Venezuela - Audley Travel

CaracasBordered to the north by the wooded peaks ofthe Avila National Park, the city of Caracas isVenezuela’s capital and gateway to the country.Although the city has a gritty reputation, withextremes of poverty and, mainly oil-produced,wealth standing side by side, it is a predominantlymodern, fast-paced and cosmopolitan city witha great culinary reputation, some interestingmuseums and endless shopping and nightlifeoptions. Most visitors use the city as a startingpoint or hub for their travels along the Caribbeancoast, or south to the country’s centre.Angel Falls and CanaimaThe world’s highest waterfall is an astoundingsight with its water tumbling off the precipice fora sheer drop of 978 metres. Located in the ruralsoutheast of the country in the middle ofCanaima National Park, it says much about itsremoteness that this incredible natural wonderwas only reported in the 1930s, by Americanpilot Jimmy Angel who crash-landed here whilelooking for gold. So great is the impact of thewater thundering into its basin in the pristinejungle, that the mists created can be felt a mileaway. The Angel Falls feeds many tributaries ofthe River Carrao, which in turn flows into thevast Canaima Lagoon. It is on the shores of thislagoon that most lodges are situated, providing abase to visit the waterfall and the surroundingarea. Even now, there is no land access, the AngelFalls can only be reached by motorised canoe upthe River Carrao or by a spectacular light-aircraftoverflight, making the experience something ofan adventure.WAKU LODGE, CANAIMAWaku Lodge has the best location of all thelodges in Canaima, situated right on the banksof the tanin coloured Canaima Lagoon with aspectacular view of the El Hacha, Golondrina andUcaima waterfalls. The surrounding gardens arebeautifully sculpted and are home to various tameparrots and macaws. There are only 15 en suiterooms all individually decorated in a traditionalstyle with air-conditioning, hot water shower andsemi-private terraces with hammocks.Waku LodgeANGEL FALLS BASECAMPClose to the base of the Angel Falls are campsitesthat offer an unrivalled location allowing you tosee the falls at the end of the day and first thingin the morning. Facilities are basic and includehammocks for sleeping, mosquito nets, flushtoilets and outdoor cold water showers.Gran SabanaGran Sabana (‘Great Plain’) is part of Venezuela’sbiggest protected national park and where you’llfind one of South America’s most extraordinarysettings. Giant waterfalls cascade into lagoons,some of whose waters are an incredible red,coloured by the wealth of minerals they contain,and edged with pink quartz sand. Giant sweepingprairies are punctuated by imposing table-topmountains, such as Mount Roraima, consideredone of the oldest geological formations on earth.Ideally visited on three or four day safaris by jeep,you can witness these magnificent, surrealmountains best by camping in the vast wilderness.Roraima can be climbed over the course of achallenging six-day trek.Gran SabanaMéridaSurrounded by Venezuela’s highest snow-cappedpeaks, the lively university city of Mérida is at thecentre of the country’s Andean region. It is anattractive city with a gentle, friendly atmosphere,steep streets and some enchanting colonialbuildings. The surrounding countryside variesbetween highland moors, beautiful glacial lakesand tropical forests. You can visit small, traditionalvillages, where life still proceeds at the gradualpace of a climbing donkey eking an existencefrom the sheer mountain slopes. Currently, oneof Mérida’s major attractions, the world’s highestand second longest cable car is closed, but thecity still offers the outdoor enthusiast superbwalking, mountain biking, horse riding, whitewater rafting, paragliding and birdwatching inthe surrounding Andean countryside.Audley in VenezuelaFew travellers visit Venezuela – that’s akey part of its appeal – but this does makethe experience something of a challenge.The tourism infrastructure is not verywell-developed, and over recent years thegovernment has shown little interest ingetting more involved, which has led to noimprovement in service or facilities. You’llalso find that, outside Caracas, English israrely spoken, so it’s important whenexploring Venezuela to ensure your plans arearranged