waiting at the foot of the cascade to take us further down the narrow Karuay river. We walk for 30min around rapids, using a trail through thick forest, where we start to learn about the trees and plants and their uses, and see butterflies and hear birds typical of this region. Our Pemón hosts shoulder the main loads, we carry our personal kit and anything else we can comfortably manage. Further down river we make camp in the forest.
Day 4 BLD After an early breakfast we continue south on the Karuay, reaching a landing below Techinén settlement, beautifully situated on the savannah with stunning views of almost the whole Chimantá formation. In the afternoon we walk for 1hr to see the dramatic Techinén waterfall, where we spend much of the afternoon swimming and relaxing, before returning to the village and rejoining the Karuay for the short boat ride to its junction with the Mowak, then turn up the Mowak to the riverside village of Apaukén where we camp.
Day 5 BLD Birdwatchers can start at first light with a side trek to a Cock-of-the-Rock lek half and hour from the village. After breakfast we trek through savannah and forest (3hr) on a trail that leads behind Wanawaridem-tepui to a remarkable set of petroglyphs at Wurpodén. Rock paintings here have never been studied and their significance is unknown—we are truly in a Lost World. We continue for 3 hours to camp at Worimakioro, a Pemón family farm with a refreshing waterfall.
Day 6 BLD A morning trek to Kavanayén where you are collected and driven south, stopping at Kamá Falls, an impressive curtain falls, and Jaspé Falls, where water tumbles down a cascade and over sheets of red and orange semiprecious stone, to the small town of Santa Elena on the border with Brazil, where you stay at a comfortable small lodge. Mount Roraima rises in the distance behind the lodge. Overnight at a tourist lodge by the Kamoirán rapids.
Day 7 Drive north to Puerto Ordaz in time for a late afternoon flight to Caracas.
Extension to Canaima and Angel Falls
On Day 6 drive south to overnight in Santa Elena de Uairén instead of Kamoirán rapids, then:
Day 7 Fly to Canaima, with possibility of seeing Angel Falls en route at extra cost. Overnight at a lodge in Canaima. Excursions available locally, also at extra cost.
Day 8 Option of a sightseeing flight to Angel Falls, locally at extra cost. Fly onwards to Caracas or Margarita.
The places you will visit:
Guide price £995
The guide price is per person based on 2 people travelling together and sharing twin/double accommodation.
Guide price includes: all your travel in Venezuela, the services of an English speaking experienced local guide (private to you) throughout, and the services of local Pemón boatmen and camp porters (days 3-6). It also includes all your accommodation (2 nights tourist lodges, 4 nights camping), and all your meals.
Porters for personal kit are available at extra cost.
The guide price for the extension to Canaima and Angel Falls is £190 per person. This includes the flight to Canaima, 1 night's accommodation in a tourist lodge and all meals.
7 days/6 nights Grade: Moderate (4 nights camping)
