South America Travel - Tours in Venezuela

Venezuela Round Trip - 20 Day Tour

Venezuela is a fascinating country of contrasts. Thanks to the oil boom Venezuela counts already since the twenties as the modern forerunner of South America. Besides that, it is home to a whole series of Indian tribes, and the most famous one is surely the Yanomani in the area of the Venezuelan-Brazilian border. Its capital Caracas, with its beautiful shopping centres and futuristically appearing towers of steel and glass, count as a symbol of the modern life, there are still many villages, in the interior, in which the people lead a traditional life. But the nature builds up an unusual versatility. Here you can find the north Peaks of the Andes with snow-covered summits and the extensive delta of the Orinoco with the giant labyrinth of natural canals, which is on its own already the size of Belgium. In the south lies the wilderness of the Amazon rainforest, while app. 3.000 km caribic coasts full of wonderful beaches dominate the north. The extraordinary landscape formation forms the Tepuis, colossal upwards-flat Table Mountains, whose flanks rise up to 1.000 m over the undulating Savannas. From around a 100 Tepuis plunge the Angel Falls down, the highest waterfalls of the world, 979 m deep. The roundtrip through Venezuela leads through this varied nature and so many different cultures with a refreshing end on one of the fantastic beaches of the country.

Overview Itinerary
Day 01:	Arrival in Caracas
Day 02:	City Tour Caracas
Day 03:	Flight Caracas – Merida – city tour
Day 04:	Merida – Teleferico
Day 05:	Surroundings of Merida
Day 06:	El Hato
Day 07:	Surroundings of Hato
Day 08:	Los Llanos
Day 09:	Flight San Fernando de Apure – Caracas – Ciudad Bolívar
Day 10:	Flight to Kamarata
Day 11:	National park Canaima – Kamarata
Day 12:	Orinoco Delta Lodge
Day 13:	Boca de Uracoa – Caripe del Guacharo
Day 14:	Boca de Uracoa – Caripe del Guacharo
Day 15:	Caves de Guacharo – Farm Campamento Vuelta Larga
Day 16:	Fram Campamento Vuelta Larga
Day 17:	Peninsula Paria
Day 18:	Peninsula Paria
Day 19:	Peninsula Paria
Day 20:	Flight Carupano – Caracas; Flight back home

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Caracas
Arrival on the airport of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. You are picked up at the airport and guided to the hotel. The hotel lies close to the boulevard Sabana Grande, one of the biggest and most famous beautiful avenues of South America with the typical mixture of shops, bars and restaurants so you will get a good impression of the throbbing life of this fascinating metropolis. Besides that all details about your journey are discussed. -/-/-

Day 02: City tour Caracas
In the morning you make a city tour through Caracas. Around the historical centre developed especially through the oil boom a lot of modern quarters the last 50 years, which make the city the political, scientific and cultural centre of the country. The afternoon you can spend together with your guide according to your wishes. B/-/-

Day 03: Flight Caracas – Merida – city tour
You are guided to the airport and fly from Caracas to Merida. Here you will be received at the airport and brought to the hotel. In the afternoon you make a city tour through Merida. The in 1558 founded city lies on a flat terrace, which stretches between two rivers for over a thousand kilometres and at drops at the river shores and has a cultural and artistic flair, thanks not in the last place to the big university de los Andes, the second elders of the country. B/-/-

Day 04: Merida – Teleferico
In the morning you make a tour with the Teleferico, the longest and highest situated cable railway of the world, which leads in four sections from Merida to the Pico Espejo on 4765 m height. In the afternoon you will visit the museum Aleros, in which you will experience vividly how the life in the Andes was like in the beginning of the last hundred years. In the late afternoon you return to the hotel. B/-/-