carefully and that is where wecome in. Our specialists know the countrywell, and can create an itinerary that willenable you to see the parts that match yourinterests in the best available comfort, andwith the best available guides. At the time ofgoing to press the political situation inVenezuela was somewhat volatile, and eventhough visitor areas are rarely affected, wealways keep abreast of current developmentsand will be able to advise of anynoteworthy developments.AccommodationVenezuela has some good accommodationbut this is limited to Caracas, Los Roques anda few lodges around Canaima. Many of thehotels on the Venezuelan mainland are nowstate-owned which has resulted in a dip inthe service and food standards. The posadaswe use on Los Roques are still underindependent or foreign ownership at thetime of writing, and the service levels hereare more in line with internationalexpectations. Outside of the aforementionedcentres accommodation is often basic andvery little English is spoken but, as withVenezuela as a whole, the stunninglocation and environment makes up forthese shortcomings.Find out moreFor a suggested itinerary and practicalinformation about travel in Venezuela, pleasesee page 51.☎www.audleytravel.comInteractive maps and features,further suggested itineraries,accommodation, climate informationand articles written by our specialists.Discuss your plans with our Venezuelaspecialists 01993 838 625Venezuela 49

Scarlet ibis, Los LlanosLos LlanosA marvellous place for wildlife spotting, LosLlanos is a vast, seasonally flooded savannah thatspreads across Venezuela’s heartland towards theColombian border. Flat and fertile, it rivals Brazil’sPantanal for biodiversity but with far fewervisitors. Five national parks protect wildlife thatranges from anteaters to anacondas, as well as aspectacular variety of birds, monkeys, big cats,river dolphins, caiman and capybara.HATO EL CEDRAL, LOS LLANOSHato El Cedral is a working cattle ranch in theheart of Los Llanos. It offers fantastic wildlife andbirdlife viewing opportunities on its land as well asinsight into the lives of the Llaneros. There are 25air-conditioned, simply furnished en suite rooms,all in cabin style buildings. El Cedral has a smallswimming pool and the kitchen producestraditional Llanos dishes - you may even get to trycapybara! Twice a day you will be taken out onwildlife excursions either by motorboat down theriver or by safari-style truck across the plains withnative and English speaking guides.Los RoquesOnly a 30 minute flight from Caracas the whitesands and azure waters of Los Roques make aperfect place to start or end your trip. Theshallow, turquoise seas are a fantastic spot forrelaxing, diving, snorkelling, sailing and fishing forbonefish. None of the 350 islands are populatedexcept for Gran Roque, the main island, whereyou can stay in a charming whitewashedguesthouse or posada. The family owners willlook after you, cook beautifully prepared seafoodmeals and take you to nearby beaches.LA CIGALA, GRAN ROQUEThe simple La Cigala has nine comfortablerooms with ceiling fans and hot showers. Theposada is about 50 metres from the sea and hasa beautiful open kitchen-diner, adjacent loungearea and an ample rooftop terrace ideal forwatching the sunset.POSADA MEDITERRANEO,GRAN ROQUEThis lovely quaint posada, with only seven rooms,is Italian owned. It is typically Mediterranean instyle with whitewashed walls, wooden shutters,tiled floors and a great roof terrace. The roomsare all en suite, with air-conditioning and arethoughtfully decorated.Paría PeninsulaOnly a short flight from Caracas but less visitedthan Los Roques, the Paría Peninsula is a totallyunspoilt, lush area of palm-forested hills and long,sheltered golden beaches backed by banana andcacao plantations. Its calm, clear, warm seas areperfect for swimming, fishing or simply relaxing.Almost a third of the bird species recorded inVenezuela can be found here, including the nativescissor-tailed hummingbird. The simple posadastyle accommodation offers a more affordableoption than the better known Los Roques.POSADA PLAYA DE UVAThis small beachside posada has ten rooms andsix villas, all a short walk from the small, generallydeserted, beach of Playa de Uva. The largerbeaches of Playa Medina and Playa Pui Puy caneasily be accessed by road or sea. The posada isable to offer a variety of excursions in the regionincluding visits to the nearby cacao plantations.Turquoise waters of Los Roques50

