Parque Nacional Canaima is on the Unesco World Natural Heritage list. This Venezuelan park is comprised of 30.000 sq Km in area, touching upon the borders of Brazil and Guyana, including most of the Gran Sabana.
In the park you will find unique flat top mountains called tepuys, all of which are very old rock formations. The most outstanding tepuy is Auyan Tepuy with a total surface of 700 km2, where, at its peak, you can find the world’s highest waterfall.
The park is a breathtaking jungle-paradise. We visited it with a guide who accompanied us from Caracas to Puerto Ordaz and then, from there, to Canaima (by plane).
Later, some Indian guides took us on board handmade canoes (curiatas) through the Carrao river, and then led us on foot across rough trails in the jungle to visit one of the natural wonders of the world: Angel Falls.
In the jungle
Angel Falls from the river on the way back to Canaima at 6 am
Ruth Robertson (1905-1998) - a photojournalist, war correspondent and explorer - was the first person to lead a successful expedition to the base of Angel Falls in 1949, proving that it was indeed the highest waterfall in the world. It took her 23 days to reach it by boat, rowing on her way across difficult currents and treacherous rapids.
We tried both means of transportation, but I must admit that I found the river trip more exciting; it was amazing to witness the amazing tepuys growing gradually in height upon the horizon.
Of course, the trip is faster by plane, insofar as you avoid a 6 hour trip on a narrow - engine propelled - canoe, followed afterwards by a 2 hour hike across harsh terrain.
When we finished that awesome trip, we headed (exhausted) to a camp, where we “slept” in hammocks before returning to Canaima on the next day.
The plane ride is only 30 minutes but not as exciting, although it was my first trip on such a small plane (5 passengers plus the pilot).
Back to the hotel in Canaima
The whole trip was, no doubt, a lifetime experience, one that my family and I will surely recall forever.
ANGEL FALLS
SALTO ANGEL
It was named after an American pilot, Jimmie Angel, who saw it for the first time in 1937.
Ruth Robertson (1905-1998) - a photojournalist, war correspondent and explorer - was the first person to lead a successful expedition to the base of Angel Falls in 1949, proving that it was indeed the highest waterfall in the world. It took her 23 days to reach it by boat, rowing on her way across difficult currents and treacherous rapids.
There are no road connections to Angel Falls; we can only visit it by boat from Canaima or by a small plane or helicopter.
Of course, the trip is faster by plane, insofar as you avoid a 6 hour trip on a narrow - engine propelled - canoe, followed afterwards by a 2 hour hike across harsh terrain.
The plane ride is only 30 minutes but not as exciting, although it was my first trip on such a small plane (5 passengers plus the pilot).
Back to the hotel in Canaima
The whole trip was, no doubt, a lifetime experience, one that my family and I will surely recall forever.
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