Amazon Adventures

Venezuela

Andes & Angel Falls / Angel Falls Trek / Venezuela Highlights/ Kaleidoscope
Family Tour / Andes & Llanos / Southern Venezuela / Amazonas-Los Roques
Adventure Amazonas / Angel Falls by Boat / Jungles and Beaches / Explorer

VENEZUELA EXPLORER
(13 DAYS/12 NIGHTS)

This tour was designed for the adventure-seeker looking to discover Venezuela’s natural environment. The tour starts in Canaima National Park, where participants will have the opportunity to witness Angel Falls and the surrounding dense tropical vegetation that characterizes the landscape. Following, participants will travel through the Venezuelan Andes to see the beautiful sky-scrapping mountain peaks and the culture typical of the Andes.

DAY 1: Caracas-Canaima-Angel Falls Tour
After your arrival at the international airport in Caracas, you will be met by a representative who will give you your tickets and escort you to the national airport. You will fly from Caracas to Canaima. At the Canaima Airport you will again be met at the airport by our representatives and then transferred to Parakaupa Camp (a superior jungle lodge), situated near the pink sandy shores of Canaima Lagoon. After your welcome lunch and cocktail, the excursion will begin! We will shove off from the sandy pink beaches of the Canaima Lagoon to tour this enchanting area. The tour will bring us so close to the raging falls that we will feel its refreshing mist. The dramatic scenery provides for some of the best photo opportunities in the park. After the tour of Canaima Lagoon we will head back to the camp for a culinary delight of the dinner at the camp. In the evening you will have the opportunity for a relaxing rest on our patio, with views of the lagoon and the opportunity to contemplate the grandness of the Southern Hemisphere’s nighttime sky.
Lodging is in double rooms with private bath.
Meals (–, L, D)

DAY 2: Caño Moroco-Yuri & Yuri Lue Falls
This day will include two excursions. After breakfast we will depart for the Mayupa Beach and Caño Moroco, come back to the camp after lunch and then set off again for the incredible Yuri and Yuri Lue Falls.
Meals (B, L, D)

DAY 3: Angel Falls-Mérida
After a tasty breakfast we will board a small aircraft for a thrilling ride through Devil’s Canyon and birds eye view of Angel Falls. After the flight we will return to the camp to gather up our things. Arriving in Canaima about 11:30 a.m., after picking up your luggage at the camp and transferring to the airport, you will have time to stroll the dirt streets and visit the local shops that sell handicrafts. Your flight to Caracas departs at 12:10 PM. Once in the Caracas national airport, you will need to transfer planes for your flight to Mérida at 4:35p.m. Upon arrival at the Mérida airport, a representative will transfer you to the charming new Posada Casa Sol for the night. The posada, located in the heart of Mérida, has 17 private rooms with bath, balconies and terraces, and breakfast.
Meals (B,–,–)

DAY 4: San José
You will be picked up in the morning by your guide. Once we’ve packed up the jeep, we will embark upon a tour boasting exposure to a large variety of ecosystems. Our first visit is to verdant cloud forest, where we’ll visit a rushing waterfall. Our next stop is the picturesque Andean village of Jají. After touring the village, we will mount mountain bikes to begin our decent down to a xerophytic ecosystem. On the way, we will visit a small sugar cane mill to observe the production of “panela.” Next, we will travel to the curious salt lake, Lagunilla, the only one of its kind in Venezuela.

While traveling through verdant coffee country, we will visit the Coffee Museum and present day coffee farms. Afterwards, we will take a winding switch back road with a breathtaking view, ascending from 460 m to 2,290 m. Finally, we will arrive at the remote Andean village of San Jose that seems to have been “lost in time.” This is a special place, “where no one else goes!” We spend the night at an idyllic Andean chalet with trout ponds. The Posada Mochaba, run by the notoriously talented cook and conversationalist Martin, is of superb quality in food and accommodation.
(4 hours by jeep, 1 hour hiking, 1.5 biking) Meals: (–, L, D)