Suggested itinerariesTailoring your tripThe itinerary shown is designed to give you aflavour of what is possible, and is a route thatworks particularly well. We can use this as a basisto plan your trip or can design a completelydifferent itinerary to suit your tastes and interests.Please call one of our Venezuela specialists tostart planning your itinerary.Telephone: 01993 838 625Getting aroundLos LlanosIslas Los RoquesCaracasCanaimaPuertoOrdazWarao girls, Orinoco DeltaOrinoco crocodile, Los LlanosOrinoco DeltaRivalling the biodiversity of the Amazon andthe lifeline to an even greater variety ofindigenous tribes, the great Orinoco Riverthreads through Venezuela and spills out intothe Atlantic through a vast, jungled delta. Farless known, and less visited, than its big sisterriver to the south, the Orinoco offers a rareopportunity to explore a fragile ecosystemand, although wildlife is difficult to spot thesedays, the delta provides a unique chance tointeract with the local Warao Indians.Expeditions start at the pretty riverside townof Ciudad Bolívar or the larger city of PuertoOrdaz, with transport by motorised canoeand accommodation is in simple traditionalthatched huts.Venezuela is a vast country and thereforetravelling by air is the only way to cover thedistance between the main sights. Patience isoften key to a successful trip to Venezuela asthese domestic flights can be a law untothemselves with unannounced schedule changesoccurring regularly. Where road transfers can beundertaken these are by comfortable 4x4 vehiclesalthough English-speaking drivers can be difficultto find in many rural locations.When to goJan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ The best time to travel.✓ A good time to travel, but there may be some factors to be aware of.~ Travel is possible, but this is not the best time of year.✕ Travel is not recommended.Venezuela’s climate is tropical, with wet and dryseasons rather than hot and cold, with averagetemperatures primarily affected by altitude.The wet season runs between May and Octoberwhere sunny days give way to afternoondownpours. This is the best time to visit if theAngel Falls is on your itinerary as water levelswill be at their highest. Travelling around theremainder of the country can be equallyrewarding at any time of the year and theCaribbean coast tends to miss much of theinland rainfall.Time difference: GMT-4.5 hoursFlight time from UK: 13 hoursPricesWe offer trips to cater for a wide range ofbudgets. You can find up-to-date guidelineprices for your trip to Venezuela on our website,alternatively please call our specialists todiscuss your plans.Classic VenezuelaImmerse yourself in the best that Venezuela hasto offer in an adventurous trip that will see youtravel the breadth of the country. Take in LosLlanos for some fantastic wildlife viewing, thebreathtaking Angel Falls and slow the pace downat the end for some time relaxing on the shoresof the Caribbean.Day 1Day 2Days 3-4Day 5Day 6Day 7Day 8Day 9Fly from the UK to Caracas.Fly to Barinas, transfer by road toyour accommodation in the vastLos Llanos.Excursions to spot the wildlife inLos Llanos.Fly to Puerto Ordaz, via Caracas,where you will spend one night.Fly to Canaima, your base forexplorations of the ‘Lost World’tepuis of the Gran Sabana and AngelFalls. Afternoon tour of the lagoon.Take a scenic flight over Angel Falls(weather permitting).Enjoy an optional full day trip bymotorised canoe to the base ofAngel Falls (weather permitting).Fly to Caracas and then on to LosRoques in the Caribbean.Days 10-12 Relax, snorkel or sunbathe on thebeautiful beaches of Los Roques.Day 13Day 14Stay longerFly back to Caracas to connect withyour international flight.Arrive in the UK.Divert from Los Llanos to the university city ofMérida in the Andes, the perfect base for trekkingand other outdoor activities, or you could includea few nights in the Orinoco Delta to gain an insightinto the life of Warao Indians. Alternatively, try adifferent beach stop on the Paría Peninsula, hometo long sandy beaches and cacao plantations.Canaima LagoonAnaconda, Los Llanoswww.audleytravel.com/venezuela ● 01993 838 625 ● Venezuela 51