Gran Sabana (4-Day trip) 

  1st Day: 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 á la carte. After passing El Dorado and going thru the mining village of KM 88 we'll stop briefly at the Natural Monument "Piedra de La Virgen". Local people say, that the silhouette of a woman can be seen on the rock's 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)

 2nd Day: 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)

 3rd Day: 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)

 4th Day: After breakfast we'll start the trip back to Ciudad Bolivar or Puerto Ordaz. We'll stop at a restaurant for lunch a la carte. (B/L/-)

Gran Sabana (5-Day trip)

1st Day: We'll leave Ciudad Bolivar or Puerto Ordaz at 7 am. and go to Ciudad Piar, a town born from iron mining activity. At the Ferrominera Orinoco offices we'll take a bus and tour Cerro Bolivar and Cerro San Isidro which combined form the 3rd largest iron mine in the world. In the afternoon we'll visit the Guri Dam. This impressive hydroelectric installation is the 2nd largest in the world. During our tour of the dam we'll see great engineering and beautiful art. A la carte lunch we'll be at the Guri Club. Back in Puerto Ordaz we'll have dinner at a guest house (same menu for everyone).(-/L/D)

 2nd Day: Depart from Puerto Ordaz. 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).(B/L/D)

  3rd Day: 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)

  4th Day: 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 Brazil 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's restaurant (same menu for everyone). (B/L/D)

  5th Day: After breakfast we'll start the trip back to Ciudad Bolivar or Puerto Ordaz. We'll stop at a restaurant for lunch a la carte. (B/L/

Here another choice for the 4^th or 5^th day

  Optional: The trip back on Day 4 can be made by air from Santa Elena on a Cessna 206 airplane. You will overfly Kerepacupai-meru (Angel Falls, the 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

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

• All excursions as described

• 3 Breakfasts (B), 4 lunches (L), and 3 dinners (D) with non-alcoholic beverages

• Nights spent in lodges will be in double occupancy rooms as described

• Life jackets for river transportation

• Personal insurance while raveling in our vehicles

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

 Children under 7 years of age only pay 50% of the trip cost and share room with parents.

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

 We suggest to bring the following equipment with you:

Soft bag or pack (please no suitcases) with a maximum weight of 10 kg per person, cotton shirts or t-shirts, long pants, shorts, light jacket or pullover, comfortable shoes, several pair of socks, rubber sandals, raincoat, flashlight, 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

 Participants: Min. 2

 Price per person: send mail to travelmate@cantv.net

 We reserve the right to modify the tour without previous announcement