The Lost World
An extraordinary adventure reaching deep territory virtually unknown to the outside world. Outstanding highlights are Angel Falls and an ascent of the table-mountain of Roraima, inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost World.
ASCENT OF MT RORAIMA
Leaving Caracas, we drive across the Orinoco, via Ciudad Bolivar and El Dorado to Peraitepui, the tiny Indian village from where we start our ascent of Roraima. We'll ascend the massif's sandstone cliff and discover a 'Lost World' of eroded stone pillars and standing rocks where bromeliads, carnivorous plants and rare orchids abound. High above the surrounding tropical forest and lush grasslands, Roraima's summit (2810m) affords breathtaking views which stretch into Guyana and Brazil.
RAINFOREST CANOE JOURNEY
Flying into the Indian settlement of Kamarata on the Rio Akanan, our next four days are spent travelling to Canaima by canoe, guided through the rapids by our skilled native boatmen. Sleeping in hammocks in simple shelters on the river bank at night, we are enveloped by virgin forest and eerie silences broken only by shrieking jungle calls.
BENEATH ANGEL FALLS
The glistening waters of Angel Falls knife downwards in a single unbroken cascade, leaping some 975m off the vertical escarpment of Auyan Tepui ('Devil's Mountain', 2400m) - the tallest waterfall in the world. When water levels allow, we'll make a day-hike to the base of the falls. Finally, there's time to relax on the Caribbean shores at Chichirivichi de La Costa.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(MT-6233-P) |
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Flights ( London - Caracas - London ) |
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Accomodation ( Hotels / Camping/Jungle Shelters) |
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14 Breakfasts |
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10 Lunches |
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9 Dinners |
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Price Excludes |
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Local Payment from 400 USD |
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Suitability / Level |
Moderate |
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Theme |
Small Group Travel
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Among the many highlights of this trip we particularly mention:
RORAIMA HIKE
Walk up one of the oldest geological structures on earth.
ANGEL FALLS
From June to December, up the Churun river to within walking distance. From January to May (the dry
season) we see them from the air only, as our flight to Kamarata includes spectacular
views of Angel Falls (weather permitting).
4-DAY BOAT TRIP
Down the little-travelled Akanan and Carrao rivers by dugout canoe, handled by Kamarata indians.
CARIBBEAN BEACHES
Relax on a beautiful white sandy beach.
ITINERARY
DAY 1. SATURDAY. Join tour in Caracas.
Arrive Caracas and check into hotel.
DAY 2. DRIVE TO CIUDAD BOLIVAR
We leave Caracas and head east through the cacao growing areas of Barlovento, past the
criogenic industries of Piritu, then south across the plains, crossing the mighty Orinoco river to
arrive in Ciudad Bolivar. Subject to our arrival time, we plan a brief orientation tour of old ‘Angostura’.
DAY 3. DRIVE TO KAWE (near Kamoiran)
From Cuidad Bolivar we drive for eight hours to Kawe near Kamoiran. Travelling south we pass
through the area around El Dorado which is rich in gold. However the legend of the annual ritual
when the body of a young Indian male would be entirely covered with gold-dust and sent downriver
on a raft laden with offerings of silver, gold and precious stones actually hails from the
other side of the Andes. Our route south climbs the escarpment on to the Gran Sabana (Guyana
Shield) – so steep and so densely covered by forest that the Indians kept the trail a secret
until 1937. We continue to our nightstop at Kawe.
DAY 4. DRIVE TO PERAITEPUI DE RORAIMA; start of trek to Roraima.
Today we transfer to San Francisco de Yuruani and change to 4WD vehicles for the drive to
Peraitepui de Roraima, the start of our 6 day hike to Mount Roraima. This great table
mountain reputedly inspired Conan Doyle’s novel and the subsequent film, ‘The Lost World’.
This hike is graded as moderate to strenuous.
We employ local porters to carry our food, tents and camping equipment but, as the availability of porters in the village is limited, participants must be prepared to carry their own personal gear (clothing, sleeping bags etc), and appropriate baggage is necessary. Normally, a porter can be hired between two people at an additional cost of £45 per person to carry personal gear (unnecessary gear can be left behind in Santa Elena). We begin our hike today with a walk to our first campsite at Tek. 4-6 hours walk.
