· Visit the Colonial town of Mérida in the Andes

· Animal safari in the lowlands of Los Llanos

· Flight in a bush plane over the world’s highest waterfall – the Salto Angel

· Stay in jungle camp without any road connection in Canaima

· Relaxation at the beaches of Playa de Uva

 

 

Day 1 – Arrival at Caracas
Welcome to the bustling capital of Venezuela! After your arrival at the airport, you are taken to your Hotel Avila *** by your English speaking tour guide. Your hotel is surrounded by a nice garden and situated in a quiet area of the city where you may recover from the long flight. (-/-/-)

 

Day 2 – City Tour Mérida
After breakfast, you fly from Caracas to Mérida accompanied by your English speaking tour guide. Mérida is known as the most beautiful city of the Andes and also called „The roof of Venezuela“. After your arrival you go on a city tour through Mérida. The city was founded in 1558 and lies on a flat terrace and stretches between two rivers. The university, which is the second oldest of the country, gives the city its cultural and artistic flair. Your first stop is the Parque Chorros de Milla. Due to its great waterfalls and the variety of flora and fauna it is one of the most popular parks of the city. The colonial center is located in the north of the city. You visit the picturesque Plaza Bolívar, the cathedral, government buildings and facilities of the university. Discover the famous and colorful market halls of Mérida while strolling around. Your next destination is one of the delicious highlights of your journey: the ice cream parlor Coromotooffers more than 1,000 different flavors and made it into the Guinness Book of Records. The flavors range from shrimp cocktail to the legendary rum & raisins. Tonight you stay in the Hosteria La Sevillana *** in Mérida. (B/-/-)

 

Please note that the world´s highest and longest cable car to Pico Espejo (4.765 m) in Mérida is closed until 2012 as it is being renovated.

 

Day 3 – Laguna Mucubaji & Negra – Santo Domingo
On the road to Santo Domingo, you find the ancient glacier Laguna Mucubaji with its amazing scenery. Here you start a hike to Laguna Negra (approx. 1.5h) with your English speaking tour guide. On the way you also visit the Iglesia de Piedra de Juan Felix Sanchez, who was a famous artist of Mérida. The Hotel Los Frailes *** in Santo Domingo will be your accommodation for tonight. (B/-/-)

 

Day 4 – Los Llanos – Hato el Cedral
In the morning you start your trip with your English speaking tour guide to the Camp Hato El Cedral *** in Los Llanos, a lush of natural paradise (travel time: approx. 7 hrs). The lowlands of Los Llanos are spread over more than one third of Venezuela, from the western Andes to the mesa regions in the south east. After a quick lunch in the camp, you go on your first jeep excursion to observe the huge variety of animals in their natural habitat, including turtles, caimans, lizards and snakes as well as monkeys, jaguars, deer, armadillos and capybaras. In the rivers of Los Llanos you get the chance to see electric eels and the notorious piranhas. Especially birdwatchers will enjoy themselves observing ducks, spoonbills, ibises, hoatzins, falcons, vultures, egrets and jabirus (the world´s biggest stork). To preserve alligators and capybaras from extinction, the Hato el Cedral farm has specialized on breeding these animals, which are still hunted by locals. After the excursion you have dinner in camp Hato El Cedral *** where you also spend the next two nights. (B/L/D)

 

Day 5 – Los Llanos
Today you get to know the unique fauna of Los Llanos during two half day tours with your English speaking tour guide. You discover Rio Matiyure by boat and get the chance to fish for piranhas. You also delve into the exciting depths of the lowlands by jeep. During the day you can spot capybaras, babas, caimans, iguanas, turtles, monkeys, anacondas, anteaters, yangtze dolphins and a great diversity of more than 300 types of birds. Tonight you spend in the same camp as the night before. (B/L/D)

 

Day 6 – Los Llanos – Ciudad Bolivar
From Hato El Cedral you go to Barinas and fly via Caracas to Puerto Ordaz. Of course, you are always companied by your English speaking tour guide. After another hour travelling you reach Ciudad Bolivar. You spend the night in the Posada Casa Grande *** in Ciudad Bolivar. (B/-/-)

 

Day 7 – Flight over the "Angel Fall (Salto Angel)" – Canaima National Park
Early in the morning, you head to the airport. Your flight in a bush plane lasts some 90 minutes, crossing the Gran Sabana, raging torrents and colorful Indian villages until finally the first table mountain appears on the horizon. Tension mounts! Your pilot checks the weather, hoping you will be lucky today. Then the plane leaves the clouds and all of a sudden you can see it, just below you: Salto Angel, the highest waterfall on earth! You take a quick shot with your camera and dive again into the clouds. After landing you continue your trip to Canaima. The Indian village has some 1,200 inhabitants, which makes it the largest village in the 30,000 km² national park. In 1994, UNESCO declared it a World Natural Heritage Site as one of the largest national parks in the world. Tonight you stay at the Tapuy Lodge. (B/-/-)

 

Day 8 – Canaima – Flight to Ciudad Bolivar
In the morning you have some free time e.g. for shopping or relaxing at the lagoon. At around 14:00pm you start your trip back to the landing strip and fly back to Ciudad Bolivar. Here you return to the Posada Casa Grande ***, where you will spend the night. (B/-/-)

 

Day 9 – Playa de Uva
Have a great start into your relaxing beach part of your vacation! From Ciudad Bolivar you go to Playa de Uva on the Península de Paría. Enjoy your welcome cocktail on the beach and make yourself comfortable in Posada Playa de Uva ***, before having dinner in the Posada. (B/-/D)

 

Day 10 & 11 - Playa de Uva
Spend the last days of your vacation on the beautiful beach of Playa de Uva. This marvelous Caribbean beach impresses you with its crystal clear turquoise water and its surrounding of lush mountain forests. It is a perfect place to relax in hammocks or canvas chairs where you can enjoy the Caribbean flair. Explore the surrounding cocoa plantation, a buffalo farm or go on a boat trip to romantic waterfalls and fishing villages. (B/L/-)

 

Day 12 – Flight Cumaná - Caracas
The time has come to say goodbye to this unique pearl of Venezuela. You are taken to the airport of Cumaná (approx. 4 hours) and fly back to Caracas. Your English speaking tour guide assists you with the check-in at Caracas airport. (B/-/-)

 

 

Services Included

· English-speaking guide from / to Caracas
· All flights, rides, transfers, excursions, walks as stated in tour description
· Accommodation in 3***-hotels in Caracas, Mérida, Santo Domingo, Los llanos, Ciudad Bolivar and Playa de Uva, 1x simple jungle lodge in Canaima,
· Meals as stated in tour description (full board starting with lunch Kamarata, day 2, through lunch Angel Falls, day 14)
· 10kg of free luggage on bush plane flight

 

Not Included

· Tips, personal expenses
· Meals and drinks not listed
· Entrance fees, domestic and international airport and exit taxes, national park fees

 

Please note

• Participants must have a valid international health insurance.
• We reserve the right to change the tour program due to force majeure, weather or organizational reasons.