PROGRAM: Roraima Tepuy (10 days) from Ciudad Bolívar

Day 1: Departure from Puerto Ordaz or Ciudad Bolivar. Before heading south to the Gran Sabana we'll stop at Cachamay Park located on the Caroni River. A place with lush vegetation and water falls great for refreshing and picture taking. From here we'll continue to the Gran Sabana thru the towns of Upata, Guasipati, El Callao, Tumeremo and El Dorado, all with a gold mining history. In El Callao we'll see miners digging for gold in Los Molinos underground mine. Later we'll stop in Tumeremo for lunch a la carte. After passing El Dorado and going thru the mining village of Km 88 we'll stop briefly at the "Piedra de La Virgen" Natural Monument. Local people say that the silhouette of a woman can be seen on the rock surface. From here we make the final leg of Day 1 and reach the northern sector of the Gran Sabana at 1.400 meters above sea level. Our first night will be at a modest lodge in Rapidos de Kamoiran in double occupancy rooms with private bath and showers. Dinner will be at the lodge restaurant (same menu for everyone). (-/L/D)

Day 2: After breakfast we'll go to the indigenous village of Liworibo where a 30-minute trip by motorized curiara (a native canoe) will take us to Chinak-meru, a water fall popularly known as Aponwao. With a height of 106 meters it is the highest in the Gran Sabana. After enjoying the site and taking pictures of the falls we'll walk back to the village, and on the way we'll stop at Pozo Escondido and Pozo de Los Enamorados, two water holes where we'll eat our picnic lunch and take a refreshing bath in the cool water, so bring your swimsuit! In the afternoon it's back to Rapidos de Kamoiran. Dinner will be at the lodge restaurant (same menu for everyone). (B/L/D)

Day 3: After breakfast our trip continues to Santa Elena de Uairen stopping occasionally to visit interesting places like Salto Kawi, Salto Kama-Meru, Mirador El Oso (a lookout point from where you can take pictures of the tepuis), Quebrada Arapan, Quebrada Soroape (stop for picnic lunch). Later we'll stop at Rio Yuruani and Quebrada El Jaspe, a stream and water falls with a beautiful red jasper floor. To end the day we'll take a quick jump to the border with Brasil where we can browse and shop for souvenirs. The night will be at pleasant Camp Yakoo where we'll enjoy dinner and the silence of the sabana. Accommodations will be in double rooms with hot running water. Dinner will be at the lodge restaurant (same menu for everyone). (B/L/D)

Day 4: After breakfast we'll head to the indigenous village of Paraytepuy located high on the mountain side where our group will spend some time getting ready for the trekking. During the first day of hiking we'll cross several small streams and we'll stop at the Tek river to cool of and relax a bit. Then it is one more hour to the Kukenan river where camp will be set for a good night's rest and for a refreshing bath. Today it will take us 4-5 hours away and at an altitude of 1100 meters. We will spend the night in tents. (B/L/D)

 Day 5: Hiking continues to Base Camp (altitude 1800 meters) at the foot of Roraima Tepuy. The trail is rather steep but after 4 hours we'll enjoy a great view of the western wall, an awesome vertical face of 600 meters made of quartzite. A cool but relaxing stream awaits us in this camp. Sleep in tents. (B/L/D)

Day 6: After breakfast we'll start hiking through a forest bordering the tepuy and exit right at the base of the steep rock face. A crack on the wall serves as a rocky and steep trail to the top and along the way we'll get soaked when walking under a water fall. The edge of Roraima (altitude 2650 meters) will be reached after 5 hours of hiking and our indigenous guide will choose a campsite to set the tents. Sleep in tents. (B/L/D)

Day 7: Our guide will lead us on a 7 hour hike walk through a fantastic landscape which reminds of prehistoric times. We'll cross water pools, mysterious rock formations and labyrinths. The goal is to reach the border marker which marks a triple point shared by Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. Here you can seat on top of the marker and be in three countries at the same time ! On our way to the marker we'll cross the Valley of the Crystals. An alternative to this hike is to walk for only 4 hours to the edge of the North Wall. We'll hike back to our camp for dinner and relax under the stars. Sleep in tents. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Hike down at a slow pace for 7 hours to the Tek river. Sleep in tents at the Tek's shore. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Today we'll reach the Paraytepuy village in about 4-5 hours time, board vehicles and drive to Santa Elena de Uairén. Accommodations will be at Yakoo camp in double rooms with hot running water. Dinner will be at the lodge restaurant (same menu for everyone). (B/L/D)

Day 10:  After breakfast we'll start our trip back by bus to Puerto Ordaz or Ciudad Bolívar. (B/-/-)

Optional: the trip back on Day 10 can be made by air from Santa Elena on a Cessna 206 airplane. You will overfly Kerepacupai-meru (Angel Falls, highest in the world at 980 meters) and Auyan-tepui (the mountain from where Angel Falls drop); a few minutes later you'll stop at Canaima where a trip in curiara will take you to the Canaima lagoon and Salto El Sapo, a waterfall. The flight to Puerto Ordaz or Ciudad Bolivar departs at 3 pm and arrives at 5 pm.

Included Services:

• Bilingual guide (English and Spanish)

• Land transportation is by Toyota 4-wheel drive and/or Ford van vehicles

• All excursions as described

• 9 Breakfasts (B), 9 lunches (L), and 9 dinners (D) with non-alcoholic beverages

• 4 Nights spent in lodges will be in double occupancy rooms as described and 5 nights spent in tents (Tents will be provide)

• Life jackets for river transportation

• 1 indigenous mountain Guide and carrier for Camping equipment and food. (You must carry your own personal Bag pack)

• Bus-ticket Sta. Elena de Uairén to Pto. Ordaz or Ciudad Bolívar

   Cost of the optional trip to Canaima is not included, and other air travel is not included.

   Vaccination: to cross the border into Brazil you need to have a written certification of yellow fever vaccination.

   We suggest to bring the following equipment with you: Bag pack (please no suitcases) with a maximum weight of 10 kg per person, sleeping-bag and foam pad, plastic bags to protect personal equipment from getting wet, water purification tablets or portable water filter, cotton shirts or t-shirts, long pants, shorts, warm light jacket or pullover, comfortable hiking shoes, another pair of shoes, several pair of socks and hiking socks, rubber sandals, raincoat, flashlight, pocket knife, sunglasses, water bottle, swimwear, towel, biodegradable soap and shampoo, sun-block lotion, insect repellent, hat or cap, camera and film, personal hygiene and medicine items

Departures: Every Tuesday, all the year

Participants: Mín. 3 (if less, please consult us)

Price per person. Send mail to travelmate@cantv.net

We reserve the right to modify the tour without previous announcement.

   Here an additional unforgettable adventure: A flight by helicopter to the tepuys Roraima and Kukenan!

   The flight begins early in the morning at Santa Elena de Uairén. Departure will be at the heliport or from the Yakoo-camp.

   The first part of the flight will take you to the top of Mt. Roraima, where you have the possibility to walk during 15 minutes and take pictures.

   The next step is a flight, to Mt. Kukenan. After a breathtaking panorama during the flight you have again 15 minutes on the top of the table-mountain. From here the flight is going back to Santa Elena de Uairén.

   Note: This flight depends on the meteorological conditions on the table-mountains. Flight-time is about 2 hours.