Bienvenidos a Natoura. $tour

Caura River – Canaima

Caura River is located at the heart of the tropical forest, where visitors can get to know the flora and fauna of the area; en route you will also enjoy great views of the savannah. You will navigate the river accompanied by local experts and will get to know the Ye´kwana/Makiritares peoples and view Para Waterfall. Then the journey continues to Canaima National Park, home to spectacular waterfalls and tepuis, and to the world-famous Angel Falls.

Notes about the programme

Starts daily except Friday

Best time to travel is between May and December

Minimum 4 passengers (can check availability for 2)

Regional Trips

Our regional tours are particularly designed to give visitors the greatest variety of options to discover the most interesting and difficult to reach areas of Venezuela. These tours are a combination of individual trips, split into zones. What is and isn’t included is outlined for each itinerary. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to answer your queries.

Notes about the programme

Starts daily except Friday

Best time to travel is between May and December

Minimum 4 passengers (can check availability for 2)

Regional Trips

Itinerario

Day 1: Arrival in Caracas We will meet you on arrival at Simon Bolivar International Airport, in Maiquetia, and transfer you to a hotel close to the airport where you will spend the night. We will also give you all the necessary documents, including air tickets and vouchers. Meals (---)

Day 2: Transfer Ciudad Bolivar - Caura This morning we will transfer you from your hotel to the domestic airport for your flight to Ciudad Bolivar. We leave Ciudad Bolivar and travel through the savannah to our camp by the Caura River. Here you will mainly see the moriche palms that the locals use to make hammocks and handicrafts and for their fruit which is edible. Here we will also see low hills, patches of forest and narrow stretches of woodland along the numerous tributaries of the Orinoco. After travelling along the track for an hour we reach the Aro River the last service station before we reach our destination. Our journey continues across the savannah dominated by vast pre-Cambrian granite rocks which form part of the Escudo Guayanes. Finally we leave the main road and follow a rough track which penetrates the dense tropical forest of the Caura River basin until we arrive at the small village of Las Trincheras and our camp on the riverbank. After lunch we set out on our first outing by motorized Indian canoe to Pena Negra, a huge granite rock in the middle of the river. From here we have stunning views of the river and the lush tropical forest. We stay and watch the sun go down before returning to camp where we have dinner. Overnight in a hammock or a room with private facilities. (B,L,D)

Day 3: El Playon After breakfast we load the boat with our luggage, supplies and petrol. We are accompanied by a guide and a local expert who knows the river, the rocks and the best way through the rapids. After half an hour we reach the first section of rapids; during the dry season we will find sandy beaches here where we can relax and swim. As we continue our journey up the ever more winding river we sometimes meet the Ye´kwana/Makiritares people as they fish in the river. In the distance we begin to make out the outlines of mountains which tells us that we have nearly reached our destination. El Playon is a beautiful beach fringed by thick forest at the bottom of a set of rapids. Here we overnight in hammocks protected by mosquito nets in thatched-roof cabins made by the locals. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Hike to Para Waterfall In the early morning the landscape is still enveloped in thick cloud which slowly clears while we breakfast and the first rays of the sun begin to reflect off the river. We set out on a short hike through the forest parallel to the river, but the greenery is so thick, almost like being in a tunnel, that we are unable to see the water. After a couple of hours we begin to hear the thunder of the Para Waterfall and finally we reach the CADAFE electricity company research station, also known as Las Pavas camp. The location, level with the waterfall, gives the best view of the tumbling water. Above the waterfall is a lake where we can enjoy a refreshing swim or we can do the same at the base of the falls. In the afternoon we return to camp at El Playon where we eat and overnight in hammocks protected by mosquito nets. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Return to camp After breakfast we load up the boat with our luggage and supplies for the return journey downriver to our camp in Las Trincheras which we will reach around midday. In the afternoon, after a well deserved rest, there will be time to go for a last swim in the river. Overnight in a hammock or room with private facilities. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Transfer to Ciudad Bolivar Return to Ciudad Bolivar by road after breakfast. (B)

Day 7: Transfer to Ciudad Bolivar – flight to Canaima – tour of Canaima This morning we will transfer you from your hotel to the domestic airport for your flight to Puerto Ordaz. On arrival transfer to your accommodation (superior standard) along the Laguna de Canaima where you will enjoy spectacular views. After lunch the excursions begin. We leave the pink sands of the Laguna de Canaima's beach to tour this delightful area, getting close to the raging, tumbling water of the Sapo waterfall. Here you get the chance to take some of the best photos of the dramatic scenery in the national park. We then return to camp to enjoy a delicious evening meal. Overnight in a hammock and admire the night sky of the southern hemisphere. (L,D)

Day 8: Carrao River – Angel FallsAfter breakfast we cruise for 3.5hrs along the Carrao River until we reach our camp at Angel Falls on Raton Island. We then hike to the base of the falls. When we get back to camp we will have a traditional barbecue prepared by our Pemon hosts. After an exhilarating trip through the rapids, we reach the camp at around 1700hrs where we will overnight in hammocks. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Canaima camp – Pozo de la Felicidad - Canaima – flight to Caracas via Puerto Ordaz We return to Canaima camp, visiting the Pozo de la Felicidad en route. We reach camp at about 1100hrs and collect our belongings for the transfer to the airport. There will be time to stroll through the local shops. Return to Caracas via Puerto Ordaz. On arrival we will be met and transferred to the hotel. (B)

Day 10: Transfer to Maiquetia Airport (Simon Bolivar International Airport) Transfer to the airport for your international flight or to connect with one of the following extensions. (B) Possible extensions: The Roques, Choroni, ranch stays in Los Llanos, Paria Peninsula. It is also possible to join up with our other regional tours to create an itinerary that suits your interests and the time you have available.