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Treks/Tours
While Aldeas de Paz is a volunteer based NGO, we recognize the
importance of seeing other parts of La Gran Sabana and having a well
rounded experience while you are here. Some trips can be done on
weekends, otherwise we will help you to schedule tours so that you
can see everything you want to in Venezuela, while still achieving
your volunteer commitments with us.
It is always best to plan to be here for a longer period of
time so you can fit in a tour and still feel satisfied with the
impact of your volunteer work.
Aldeas de Paz is not a tour operator but a volunteer
charity! The Adventure Tours are organized and offered by
local tour operators. If interested, we will help you to make
contact with companies which use ecological criteria for enjoyable nature-based Adventure Tours throughout the
beautiful and diverse Gran Sabana region,
here in south-eastern Venezuela.
Grana Sanana Photos
Santa Elena Photos
.JPG) We also assists
Volunteers to self-organize their trip
A cheaper method than booking organized tours is to
organize a trip yourself. When volunteers are interested in this option,
we can assist them to make the necessary arrangements. Volunteers
then share the direct costs of a guide, porter, food and transport,
instead of buying a complete package. Costs depend on the
number of group participants to share with.
Local Guides and Hosts
Hiring indigenous guides, drivers, boat operators, and hosts directly benefits local economies and, at the same time, adds an
intimate and connected feeling to your adventure. Indigenous guides will
enrich your Gran Sabana adventure tour experience with their
knowledge, their kindness and their dedication and enthusiasm
for these places.
Responsible Travel.JPG)
Most importantly, when you are visiting
the most beautiful and untamed places of this amazing country you
should be doing it with ecology in mind. Minimize environmental impact by trekking with smaller
groups. Your commitment to protecting
natural resources while improving human communities fosters a
grassroots dedication to environmental conservation.
Potential Tours
There are a wide variety of tours you can take.
If you are interested in finding out more about your options, here
are some examples. Again, we do not sell these tours,
they are offered by local tour providers here in Santa Elena. We
encourage you to wait until you are here and than shop around and
make your choice. There is no need for previous bookings from
overseas. You get the best prices locally!
Example Mount Roraima Expedition (6 days)
Follow the tracks of Professor Challenger, Lord John Roxton and
Ed Malone, looking for an isolated plateau where they will find
living pterodactyls, iguanodons and plesiosaurs. One of the best trekking trips in Latin America or even world-wide. Trek to the
Lost World to get incredible views and meet
another world with 70% of endemic lifestyle (unique in the world).
More on Tepuys
Day 1 You leave Sta. Elena in the morning and drive two hours to the
last Indian village Paraytepui. From here the trek starts into the
lost world. On this first day you will walk about 5 hours to the
campground at the Kukenan river. You will cross two rivers to reach
it. The Kukenan river grows after rainfall to a respectful stream.
Our guides will put a long rope over the river and help you in your
first adventure. Lunch on the way and supper at the campsite.
Day 2 After breakfast starts a five hour walk to the base camp. You
will cross the smooth hills in the savannah. In total you have to
walk uphill for two hours. You will see orchids and carnivores.
Lunch will be ready at the base camp. Here starts the jungle and you
should use the late afternoon light to find some attractive shots
for your camera.
Day 3 After breakfast comes a 2 hour steep hike in the jungle. You will
be exhausted but also amazed by the beautiful bromeliads, ferns and
other plants. Finally you can touch the wall of the Roraima mountain
and a small waterfall will bring you much needed refreshment!. It
takes another hour or 90 minutes through jungle and over stones to
reach the top of the mountain. Stones looking like sea turtle or
dragonheads welcome you at the top. Lunch will be at the camp and
the afternoon is for discovering the closer area around the camp.
Day 4 The whole day is for discovering the top of the Roraima. Feel the
magic from the mountain. You will see thousand faces in the bizarre
stone formations, some remind you of lizards or Fidel Castro, others
are like fantasy creatures or fairy tale witches. See the valley of
crystals and enjoy the fantastic view to the valley. Feel the
mystery when the fog comes up the mountain. Don't be surprised when
you feel like you're walking on the moon. Lunch will be on the way
and supper at the camp.
