| Duration: | 14 Day(s) - 13 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Eco Tours |
CARACAS – MATURIN – ORINOCO DELTA – CANAIMA – THE ANDES – SANTO DOMINGO – THE PLAINS – LOS ROQUES ACHIPELAGO
A tour to the most virgin and pristine natural wonders in Venezuela: The Guyana jungles, the Natural reserves in the Plains, The Tropical Andes, and the secluded Caribbean.
Tour Highlights
Visit the biggest National Park in South America: Canaima, home of the highest waterfall in the world: Angel Falls, a natural wonder.
Visit the majestic Orinoco Delta and the Matriarchal Warao Community
Relax in a comfortable lodge in front of Canaima lagoon, with the background of Hacha Falls.
Enjoy bathing behind the water curtain of Sapo Falls in Canaima National Park.
Get delighted with the enchanting geological formation of the tropical Andes.
Enjoy a panoramic visit of the Andes, getting on the highest cable car in the world (to be open very soon).
Excursion to the Sierra Nevada National Park.
Tour around the typical Andean villages.
Visit the colonial and University city of Merida.
Observation of the natural reserves of fauna in the Plains.
Go on a photo safari in the Plains.
Get amazed by the turquoise and crystalline waters of the Los Roques Archipelago.
14 days / 13 nights
Day 1. Caracas – Tropical Ranch /Maturin (D)
Arrive at Maiquetia International Airport. Assistance at the airport by an Alborada Guide who will give the program and some tips useful in Venezuela. Transfer to the National Airport to take the flight to Maturin. Transfer to the Ranch in the big plains at the gateways of the Orinoco Delta. Welcome dinner and overnight.
Day 2. Orinoco Delta (BLD)
Breakfast. Land transfer to the pier. Departure to the Orinoco River’s swamps and channels in a motorized canoe. The place has plenty of moriche palm trees whose fibers are used for arts & crafts works, including hammocks. Arrival at the Lodge. Lunch. In the afternoon, departure in Warao canoes to visit the channels and mangrove swamps. You'll have the opportunity to fish for some piranhas, too! Dinner and overnight in the lodge.
Day 3. Orinoco Delta – (BLD)
Breakfast. Walk across the jungle. Your local native guide will teach you about the application of some of the fantastic tropical forest plants' secrets and medicinal usages. Lunch at the lodge and meeting with the aboriginal Warao matriarchal communities to watch their habitat and way of living. Dinner. Overnight.
Day 4. Delta – Canaima – Sapo Falls (BLD)
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport in Puerto Ordaz to take the flight to Canaima. Assistance at the airstrip. This ancestral and mystic place is a land of tepuys, magic, and sacred mountains of the Indians. We will cross the Canaima lagoon in Indian canoes, conducted by Indians.
We pass the Ucaima, Golondrina, and Hacha waterfalls that fall spectacularly into the lagoon. We take a short walk through the light tropical forest and savannah to the base of the Sapo waterfalls. Here we have time for a short bath in the refreshing waters. We continue the excursion walking behind the curtain of water (some 200 meters) that descends from the dashing Carrao River.
Climbing to the top of the falls, we have an excellent view of the savannas' tropical forest surroundings and the tepuyes: unexplored, majestic, and prehistoric tabletop mountains considered the oldest rock formations of our planet. We return to the Camp facing the Hacha waterfalls and the pink sandy beach of Canaima Lagoon. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5. Canaima National Park (BLD)
Breakfast. Today you can take some optional excursions, such as an overflight or a Full Day to Angel Falls: The Highest Waterfall in the world. Transfer to Ucaima Port to take a curiara through the Carrao River. At the Mayupa rapids, it may be necessary to walk for about 20 minutes and let the crew haul the empty canoe through them.
Shortly after beginning your journey, you will be dazzled by the majestic Auyantepuy, home of the Angel Falls, standing still as a medieval fortress of gigantic dimensions. Its impressive walls shelter the river from both sides. Once inside the Canyon, the Angel Falls appear in all their majesty when the boat approaches Ratoncito Island. Lunch in the open forest.
Once in the lodge, board another curiara until the point where you will walk to Laime lookout point. Enjoy a nice bath in the pool formed by the waterfall on its way down. Return to the lodge, or relax by going swimming in the Churun River. Dinner and overnight in beds at the lodge in Canaima.
Day 6. Puerto Ordaz - Mérida (B)
Breakfast. Visit the local handicraft shops, the indigenous communities, or relax in the healing waters of the Canaima Lagoon early in the morning, before departure. Transfer to the airstrip to take flight to Mérida, the capital of the Venezuelan Andes, from Caracas.
On your way, you will be flying over the mountains, enjoying the picturesque view of the Andes surroundings, the little colonial towns, and the lakes. Get a glimpse of its historical and colonial villages, perfectly hidden between mountains, each standing as the last proof of an ancient way of living.
Inhabitants, always warm and friendly people, are more than willing to give the visitors a small piece of the Andean flavor. This gorgeous city offers its colonial charm to its visitors, with peaks of about 5.000 meters, known in legend as the "5 white hawks".
They will delight your vision with their calm beauty. The local arts & crafts and agriculture give this region its character, and the warmth of its people makes this a unique and charming place.
The region offers its landscapes, full of mountains, paramos, lagoons, and expansive valleys covered by Frailejon plants. The Andes are also home to the Condor, the world's biggest flying bird, whose mysterious flight gave rise to frightening legends among the old settlers of this place. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 7. Mérida (B)
Breakfast. Half Day City tour in Merida: visit to the Cathedral and Archbishop's Palace, the Governor's Palace, the Colonial Art Museum, and the Indian Market where you can take home a sample of the Andean handcraft work. Also, visit the colonial Jaji village. Return to the posada. Overnight.
