| 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
14 days / 13 nights
Day 1. Caracas – Tropical Ranch /Maturin (D)
Arrive to Maiquetia International Airport. Assistance at the airport by an Alborada Guide that 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 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 to the Lodge. Lunch. In the afternoon, departure in Warao canoes to visit the channels and mangrove swamps. You'll have the opportunity to fish some piranhas, too! Dinner and overnight in the lodge.
Day 3. Orinoco Delta – (BLD)
Breakfast. Walk departure across the jungle. Your local native guide will teach you about the application of some of the fantastic tropical forest plant's 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 rocks 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 min 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 its majesty when the boat approaches Ratoncito Island. Lunch in the open forest. Once in the lodge, board another curiara up until the point where you will walk to Laime lookout point. Enjoy a nice bath on 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 handcraft 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, by Caracas. On your way you will be flying over the mountains, enjoy the picturesque view of the Andes surroundings, the little colonial towns and 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's 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 of the Condor, the world's biggest flying bird, whose mysterious flight gave place 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 Paramus 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 the highest mountain pass 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, beautiful landscape approaching to 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 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 mammals’ 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. Carry out an examination of the typical local vegetation and enjoy a delicious typical dish in the evening. With 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 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 transfer in a motor boat 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 on a box lunch. Beach umbrellas, beach chairs and snorkeling masks also will be provided. Time to explore the little village or walk at the seaside shore
Day 13. Los Roques (BLD)
Breakfast. Transfer to another fantastic key of the Archipelago with a picnic lunch y Free Day at leisure in 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:
Not included:
We recommend bringing:
OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS
Visit to learn weaving with “moriche” (palm fiber) the Indigenous Warao Community in Orinoco Delta.
Speech about the Warao Community Cosmo vision of life in Orinoco Delta.
Nocturne Excursion through the jungle river, lighting the nocturnal tropical fauna like alligators, birds, and other animals of the area in Orinoco Delta.
Visit the local workshops of handcrafts to observe the traditional methods of weaving, work with wood, 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 nocturne 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 los Andes (4 nights)
Horse riding in the mountains in Los Andes.
Mountain Biking in Los Andes.
