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Orinoco Delta, Gran Sabana,
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CaracasDay 1 Met at the airport on arrival, stay in Macuto. Orinoco DeltaDay 2 LD Morning flight to Maturín, where you are met and transferred to a lodge in the Orinoco Delta, your base for 2 nights. After lunch a guide from the lodge takes you by boat to explore this flooded habitat. Day 3 BLD A full day exploring the Delta for a mix of unusual flora and wildlife such as freshwater dolphin, monkeys, turtles, hoatzin and parrots, with insight into the life of the Warao people. They live in stilt villages, travel by dugout, and are master weavers of moriche palm. Ciudad BolívarDay 4 BL Drive south to the historic town of Ciudad Bolívar. In the afternoon take a city tour including the Jesús Soto contemporary art museum. Overnight at a renovated house in the old quarter. Gran SabanaDay 5 BLD Visit the impressive Llovizna cataracts, where Sir Walter Ralegh turned back, then drive south by 4WD to the gold and diamond mining region in lowland rainforest to a tourist lodge near El Dorado. Stop en route to see how the local casabe bread and Guayanese cheese are made and to see gold mining. Day 6 BLD Drive up the La Escalera escarpment stopping to admire the great view back across lowland tropical rainforest, with a chance to see poison arrow frogs here. Drive on to the plateau of the Gran Sabana, turning off-road to visit Chinak-merú waterfall. Here you can hike down to bathe at the base of the falls. Continue to a remote tourist lodge in the savannah. Day 7 BLD Visit the Pemón village of Kavanayén in a spectacular setting, visit the mission and perhaps buy some local handicrafts, then drive via 3 waterfalls (Kawi, Kamá and Yurauni) to a lodge in the Pemón community of San Francisco de Yuruaní towards Mt Roraima. Day 8 BLD With an early morning start, travel by dugout on the Yuruaní river for about 2hr to Tanganmui Falls. Here there is a beautiful pool where you can swim. Visit a local Pemón family’s farm, then walk to the top of the waterfall (2hr) where there is a good view of all 7 tepuis of the Roraima range. Camp. (If you prefer not to camp an alternative day can be substituted.) Day 9 BLD Trek for about 3hr over rolling grassland to return to San Francisco. Drive to Santa Elena de Uairén stopping at Jaspé Falls, where a clear stream flows over a bed of semi-precious stone in reds, oranges and yellows. Stay 2 nights at a comfortable lodge. Day 10 BLD A short walk to the Pemón village of Sampai where we spend the day with the local people as part of a rural community development project. Here you can take a clay bath and have a swim in a beautiful natural pool, visit a local small holding to see shifting cultivation in action, share a traditional lunch and learn how the Pemón make their local handicrafts. Angel Falls and CanaimaDay 11 B Morning flight from Santa Elena to Canaima. On a clear day there are stunning views of the tepuis and if conditions are right the pilot can be encouraged by a moderately generous tip to detour over Angel Falls. On arrival you will be transferred to Parakaupa Lodge, slightly outside the village at the crest of a small slope with views over Canaima Lagoon. The afternoon is free to relax on the sandy shore of the lagoon with a wonderful view of Hacha Falls and the tepuis behind. Excursions are available locally at extra cost. Day 12 B Morning free in Canaima (perhaps take a regular sightseeing flight over Angel Falls if you were not lucky yesterday), then in the afternoon fly to Margarita. You will be met on arrival and transferred to a 3* B&B hotel close to Playa El Agua for 3 nights (see page 14). MargaritaDay 13-14 B Two days at the beach or by the hotel pool Day 15 B Transfer to the airport and fly to Caracas to connect with your overnight international flight home. |
The places you will visit: Ciudad Bolivar and Puerto Ordaz
Guide price £1,79015 days / 14 nights. Starts and ends at The guide price is per person based on 2 people travelling together and sharing twin/double accommodation. Guide price includes: all travel in Venezuela, shared services of resident guides while at Orinoco Delta lodge, service of private English-speaking guide in Gran Sabana (days 4-10), detour over Angel Falls on flight from Santa Elena (weather permitting), accommodation (4 nights hotels, 9 nights tourist lodges, 1 night camping in tents), most meals (except 1 breakfast, 4 lunches and 6 dinners - allow £95). |