Day 05: Surroundings of Merida
A one-day tour over the Trans-andean country road leads you today into the surrounding highlands, named after the local Páramo. You visit the famous Lagoons de Mucubaji and Negra, whereby the second one will be reached in an app. one-hour walk. There is as well the possibility to go on horseback (optional). Furthermore, on your way you will visit the church San Felix Sanchez, the condor raising station and the forest of the giant Fraylejones. At night you return to Merida. B/-/-

Day 06: El Hato
A drive over the Transandean country road in the central area of the country with the provinces of Barinas and Apure to Los Llanos, which validates as the biggest treasure trove for animal observations in Venezuela. After an around 7 hours drive through different climate zones, you will reach the estate (el Hato) El Frio, an in 1974 founded biological station, which embraces around 80.000 hectares. In this station Spanish biologists have realized together with international organisations a combined program of conservation, investigation and eco-tourism. One of the projects of the station is the re-introduction of species, which are treatened by extinction, like the Orinoco caiman and otter. Next to a large variety of birds you can observe around the station special monkeys, capybaras, crocodiles and anacondas. In the afternoon you undertake a tour in the surroundings of Hato. At night you return for the overnight stay to Hato. B/-/D

Day 07: Surroundings of Hato
In the morning and the afternoon you make excursions in the surroundings of Hato. The tours take place either by boat or in an all-wheel drive combined with short walks. The midday hours you will use for the lunch and a siesta in the Hato as this time is too hot for activities. At night you will return to the Hato to spend the night. B/L/D

Day 08: Los Llanos
Through further tours in the Llanos you will get to know it better and better. The slowly through the grassland flowing river forms the source of life in the dry season of the giant area, where its many inhabitants can be observed. At night you return to the Hato to stay the night. B/L/D

Day 09: Flight San Fernando de Apure – Caracas – Ciudad Bolívar
You leave the Llanos and drive to San Fernando de Apure to fly from there over Caracas to Ciudad Bolivar. You are fetched at the airport and brought to the hotel. Ciudad Bolivar was founded in 1764 on the southern shore of the Orinoco 420 kilometres downstream from the Atlantic at a Stromenge under the name of Angostura. Based on his important role in the war of indepence against the Spanish in the 19th century the city was named after the famous General Simon Bolivar. B/-/-

Day 10: Flight to Kamarata
After breakfast in an Arepera, a simple typical restaurant, you are guided to the airport and fly from there on in app. 1,5 hour in a small plane type Cessna 206 to Kamarata. It is recommended for this day to bring the necessary things and leave the rest in the hotel. On your flight you fly over the heart-shaped giant table mountain Auyantepuy and the Salto Angel, the highest waterfall of the world, which pours down from it. Kamarata is an Indio village in the south of the province Bolivar, whose inhabitants are in a stage of “civilization”, but they retained still a lot of their habits and traditions. In an all-wheel drive you are brought to a simple inn (Posada) with double rooms and shared bathrooms, the best accommodation in this area (no single rooms!). In the afternoon you get to learn the village and its close surroundings and you have the possibility to refresh yourself with a bath in the river Akanan. At night you return for you overnight stay to the Posada. B/L/D

Day 11: National park Canaima – Kamarata
An app. one-hour walk leads you through the National park Canaima to the Indio village Kavac on the foot of the table mountain Auyantepuy. You visit the beautiful cave of Kavac in the middle of a spectacular landscape of woods, rivers and ravines. In the afternoon you have the possibility to explore the village and its surroundings, to refresh with a bath in the river or to relax with a siesta. In the afternoon you will return in the all-wheel drive to Posada to Kamarata for the overnight stay. B/L/D

Day 12: Flight to Ciudad Bolívar – Boca de Uracoa – Orinoco Delta Lodge
After the trip to the landing strip you fly back to Ciudad Bolivar. You are fetched at the airport and drive in about 3,5 hours to the dock of Boca de Uracoa. Here you will get on a boat, which will bring you in an hour trip through the canals of the Orinoco Delta to the Orinoco Delta Lodge in the centre of the delta. At sunset you make an excursion to observe birds. Overnight in the lodge in individual huts with private bath. B/L/D

