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Overview

Tailor made trip to Venezuela

The countless different landscapes of Venezuela are probably the main treasure of this country. And this is a unique chance to find out the finest jewels of its crown with a tailor made trip. This brand new circuit will first bring you to the wild Andes range, where, in the middle of coffee tree plantations and high steppes, a country habitat and its immemorial traditions has been sustaining for ages. A bit further, in the Apuro plains, the gigantic cattle herds pasturing in an astounding silence are like kaleidoscopic sights where nature seems unlimited. You will have the true privilege to admire, in Canaima National Park, the towering tepuys, typical Venezuelan sandstone highlands rising straight from the savannah or the forest, and breathtaking views on Salto Angel, the highest waterfall in the world with a drop of 979 m! Along the meandering rivers of the jungle, a boat excursion is the best way to discover a unique flora and you will come across the diverse and mysterious wildlife: Guyana squirrels, pumas, jaguars, sloths, while in the lagoon, waters giant otters bask in the tropical heat. The park is home for many reptiles (caimans, anacondas...) as well as a diversity of bird species, from the tiny hummingbird to the splendid red macaw, a lavishly scarlet feathered parrot. This tailor made trip is also the occasion to discover caves and canyons which will stun you at every minute by their wild beauty, and you will peacefully enjoy bathing into natural pools. Far off the buzzy civilization, Los Roques is the perfect spot to relax with pristine lagoons, quiet islands, immaculate white sand beaches from reef origin, and of course a crystal clear sea mirroring the sunbeams. This unique tailor made trip to Venezuela is an exceptional opportunity to dive into nature and give you thrilling sensations.

Feel free to contact our South America expert at Uniktour to get more information about this tailor-made road trip to Venezuela!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight - Caracas
Meet and greet upon arrival at the airport with your English-speaking travel coordinator who will hand you over a travel book. Transfer and check in at the hotel for the night. Dinner not included.

Day 2| Caracas - Andes
Breakfast and transfer to the airport to catch your flight Caracas - El Vigia (1,5 hr). Meet and greet with your guide at El Vigia airport. You set out to visit the typical village of Jaji, the salted lagoon of Urao and a traditional factory of papelon, a sort of sugarloaf. Lunch before you drive across the coffee tree plantations and visit the Hacienda La Victoria. The next step on your trip is a mountain meandering trail that leads to the very remote San Jose small village, far off the rest of the world. You settle at night in a splendid posada where you'll have dinner and spend the night.

Day 3| Andes - Merida
Typical andine breakfast. You climb down on foot or horse-riding to the gorgeous valley of Tostos. This hiking showcases the environment of the still intact Venezuelan Andes and its indigenous population, the soaring streams, the fields farmed right upon mountain slopes with swing ploughs. After going back to the posada for lunch, you will drive on the mountain trails to Merida, the Venezuelan Andes capital. Settling at the posada for the night. Dinner not included.

Day 4| Merida - Los Frailes
Breakfast at the posada. You'll drive on the transandine road to the paramo, the andine name of the high steppe taking place above 2,500 m. Over 4,000 m, in the middle of the valleys and highlands shaped by the last glaciations, the landscapes are more or less characterized with a multitude of lagoons and lakes, as well as frailejones, a downy plant typical of the paramo. At some point, stopover to visit the San Rafael and Mucuchies villages, and the stone church of the Venezuelan artist Juan Felix Sanchez. Follows a hiking on the Pico el Aguila, the highest road of the country at 4,100 m. After lunch, you will cross the Mucubaji lagoon lying at the foot of breathtaking landscapes. Afterward, you will go down back to the Los Frailes hotel for dinner and night.

Day 5| Los Frailes - Los Llanos
Breakfast at the hotel. You hit the transandine road again during the morning to reach Hato Cedral. Lunch during the road trip (not included). Arrival in early afternoon at Hato Cedral in the heart of the unlimited landscapes of Apure plains. The Hato Cedral is a 53,000 hectare domain used for the breeding of over 20,000 heads of livestock co-living with an incredibly diverse animal wildlife. You will be discovering the Llanos over the course of geological hikings in a safari truck or in a motorboat. Dinner and night at the Hato.

Day 6| Los Llanos
Breakfast. Take a boat or a safari jeep to explore the Big Llanos Plains. During the wet season running from May to October, over 80% of the Llanos region gets flooded and all grassy. Therefore, many canals and lagoons are accessible and expendable for boating. This is also the nesting time for ciconias, spoonbills and many other bird species. The forest wildlife is showing up all over the place. Also, you'll be able to sneak a peek at babas (caimans) and anacondas. During the dry season (from November to April), almond green and ochre shades take over the landscape. Hundreds of animals gather around waterholes. The leaves drop from trees and the whole vegetation dresses up with its brand new -collection- even before the next wet season. Nature works at a very fast pace! Lunch, dinner and night at Hato.