DAY 5: San Jose-Acequias
We will eat a tasty breakfast with Martin and then descend into the beautiful valley of Tostos either on horseback or by foot with mule support (one of the most enjoyable ways to walk in the Andes), enjoying the surroundings of eucalyptus trees and beautiful rivers. There we will have direct contact with the villagers. Around us, farmers will plow with oxen while villagers grind their corn by hand in order to make the typical “arepa” over a wood-fed fire. From Tostos we will go to Acequias, a friendly mountain village, even more remote than San Jose. There we will visit ruins of an Indian village that dates back to the times of Machu Pichu. The night will be spent at a small inn located in Acequias.
(4 hours by horseback/5 hours by foot) Meals: (B, L, D)

DAY 6: Acequias-El Morro-Los Nevados
After a satisfying breakfast, we will depart on foot for 8 km to El Morro, another mountain town. There you’ll take the most thrilling jeep ride you will ever experience in your lifetime, to Los Nevados, a village that lies behind Pico Bolivar at an altitude of 2,700 m. This town, which seems like it was left a century behind, boasts one of the smallest center squares in Venezuela. Your visit to Los Nevados will be more cultural in nature, having constant direct contact with the locals in this town, sleeping in their homes, sharing meals with them, and even having a few beers in a small local cantina.
(3 hours hiking, 3 hours by jeep)
Meals: (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Los Nevados-Mérida-Paragliding
Starting the day with a typical Andean breakfast, our energy reserves will be replenished for a trek on mules over a peaceful, colorful mountain trail that leads to the cable car station. We will witness the change of scenery from a mountain cloud forest to the páramo region as we reach the Alto de la Cruz at 4,200 m. From there we will have a wonderful view of the impressive Bolivar Peak, the highest in Venezuela. We will drive back to Mérida, arriving at mid-day.

Optional: If you are not satisfied, nor tired, and you are still looking for a little excitement we can take you paragliding! Your experienced pilot will secure your harness, lay out the parachute behind you, and as you run towards the edge of a cliff your adrenaline will begin to pump rapidly through your veins. Suddenly, a wind will come and lift the chute-and your feet-off the ground. Suspended in the air over the canyon far below, you will spend an hour airborne. Peacefully floating, steering and twisting over the canyon walls and crevices, you will see the Chama River lying in the valley below, patch work sugarcane fields to one side, and feel the rays of the setting sun warming your body. Gently, your pilot will bring you down to the ground, where you will have a story of a lifetime—that you flew the Condors’ flight in the Venezuelan Andes.

“Once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned forever skyward, fore there you have been and there you long to return.”

You will stay overnight again at the charming colonial inn, Posada Casa Sol.
(4 hours by mule, 1 hour cable car ride) Meals: (B,L,–)

DAY 8: Mérida
You will have the day to explore the picturesque town of Mérida. You may choose to visit any of the nearby trails into the Andes, or to buy more man-made treasures at the local artisan markets. Your overnight will be at Posada Casa Sol.
Meals: (–,–,–)

DAY 9: Páramo Tour
The word “paramo” translates to “moor” in English and refers to the tropical sub-alpine ecosystems found in the highlands of Central and South America. This region is largely defined by its altitude, that generally ranges from 3,200 m up to 4,300 m. Above this height, the almost barren, scree-covered land is called desert páramo. Its beauty lies in its sparseness, in its open, windswept terrain, and in its contemplative silence. The hard life of summer-by-day and winter-by-night requires special adaptation. The valley walls are covered with velvety-tufted frailejon plant that if left undisturbed for eighty to ninety years, reaches heights of 9 ft. On this excursion, you’ll walk through the cobblestone streets of whitewashed, clay-brick villages and hike up to a clear glacial lake that reflects the landscape like a mirror. You will visit a biological research station where parks officials manage an Andean Condor re-introduction program. You will also journey to Los Frailes, a quaint colonial mission of the 17th century, and to Pico Aguila (4,125 m), the highest point in Venezuela reachable by car.

This is also one of our most requested tours. From Mérida, we will travel a scenic route by exciting mountain roads towards the Andean páramo. Along the way, we will visit tranquil colonial Andean villages and enjoy the drinks and delicacies they have to offer.