DAYS 5 to 9. RORARAIMA HIKE
We trek for a day (3 to 5 hrs), to reach our base camp below the mountain. We then climb to the
top of Roraima with marvellous views of the surrounding tepuis (sheer-sided table-topped
mountains) and sabana. We camp on the high plateau under rocky overhangs. This ascent of
one of the oldest geological structures on earth takes some 3 to 5 hours from our base camp.
Some scrambling is necessary as it can be quite slippery underfoot.
The summit, considered by the local Indians to be the abode of the gods, is an eerie place with eroded black moss-covered pillars, balancing rocks, ravines, quartz crystals and vast vistas out over sheer walls towards Kukenan Tepui, an adjacent table mountain, from which falls the second highest waterfall in the rainy season. We spend a day exploring the summit to observe the strange rock formations and unique flora.
Nearly all the plant life – orchids, bromeliads, carnivorous plants etc – is endemic to the region. When the weather remains clear, the views are magnificent. It may be possible to make a fairly demanding full-day trek via weird rock sculptures, primitive vegetation and unnamed waterfalls to the ‘Hito Geografico’ (Triple Frontier), a point marking the meeting point of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana (7-8 hrs round trip). In these parts, insect repellent, long sleeves and trousers are a must, as is warm, waterproof clothing and a hat. Nights are cold at this altitude. It takes us just two days to return from the top to the Indian village of Peraitepui from where we drive to our rustic accommodation at Santa Elena de Uarien.
DAY 10. FLY AND LAUNCH TO IWANA MERU
We charter a small aircraft and fly northward across the Gran Sabana, with extraordinary
panoramas on all sides (during the dry season we extend our flight to fly over the Angel Falls).
Arriving at the missionary settlement of Kamarata, we commence our river journey.
During the journey we stay in spartan accommodation, sleeping in hammocks with
mosquito nets, so be prepared to rough it a bit – the experience is well worth it. Our first
nightstop is at Iwana Meru.
DAYS 11 to 13. MOTORISED CANOE TOWARDS ANGEL FALLS
For the next three days we make our way round the imposing flat-topped bulk of Auyantepui by
river – a journey relatively few people have experienced. We sleep in hammocks under
simple jungle shelters, and facilities are simple. Our skilled Indian boatmen guide their 10m craft
through the rapids and whirlpools of the river, whilst all around is virgin forest where brightly
coloured birds break the eerie silence with their strident calls. In the wet season, when there is
enough water, it is possible to reach a point where we can hike to the base of the Angel Falls.
Discovered in 1933 by the pilot-adventurer Jimmy Angel who was searching for gold, the
falls are a spectacle of extraordinary beauty as they leap some 975m off the top of the mesa
and plunge to the foot of the gorge. The plummeting water vaporizes in mid-air forming a
glistening white spray that collects in a pool below. This breath-taking cataract is one of the
most amazing sights on the American continent.
On our final day on the river, we continue to Canaima, located on a wide stretch of the Carrao river known as Canaima Lagoon. Facing us is the beautiful sweep of the Hacha Falls which continuously pours amber-tinted water (from the tannin leached from the rainforest) into the lagoon. With a backdrop of distant and mysterious tepuis and a foreground of a sandy beach and palm trees, this is a fitting final highlight to our journey of adventure. We also have the chance to visit Salto el Sapo nearby. At this waterfall, it is possible to walk behind the curtain of falling water as it tumbles into the lagoon.
DAY 14. FLY TO CARACAS AIRPORT; bus to Caribbean beaches
Today we fly to Caracas and continue to the Caribbean for a chance to swim and relax. One such place is Chichirivichi de la Costa, with its horseshoe shaped, golden sand beach surrounded by coco nut palms and looking out into the Caribbean. Chichirivichi was founded by escaped slaves 150 years ago and now is mainly inhabited by their descendents.
DAY 15. SATURDAY.
Tour ends Caracas airport (Maiquitea International) at the time of departure of the group flight to London |
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Accommodation
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4 nights hotel
6 nights camp
4 nights jungle shelter |
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Holidays
Extras |
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Included