Jour 7| Los Llanos – Caracas
Breakfast. Excursion in the morning to explore the stunning ecosystem of the Llanos. Lunch in the village of Llano del Hato and transfer to the city of Barinas. Flight Barinas - Caracas. Transfer and check in at your hotel for the night. Dinner not included.

Day 8| Caracas - Canaima
Transfer to the airport and breakfast (not included) before your flight. Caracas - Puerto Ordaz (1 hr) and Puerto Ordaz - Canaima (1 hr). Your will fly over the savannah, the tropical forest and the tepuys of the National Park of Canaima. Transfer and settling at the camp where you'll enjoy a relaxing moment during lunch. In the afternoon, you will walk around the savannah and the jungle before reaching Salto Sapo. A ledge behind the waterfall hides a passage between the tremendous water curtain and the cliff all along the cascade. Big wet thrill ahead! From the top of the cliff, enjoy the amazing views on the savannah and the impressive tepuys, towering flat highlands rising abruptly, and looking like giant-made tables. Trip back to the camp for dinner and night.
Note: A passage under the Salto Hacha waterfalls can make up for this hiking during the dry season between December and May.

Day 9| Canaima
Breakfast facing Canaima lagoon, and then hiking of your choice:

Hiking to Salto Angel (from June to January):
You leave early in the morning to ride back up the Rio Carrao and Rio Churrun in a motor dugout amidst the fabulous sceneries of savannah and jungle forest of Canaima National Park (+/- 4 hrs). A short walk (+/- 30 mn) at some point is a sideway to avoid the Mayupa rapids. The Auyan Tepuy, the most imposing of the park, is a unique background and the climax of today. A one-hour walk in the forest leads you up to a headland with breathtaking views on Salto Angel, the highest waterfall in the world with a drop of 979m. Taking advantage of the nice weather, dive into to the natural and refreshing quiet pools. Lunchtime by the river before the journey back to the camp, arrival in the evening.

Hiking to Kavak Canyon (extra charge of $39/pers):
You get on board of a small plane and fly over the fabulous landscapes of Canaima National Park and Salto Angel to the Kavak indian village (45 mn). Upon arrival, a short walk through the savannah takes you to the fascinating Kavak cave. Swim into the inside and enjoy a delicious bathing at the foot of the waterfall shooting out of the back. This is a place with a powerful and surreal atmosphere. Lunch at the Kavak village and return to Canaima in late afternoon.

2 days - 1 night hiking at Salto Angel (from June to January)
Early in the morning you ride back up the Rio Carrao and Rio Churrun in a motor dugout, called curiara, amidst the fabulous sceneries of savannah and jungle forest of Canaima National Park (+/- 4 hrs). We take a detour (+/- 30 mn) at some point to avoid the Mayupa rapids. The Auyan Tepuy, the most imposing of the park, shows up majestically in the background. Picnic lunch. Upon arrival at Raton Island, we climb the forest-covered slopes up to Laime panoramic viewpoint (+/- 1 hr), a huge rock from which you get incomparable views on Salto Angel, the highest waterfall in the world with a drop of 979 m. Taking advantage of the nice weather, dive into to the natural and refreshing quiet pools. Going back down to Raton Island, we cross the river to reach the camp. There, a real once in a lifetime experience is awaiting: after dinner, we will be spending the night in a hammock, with a mosquito net, under the moonlight!

Day 10| Canaima - Ciudad Bolivar
Take your breakfast at the camp and enjoy the morning to walk around the village of Canaima and bathe in the lagoon. (Trip back on the river if you spent the night near Salto Angel.) Lunch at Canaima (not included). Flight Canaima - Ciudad Bolivar (1 hr). Transfer and check in at the posada for dinner and night.

Day 11| Ciudad Bolivar - Playa Colorada
Take a relaxing breakfast before you board on a motor dugout to the pier. Hit the road with an air conditioned vehicle to Playa Colorada (4-5 hours). Lunch (not included) during the road trip. Upon your arrival in the afternoon, you will check in at the posada Carmencita for dinner and night near Playa Colorada.

Days 12 and 13| Playa Colorada
Breakfast at the posada. Today is dedicated to relaxation and you can for example chill at the posada or enjoy the nearby beach (10 mn on foot) of Playa Colorada. Lunchtime not included. Dinner and night at the posada.

Day at the beach of Arapo Island (optional on site):
You leave the posada with a penero (local fishing boat) to Arapo Island. Umbrellas, lounge chairs, ice box with refreshments are provided for the day. Lunch at the beach. Return to the posada before the evening.