Day 5 In the morning you´ll have a last chance to take some pictures
before you walk down the mountain again to the campsite at Rio Tek. You have to cross the two rivers from the first day again. Lunch is
on the way and at the camp you can enjoy a great swim in the river
with a fabulous view to the Kukenen and Roraima mountains. Supper at
the camp.
Day 6 After the last four hours you will reach the Indian village Paraytepui. Watch out!! Every tourist gets searched by the park
rangers for crystals. The crystals are a lot more beautiful on the
top of Roraima then in your apartment at home!! Our Toyotas are
waiting already with cold drinks and great sandwiches for you. After
lunch drive back to Sta. Elena with a stop over at the Jaspe fall if
the group wants to. End of our service.
Example Trip to El Pauji (2 days)
Different ethnic groups like people from Venezuela, Indians and
immigrants live together in El Pauji. It is a small village 75km
west of Santa Elena and surrounded by beautiful rainforests. Small
gold and diamond mines are abundant here, giving us a real feeling
of adventure.
Day 1 Our drive takes about 2 and half hours. On the way we
stop at some unbelievable panoramic views at the Top Flat Mountains.
The lunch is served at the waterfall cathedral, where we refresh
ourselves in the cool water. This hidden waterfall has its name from
the roots that look like organ pipes.
We reach El Paujin the afternoon and stay overnight in a camp with
a tropical garden.
In the afternoon there is plenty of time to enjoy the little "Hippy"
village and to go for a nice walk at this beautiful quiet place. In
the evening we have a great dinner in a restaurant near the camp.
Day 2 After breakfast we start our hiking tour for 3 hours to
the abyss of El Pauji. After about 40 minutes we pass a place with
so many orchid that it reminds us of a carpet. When we arrive at the
top, we will have an amazing view over the rainforest from Venezuela
and Brazil! It is the northern part of the biggest rain forest of
the world (3.5 million km?). Then we reach a small cave, the
entrance is covered with moss and ferns. This cave is home to
hundreds of bats, which represent over half of Venezuela's 300
species of mammals! Now we return to El Pauji for lunch and in the
afternoon we relax in the emerald waterfall in the woods. Afterwards
we return to Santa Elena. On the way we stop at the Brazilian border
town "La Linea". Please take your Yellow Fever certificate with you,
otherwise we are not allowed to enter Brazil! We arrive in Santa
Elena in the late afternoon.
Example Angel Falls (3 days)
Angel Falls is, at 1000 meters, the highest waterfall in the
world. Canaima is a key attraction in Venezuela with the natural
beauty of five waterfalls feeding the Canaima Lagoon.
Day 1 Leaving from Cd. Bolivar to Canaima. One hour flight in a small
Cessna. In Canaima you will pass the famous lagoon. Five waterfalls
next to each other make a fantastic photo. You will pass the
waterfalls in a small boat. Then you walk for 20 minutes to Salto
Sapo, an impressive waterfall where you walk behind the water to the
other side. You will get wet! Followed by dinner and overnight stay
in Canaima in hammocks.
Day 2 After breakfast there's a boat ride on the river Carrao. In the
dry season is it possible that the men have to get out of the boat
to push it! You will enjoy beautiful views of the flat-top mountains
when you enter the devils canyon. After a 4 hr kayak ride, you start
a 90 min hike to the viewpoint for the Angel Falls. Imagine being
just under the highest waterfall in the world! Lunch is next to the
river, dinner and overnight stay are in hammocks opposite the Angel
Falls.
Day 3 After breakfast you get one last chance to take a morning photo
and then you go back to Canaima to fly back to Ciudad Bolivar.
Example "X-treme La Gran Sabana" (6 days, 3 parts)
Part 1: La Sabana Tour (3 days)
The Gran Sabana is a truly unique place!! With waterfalls,
rainforest, the 1000 m high savannah, the oldest mountains on earth,
the mysterious flat-top mountains, also called the last white points
on earth! Enjoy with us a unforgettable tour through this wonderful
lost world!!
Day 1 In a four wheel drive car, you will visit
Canaima National Park and see places that are off the main road and
the beaten track. You start in Santa Elena and after 40min you
arrive at the Quebrada de Jaspe waterfall. The red shiny stone in
the jungle is a great photo opportunity. Later during this first day
you will visit Yuruani Falls, Río Soroape (Waterslides), Pacheco
Falls, Kama Falls and various points to view flat-top mountains
(tepuys)
Day 2 you will experience the thrill of off-roading while
also visiting spectacular viewpoints and waterfalls like: Agua Fría,
El Velo de la Novia (Urue), the falls of Kariman Paru and the view
point of Ivarka-rima.
