Day 01: Arrival at Caracas . City Tour. Arrival and transfer from Caracas International Airport to Caracas city. Night in Caracas . Our Exploration & Adventures in northern South America will now begin.
Founded in 1567, the city lies in a rift in thickly forested mountains which rise abruptly from a lush green coast to heights of 2,000 to 3,000 meters. The small basin in which the capital lies runs some 24 m east and west. Perhaps most characteristic of the city are its spectacular settings, pleasant climate and modern architecture. Caracas is a vibrant, fast-paced, progressive and cosmopolitan city of almost five million inhabitants. Altitude: 900 meters. Median temperature: 23 degrees (C)
Places to Visit: Walk the boulevard of Sabana Grande; the small village of “El Hatillo”; Museum of Colonial Art and Contemporary Art; house where Simon Bolivar was born.
Day 02: Transfer from Caracas National Airport to the city of Merida . Visit Merida city and relax. Merida is situated at 1,650 meters. Its median temperature is 19 degrees (C). It is a city with a main University (ULA: University of the Andes ) and a young ambiance. A small city with 500,000 inhabitants and is surrounded with mountains: Sierra Nevada National Park (highest peak in Venezuela : Bolivar peak: 5,007 meters) and the National Park of La Culata (highest peak: Pan de Azucar: 4,650 meters).
Day 03: Four-hour ride in a jeep to the small village of Los Nevados : 2,700 meters. Light trekking in the afternoon. Sleep in the Posada Guamanchi Los Nevados.
Located at 2700 meters, inside the National park of Sierra Nevada , Los Nevados is a typical, colonial and peaceful village where most of the people are farmers. Agriculture is mainly of potatoes, wheat, garlic and carrots.
Day 04: All day around Los Nevados, enjoying the mountain environment.Enjoy the way of life of the Venezuelan Andes-- how people work, where they live. Light trekking to visit houses, a colonial hacienda, farms and the “Molino”. Breathless view of the Andes mountain.
Day 05: Four-hour mule ride to 4,000 meters, enjoying the paramos flower which grows between 3,000 and 4,000 meters. The typical plants of the region are the violets, groundsel, gentian, lichen, geranium, margaritas, Andean Christmas fern, lions paw, Linden ’s Andean fern, the beautiful “Frailejon” (narrow-leaved Espeletia) and a wide range of orchids. Cable car going back to Merida . Night in the Merida Posada.
Day 06: Transfer from Merida to the Rafting Camp in Barinas State , and then to the Sierra Nevada . Visit the typical villages of the Andes : Tabay, Mucuchies, Mucuruba and Apartaderos. Stop at the church constructed of stone in San Rafael , the museum of the condor, Eagle Peak (the highest point by road in Venezuela at 4,200 meters) and Mucubaje Lake . The road then descends through the cloudy forest to Barinas at sea level.
Day 07: Rafting in the morning. Transfer to Los Llanos Camp, 5 hours drive. Los Llanos are the flatlands of Venezuela in the center of the country--the best place in Venezuela to enjoy the wildlife.
Days 08-09: Two days of activities to enjoy the wildlife: canoeing; fresh water dolphins; fishing for piranhas; anaconda, chiguire, snakes, iguanas, turtles, anteaters, horseback riding; bird watching.
Day 10: Transfer from Barinas to Caracas and then to Ciudad Bolivar by plane.
Day 11: City tour of Ciudad Bolivar . City tours in Bolivar Colonial City , a former Capital of Venezuela (formerly, Angustura, 1766).
Founded in 1766, Ciudad Bolivar is on the narrows of the Orinoco Delta, some 300 meters wide, which gave the town its old name of Angostura. It was here where Simon Bolivar came after being defeated, to reorganize his forces. At Angostura he was declared President of Gran Colombia , which was to fragment before his death. Ciudad Bolivar is a tropical city, the capital of Bolivar state and a city of 350,000 inhabitants. Its center has remained colonial in architecture and it is a popular stop for travelers.
Day 12-14: Explore the Gran Sabana to the Brazil border (Tepuyes, Indian village, waterfalls). We will spend 3 days in the Great Savanna. This region has unique landscapes, impressive falls, multicolored rivers and tepuyes (vertical mountains). During our exploration we will visit many towns such as Upata y Guasipati, El Callao (gold mines), Kamoiran and the Indian communities of Liworito and Kanavayen. Trekking and swimming in Pozo Escondido and Pozo del Amor. In addition, we will visit the city of La Linea on the border of Brazil .
Day 15-16: Tour to Canaima: From the Great Savanna, we will fly to Canaima and stay for 2 fabulous days that will include sailing and trekking. We will trek in Canaima Lagoon, Zapo, Kama Meru, Kawi, Arapan and Angel Falls . In Canaima we will sail in the rapids of the Corrao River to reach Ratoncito Island and then trek to Laime viewpoint to view the Angel Falls . We will explore Orquideas Island, Pozo de la Felicidad, Quebradas de Soroaspe, Jaspe and Sta. Elena. Our camp will be in a rustic town and we will sleep in hammocks
Day 17: Transfer from Canaima to Ciudad Bolivar by plane, and then transfer from Ciudad Bolivar to Tucupita by bus.
Day 18-19: Orinoco Delta. For 2 days we will explore one of the largest deltas in the world, that of the Orinoco , with fascinating jungles, swamps, rivers and more than 70 channels. We will explore the channels during the day and night in curiaras (Indian canoes); you will be able to fish for piranhas and visit Indian villages. In the Orinoco you will observe a wide variety of exotic birds, animals and plants.
Day 20: Transfer from Tucupita to Puerto La Cruz by bus. From Tucupita we will go to Pto. La Cruz. The city is located on the coast with many islands and beautiful beaches where you can enjoy swimming and snorkeling.
Day 21-22: Mochima Park and beaches. We will spend 2 days in Mochina Park and beach on the Caribbean before returning home.
1st day: A trip by boat from Mochina to visit Playa Blanca (for swimming and snorkeling).
2nd day: Tour by boat visiting: caves, “barco hundido” and Islands .
Day 23: Transfer from Cumana to Caracas by plane, and then a homeward flight.