Day 13: Orinoco Delta Lodge
Today you use for exploring the Orinoco Deltas. You cross it in canoe to observe the animals and birds along the shore, visit the Indian communities and walk on paths through the jungle to get to know its flora, and especially its medicinal plants. At night you will return to the lodge for the overnight stay. B/L/D

Day 14: Boca de Uracoa – Caripe del Guacharo
You navigate by boat back to Boca de Uracoa and from there on in vehicle further to Caripe del Guacharo, a nice small city in a mountain valley app. 55 km removed from the coast. Alexander von Humboldt in 1799 knows the city for its closeness to the famous caves Del Guacharo, which owe their glory to the exploration. You will stay overnight in the Cabañas Campo Claro. B/-/D

Day 15: Caves de Guacharo – Farm Campamento Vuelta Larga
You start the morning with a visit to the caves de Guacharo, which is next to its astonishing formations of stalagmites and stalactite especially known for the app. 15.000 nocturnal Oil Bird, which live in the cave. Following you drive over the famous Humboldt country road to the Province Sucre, close to the national park Turueopano. There is the Farm Campamento Vuelta Larga situated. Under German guidance a number of projects are run here, the re-introduction of with extinction threatened animals, a buffel breeding centre, ecological projects like the winning of solar energy and the use of local materials for the construction of houses and repairing of furniture. In the afternoon you get to know the farm, its projects and its surroundings during a walk and you make a boat trip through some small canals where you can observe a lot of local birds. At night you return to stay overnight in individual cabins with private bathroom at the farm. B/L/D

Day 16: Farm Campamento Vuelta Larga
This day you use for a tour in the surrounding of the farm. You make a walk through the tropical forest, take a refreshing bath in the river, and visit the geological fault of Pilar and hot springs as well as cacao- and coffee plantations. Here you learn the process of plants from harvest to product, one of the finest cacaos of the world. The meals you enjoy in the farm. B/L/D

Day 17: Peninsula Paria
After around a two-hour drive you reach the camp Playa Medina on the peninsula Paria. Here are some of the most beautiful beaches of the country, white sand beaches surrounded by palm trees on the crystal clear sea invite to sunbath and a refreshing dive into the sea. The rest of the day you can spend however you desire. B/L/D

Day 18: Peninsula Paria
This day is totally devoted to rest and relaxation on these paradise-like beaches. Who would like can make optional an excursion with a fishing boat to one of the close by islands or to another beach. Overnight stay in the camp of Playa Medina. B/L/D

Day 19: Peninsula Paria
Enjoy the gentle sea breeze, which blows along the beautiful beaches, and use this day to complete your rest and tan. This is the perfect opportunity to swing in a hammock with a Piña Colada in your hand to indulge in doing nothing, maybe interrupted by a refreshing bath in the sea. Overnight stay in the camp of Playa Medina. B/L/D

Day 20: Flight Carupano – Caracas; Flight back home
A transfer brings you in app. 1,5 hours to Carupano, from where you fly to Caracas. You are fetched at the airport and guided to your connecting flight to your home country. B/-/-

B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / D: Dinner

Prices 2010
Starting from USD 4,750. - per person
Extra costs for single room 650. - USD per person

Included in the price:
• English speaking guide from/to Caracas
• All transfers mentioned
• All tours and excursions as mentioned
• All mentioned meals
• Accommodation as mentioned in the program

Not included in the price:
• Airport tax
• National park entrance Canaima
• National flights Caracas-Merida, San Fernando-Caracas-Ciudad Bolivar, Carupano-Caracas
• Everything not mentioned in the program
• Travel insurance

NB: The accommodation in Kamarata is clearly simple, but offers through the location in the Indio village the possibility to get to know the land and the people in their original shape. The possibility exists to change the program and spend the night in Canaima. The lodges there are clearly more luxurious, the environment considerably more touristic though.

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