Full day in the National Park of Mochima (optional on site):
You leave in the morning and go to the fishermen village of Mochima to board for an exciting day of boating to discover the park. You will explore the islands and presque-isles and look up to the countless marine bird species nesting on the cliffs. And last but not least, playful dolphins will join you and follow your boat. Lunch at the beach and return to the posada for dinner and night.
Note: The excursion in the National Park of Mochima can be called off in case of bad weather for safety reasons.

Day 14| Playa Colorada - Caracas - International flight to Canada
After the breakfast, transfer in an air conditioned car to Barcelona. From there, take your flight to Caracas. Lunch not included. International flight to Canada (not included).

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Lodging

This is a variant option of the itinerary. You also have the possibility to end up the expedition at Los Roques. From day 1 to day 10, the outline hereabove is the same, and from day 11 on, here's the second itinerary...

Day 11| Ciudad Bolívar - Los Roques
After the breakfast, transfer in an air conditioned car to Puerto Ordaz (1 hr). Flight Puerto Ordaz - Caracas (1 hr). Lunch at the airport (not included). Flight Caracas - Los Roques. Short walk through the sandy streets of Grand Roque, a picturesque fishermen village and settling at the posada, where you will be staying for dinner and the night.

Days 12 and 13| Los Roques
Breakfast. Transfer in a power fishing boat locally known as a lancha to the nearby small islands for a sunbathing day with lounge chairs, umbrella and icebox. What can sound better than a picnic with refreshments on the beach? Enjoy this memorable time, and leave this peaceful haven to head back to the posada for dinner and the night.

Day 14| Los Roques - Caracas
Breakfast. During the morning, you'll fly from Los Roques to Caracas. Transfer on your own to the international terminal. Lunch not included. International flight to Canada (not included).

Overview

Venezuela is a country of South America sharing borders with Guyana to the east, Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south and the Caribbean Sea on its coastline. The explorer Amerigo Vespucci, encountering indigenous people settled in stilt houses had a reminiscence of the Italian city of Venice, and therefore, named the place -Venezola-. The territory of Venezuela is of 916,000 sq km, and its population was of 28 million in 2009. The capital, Caracas, is the largest city with 2 million people.

Geography

Venezuela has a variety of landscapes. The furthest northeastern slopes of the Andes - where Pico Bolívar, highest point of the country, rises at 4,979 m - bite into the northwest and line along the pristine Caribbean coast, a highly touristy area where the most beautiful beaches are located, as well as on the off shore Islands dependencies : Los Roques, La Tortuga Island, Isla Margarita and La Orchila are hot spots for visitors and city dwellers escaping their homes for the week-end. The llanos, low plains, used for agriculture as well as cattle breeding, spread over from the Colombian border to the Orinoco Delta in the east.

Culture

The three-century long Spanish hegemony that ended up around 1823 thanks to national hero Simon Bolivar left a vast legacy; language, significant artistic heritage that can be found in the major cities of the country, and obviously the catholic religion, very present in daily life.
The Amazonian regions, efficiently protected with the creation of natural parks, still are a natural untroubled paradise for the indigenous people who are totally devoted to nature and animist worships. The cultural life in Venezuela can be symbolized by its deep traditions and the calendar of celebrations running year-round. Among the events that can't be ignored, the Carnival is a national major celebration taking place over a week before Lent. Also, the Corpus Christi (early June) on the seashore and at the south of Caracas is unmistakably one of the most colourful days of the year; golden-plated costume parades, horned, grinning masks and devil dance (the emblematic Diablos Danzante). In Merida, in the Andine region, the Fiesta del Sol before Ash Wednesday brings out a tremendous energy in the streets with concerts, folk showcases, and bull fights. Finally, the tourist amenities that have developed over the 1970's during the oil economic boost emphasized the beautiful beaches and provide a variety of hikings and excursions to encounter the wildlife.

Climate

Though Venezuela is entirely located in the tropics, its climate varies from humid plains, where average annual temperatures range as high as 28 °C, to highlands and mountainous regions with an average temperature of 8 °C. Most of the rain falls between June and October (so-called winter); and the dry season takes over from December to April.
The country undergoes distinct horizontal temperature areas based firstly on elevation, having tropical, dry, temperate-like and cold climates. In the tropical zone, temperatures are hot, with yearly averages of 27°C. The temperate zone ranges averages from 12°C to 25°C depending on the season; and the largest Venezuela's cities, including Caracas, lie in this region. Colder conditions with temperatures around 10°C are found especially in the western Venezuelan Andes. Depending on what kind of trip you plan to Venezuela, the dry season can sound like a better option to enjoy the white sand beaches or a hiking in the Andes, however the rain season is the perfect time to look up to the well-known impressive waterfalls in Canaima, like Salto Angel.