In the páramo range, we’ll find the velvety frailejon (like rabbit ears to children), found everywhere in the páramo. Of this relative to the daisy, there are 65 endemic species found in Venezuela, and for this reason, botanists think the area was the original dispersal center for all frailejones.

One of our first stops is the Andean Condor re-introduction station. The staff at this station is making a bold attempt to build-up the population of the world’s largest bird. A large Condor can have a wing span up to 3.5 meters. To capture this majestic creature’s flight by camera will surely be a rewarding memory of the Venezuelan Andes.

Next, we travel up the Pico Aguilar (4,125-m), the highest point in Venezuela reachable by car. There we will be able to take in the panoramic views of the Andean peaks and sit-down to a warm Andean lunch. From there we shall visit the Laguna Mucubaji Park (3,800m), a part of the Sierra Nevada National Park system. Hiking or riding to Laguna Negra, about 4 km, we will enter a microclimate that due to its special setting receives more rain and humidity than the surrounding páramo area. This extra humidity gives life to an interesting diversity of plant species, adding color and greenery to the wind-swept páramo region. Laguna Negra is a beautiful site on a clear, calm day. The black water forms such a perfect mirror that it essentially disappears and is replaced by the reflection of the trees on the mountainside.

After enjoying the tranquil scenery of the laguna, you will journey to Los Frailes, a quaint colonial mission of the 17th century. From Los Frailes we work our way back through the scenic Venezuelan Andes to Mérida.

We will drop you off at your posada, Casa Sol.

*Additionally, the tour can be extended to include an overnight in the remote Andean village of Apartaderos, in the quaint Posada Casa Solar and include downhill mountain biking.
4 hours by jeep, 2 hours hiking)
Meals (–, L,–)

DAY 10: Mérida-Los Roques via Caracas
A Natoura representative will pick you up very early in the morning to transfer you to the airport in time to check-in for your 6:35a.m. flight to Caracas. Upon arrival, you will take a spectacular morning flight over the crystalline blue Caribbean waters to the islands of Los Roques. Upon arrival to Los Roques, you will be met by a Posada Mediterraneo representative who will then transfer you to the quaint posada with an Italian flair, for your stay Los Roques.
Meals (–,–, D)

DAYS 11-12: Los Roques
The Bed and Breakfast plan is included in this package. There is also an all inclusive plan that includes daily excursions to the surrounding islands.
Meals (B,–,–)

Day 13: Los Roques-Caracas
You will be transferred to the Los Roques airport in time for your 4:00p.m. flight back to Caracas. End of Services.
Meals (B,–,–)

Price per person in US$: $2090 each for 4 people, $2203 each for 2, $237 single supplement. Valid till March 31, 2008

TOUR INCLUDES:
• Pre-departure information
• Domestic flights
• Assistance and transfers at all national airports
• Excursions to Laguna Canaima
• Over flight of Angel Falls
• Land and river transportation in Canaima
• Accommodations as outlined
• Welcome cocktail
• All meals and non-alcoholic drinks
• Bilingual guide for trip
• First aid kit
• Lifejacket for each passenger

TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:
• Airport departure taxes
• Accommodations in Caracas OR Ciudad Bolivar (we can arrange lodging)
• Tour to base of Angel Falls
• Sleeping bag, other gear, or items of a personal nature
• Meals, alcoholic beverages, tours, or other services not listed on the itinerary, or
• Tips to local staff, nor any expenses incurred in preparing for the trip such as but not limited to non-refundable airline tickets or insurance or additional expenses encountered as a result of flight delays, cancelations, or missed connections.
• Entry fee to the Canaima National Park-10 US$

WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BRING:
• Light-weight clothing
• Rain jacket
• Good walking shoes/boots
• Well-fitting sandals
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect Repellent (with DEET)
• Bio-degradable soap/shampoo
• Malaria pills
• Hat/visor
• Camera/film and binoculars
• Compact flashlight

Venezuela

VENEZUELA EXPLORER (13 DAYS/12 NIGHTS)

VENEZUELA EXPLORER
(13 DAYS/12 NIGHTS)