Mt Roraima

Arrive Caracas

You will be met on arrival at Caracas airport and transferred to a mid-range hotel on the coast for a positioning night.

to the Gran Sabana

Early a.m. transfer back to Caracas airport for a morning flight to Puerto Ordaz. You will be met on arrival at Puerto Ordaz by your English speaking local trekking team. Set out by 4x4 vehicle driving south down the Transamazonica highway at first through an agricultural region, then through lush lowland rainforest before the road heads up 'La Escalera' escarpment onto the vast grassland plateau of the "Gran Sabana", part of the Guiana Shield. It is a wide sweep of open savannah, scattered with elegant stands of moriche palms and waterfalls. Here you have your first views of the distant, mysterious, mist-shrouded table mountains (tepuis). Some of the oldest land forms on earth, comprising sandstone sediments laid down long before the continents drifted apart. Subsequently eroded by wind and water over aeons of time they now stand as flat-topped sentinels—witnesses of the world’s beginnings—islands lost in time. Here the local gold and diamond mining also reflect the time when this corner of South America and Africa where joined. Stay overnight at a tourist lodge in the Gran Sabana.

Kama Falls and Jasper Falls, meet your Pemon porters

Today you have time to explore some of the waterfalls on this southern section of the National Park including the Rapidos de Kamoiran, the Kama Falls and the beautiful Jasper Falls. Bathe at the Soruape cataract and perhaps try the local epicurian delicacy - a firey ant and termite sauce with lunch. Then you leave the black-top road and head by 4x4 to the Pemon village of Paraitepui to meet your camp porters. From here there are good distant views of Mt Roraima. Overnight in their village (either their local guesthouse or your first night in a tent).

Start of Trek to the summit of Mount Roraima

This morning you set out on the first day of the trek walking over rolling grassland towards Roraima. You will need to ford the Tek river and later the Kukenan river - if there has been heavy rain this may be high enough that ropes are needed to cross it, but usually it can be waded quite easily. At 2,810m it is the tallest tepui. Its walls are so sheer and high that repeated Victorian expeditions claimed it was unscalable and it inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write the "Lost World". It's name means "Mother of all Waters" in the Pemon language as waters from its summit drain into three river basins: the Orinoco, the Essequibo and the Amazon.

To the base camp

Today you continue walking across the rising grassland towards the base of Mount Roraima. You camp in a meadow at the foot of the tepui, alive with fire flies and strap leaved plants that reflect the moonlight.

Ascend to the summit

From this already somewhat elevated base you have a 1,700m ascent to the top. A diaganol scar along the Venezuelan face of the mountain takes you through ancient, primitive tree-ferns, up through the clouds and on to the top. No ropes or actual climbing are involved. Its like climbing a staircase as you gain altitude with every step.

Exploring the summit of Mt Roraima

A full day of exploring at the summit. Imagine combining tors and limestone pavements on a mighty scale. You will need to carefully step from one block of rock to another amid weirdly eroded rock formations, strange endemic plants (carniverous sundews, pitcher plants and bladderworts), valleys carpeted with crystals, and endless labyrinths. A triangulation point on the summit marks the boundries of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. Today and tomorrow are perhaps the toughest day for knees and ankle joints.

Start descent

This morning there will be time to explore at the top some more before you must descend the way you came, down the diagonal 'staircase' to the base. Then start your return hike back across the grassland.

Return to Paraitepui village, transfer to Puerto Ordaz

This morning you trek back into the village of Paraitepui where you bid farewell to your camp porters. A vehicle will be waiting to transfer you by road all the way back to Puerto Ordaz (approx 8hr drive). [Note: optional upgrade is possible for the two nights while in Puerto Ordaz e.g. to Eurobuilding Guyana @ £30pppn x 2 nights = £60pp]

Day trip to Canaima with flight over Angel Falls

Transfer to the local airport for a day trip by plane to visit Canaima in the heart of the Gran Sabana with a sightseeing flight over the Angel Falls (weather permitting).

to beach of your choice

a.m. transfer back to the airport for a flight to Caracas and an onwards journey to the beach area of your choice. Choose between: - Margarita Island for relaxation in comfortable accommodation with swimming pool and a/c (good weather all year) - Los Roques* (coral archipelago) 'barefoot luxury', simple stylish small posadas (no a/c, no swimming pools), strong sunshine all year round and opportunities for snorkeling and diving. - Choroni/Puerto Colombia - lush mainland coast for a slice of local village life, sleepy midweek, lively at weekends (best weather here: Nov-Apr) *throughout August and at the peak national holidays of Christmas/New Year, a six night minimum stay requirement prevails at most posadas in Los Roques, prices are also higher at this time too, contact us for details of the supplement required.

Relaxation at the beach.

Relaxation at the beach.

Return to Caracas, depart Venezuela

Return to Caracas airport in good time for late afternoon international departures back to Europe.