Day 8. Mérida – Santo Domingo (BL)
Breakfast. Full Day to the Paramo. The journey begins into the mountains, passing through farms and steep meadows towards the Paramus, the stark highlands above the tree line. Within a short distance from the city, you will find the Paria of Sierra Nevada National Park.
On your way, you can visit San Rafael de Mucuchies and pass by the deep blue Mucubaji Lagoon for a short hike. Facing the lagoon, there is a Visitor’s Center featuring a permanent exhibition of life on the heaths. You can walk or take an excursion by mule. In the afternoon, you will drive over one of the highest mountain passes in South America, the Pico El Águila (4,118 mts), and stop at the Mifafi Valley where you might see Condors. Typical lunch in the way. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
Day 9. Santo Domingo – Barinas (BLD)
Breakfast. Depart in the morning to transfer to Barinas, a beautiful landscape approaching the Plains rich in flora and fauna. Along the way, you can observe the most diverse variety of tropical plant and animal species. Lunch. Photo Safari in the ranch located in the very heart of the Venezuelan Plains.
This region has the greatest depositories of wildlife, especially birds that live here permanently or gather seasonally to breed. This variety is caused by the vast expanse it occupies and by the diversity of ecosystems found in the area.
About 350 bird species and 50 mammal species have been recorded in this region: scarlet ibis and hoatzin, pink dolphins, manatees, crocodiles, etc. Its weather, vegetation, rivers, and isolation make it one of the most attractive refuges for flora and fauna. Dinner and overnight.
Day 10. The Plains: Photo Safari (BLD)
Breakfast. River excursions constitute one of the main attractions. During these outings, many species of birds and the Caiman of the Orinoco can be seen sunning themselves on the sandy beaches on the banks of the river. Examine the typical local vegetation and enjoy a delicious typical dish in the evening.
With a chance (only for groups), you can participate with a local folklore group playing typical instruments from the plains: harp, cuatro (four-stringed guitar), and maracas. Dinner and overnight.
Day 11. Barinas - Caracas (B)
Breakfast. Last fauna observation. Transfer to Barinas airport to take a flight to Caracas. Transfer to a Littoral Hotel in front of the sea. Overnight.
Day 12. Caracas - Archipelago Los Roques (BLD)
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Los Roques. Charter flight to the heavenly Coral Archipelago of Los Roques, one of the largest marine national parks in the Caribbean. Transfer to the lodge and accommodation. You will be transferred in a motorboat to one little pristine cay of the Archipelago. Enjoy a good day sun bathing on these exceptionally white sandy beaches and crystalline warm waters. Cold drinks will be arranged in a box lunch. Beach umbrellas, beach chairs, and snorkeling masks will also be provided. Time to explore the little village or walk on the seaside shore
Day 13. Los Roques (BLD)
Breakfast. Transfer to another fantastic key of the Archipelago with a picnic lunch and a Free Day at leisure on the beach. Return to Posada Dinner and Overnight.
Day 14. Los Roques - Caracas (B)
Breakfast. Time to enjoy the last beach hours in Los Roques. Flight to Caracas to take the connection flight back home.
Included:
Assistance at the airports.
Private transfers Airport the hotel- Airport.
1 Night in a Tropical Ranch in Maturin between the Plains and the Delta with breakfast and dinner
2 nights in Orinoco Delta with Full Board
2 nights in Canaima in the lodge with full board.
2 Nights in Merida with breakfasts.
1 Night in Santo Domingo.
2 Nights in the Plains with full board and excursions.
1 Night in Caracas Littoral with breakfast.
2 Nights in Los Roques with Full Board.
Excursions:
All excursions in the Orinoco Delta.
Boat ride in Canaima Lagoon.
Excursion to Sapo Falls
City Tour in Merida
Excursion to Jaji.
Full day to the Paramo with lunch.
Photo Safari in the Plains.
Daily transfer to the nearby keys in Los Roques.
Local Guides.
Domestic Flights:
Caracas-Maturin.
Puerto Ordaz-Canaima- Caracas.
Caracas-El Vigia.
Barinas-Caracas.
Caracas-Los Roques-Caracas.
Not Included:
Entry fee to Canaima National Park. (per person)
Entry fee to the Los Roques Archipelago. (per person)
Domestic Airport taxes. (per person/flight)
We recommend bringing:
Bathing suit and towel.
Hat, sunglasses, sun protector,
Insect repellent,
Sweater for the evenings and a raincoat.
Lantern
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS:
Visit to learn weaving with “moriche” (palm fiber), the Indigenous Warao Community in the Orinoco Delta.
Speech about the Warao Community's Cosmo vision of life in the Orinoco Delta.
Nocturne Excursion through the jungle river, illuminating the nocturnal tropical fauna like alligators, birds, and other animals of the area in the Orinoco Delta.
Visit the local workshops of handicrafts to observe the traditional methods of weaving, working with wood, and elaboration of tropical jams in Los Andes.
Fishing in the northern Delta near the Atlantic Ocean (3 days minimum)
Folkloric Party “Llanero” with traditional instruments in The Plains (for groups)
Overflight Angel Falls in Canaima (in private)
Night excursion to observe nocturnal wildlife in the Plains.
Full Day Excursion by dugout and soft trekking to the base of Angel Falls in Canaima. (in private)
Birdwatching in the Plains.
Horse Riding in the Plains.
Trout Fishing in the Andes.
Folkloric Party “Llanero” with traditional instruments in The Plains (for groups)
Trekking to the Humboldt Peak in the Andes (4 nights)
Horse riding in the mountains in Los Andes.
Mountain Biking in Los Andes.