Day 3 the tour covers 160 Km. of asphalt and 50 Km.
off-road to the Indian village of Liwo-Riwo, where we will take a
motorized Indian canoe for approximately 30 min. You will then walk
1 km. until you reach the impressive Aponwao falls.
Part 2: Horse Riding Expedition (2 days)
On the two day horse riding tour you will
pass marvelous palm trees thriving on the swampy ground, rest your
eyes on the endless sky and land of the savannah, swim in waterfalls
off the beaten tracks, discover the secrets of the enchanted lagoon,
experience the vast savannah star-spread night sky, enter the cave
of the tiger, visit old gold & diamond mines, find out how it felt
to be a minor – you will be sure to enjoy the hidden treasures the
Gran Sabana has to offer. You can plan that tour also with fellow
volunteers using our own horses!
Day 1 8.00 am meeting in one of the cafés in Sta. Elena from where the 15
min. transport to the starting point of our horse riding tour
leaves. After reaching the farm and having a look around we saddle
and distribute the horses and head off to the savannah.
We spend approximately 2 hours on the horseback in which we pass
palm trees, beautiful flowers, and if we are lucky some savannah
inhabitants like anteaters. We will cross a little canon and pause
for several breathtaking views over the huge land before we reach
the shores of a river and an old mining place in a state of
recreation. We leave the horses behind to rest and graze while we
walk on alongside the river until we reach a little hidden waterfall
with several natural swimming pools and a waterslide. We can spend
several hours on this wonderful place, taking massages and
refreshing showers in the waterfall and have a snack for lunch.
In the late afternoon we walk back to our horses and go on riding
for another hour to reach an old minor’s place where we will have
dinner and spend the night either in hammocks or tents.
Day 2 After breakfast we saddle the horses again and start to explore the
surroundings on the horseback. We ride up and down the hilly
landscape until we reach “Cueva del Tigre” (the “cave of the
tiger”). Close to it there is another little swimming pool where we
can take a refreshing bath, have fun with the water swing and eat
our lunch. In the afternoon we slowly but surely ride back to where
we started the tour the other day, but not before passing the
enchanted lagoon and marveling at the reflections caused by
sunlight.
Part 3: X-Denaline Rafting (1 day)
Rafting, a one-of-a-kind experience in which you take part in three
activities: first a walk behind the curtain of Arapena Falls which
is 60 meters wide by 6 meters high; body rafting, which is nothing
more than tossing yourself down natural waterslides made of jasper,
wearing a lifejacket and helmet; and finally rafting down 1 km of
Class IV rapids which will thrill you.
The entire activity last approximately 3 hours, not including travel
time. The best time of year to do this activity is between June and
January.
Example Chirikayen (3 days)
The Chirikayen mountain is at 1650m above sea level and is easy
to climb in three days. You will cross savannah, rainforests and see
small gold or diamond mines. Feel the magical world of flat-top
mountains and enjoy the fantastic views from the top. This is a
great trip for beginners to get the feel for trekking!
Day 1 A 90 min drive from Sta. Elena to the typical
Pemón village of
Chirikayen. From here you start a 4.5 hr hike to the foot of the Chirkayen mountain. Chirika means "small parrot" in Indian dialect
and yen means "place". Overnight stay in tents, next to a small
Laguna.
Day 2 After breakfast it takes 45 minutes to reach the mountain and
nearly two hours to hike to the top. Then you cross the mountain
which takes another two hours. The campsite will be right next to
the abyss from the mountain. You won't forget this view!! The rest
of the afternoon is spent exploring the top of Chirikayen and
discovering unique plants and taking pictures. Dinner and overnight
stay on the top of the mountain in tents.
Day 3 After breakfast you have to cross the mountain again and you have
one last chance to spot orchids or carnivorous plants. You then walk
a different way back to Sta. Elena . We walk around five hours,
mostly through the LA GRAN SABANA!! Lunch is on the way. With some luck
you get to see anteaters or deer. One group even saw a jaguar!!
Example Órinoco Delta (3 days)
The Orinoco delta extends over 40.000km2 and 275 river arms lead
the water from the Orinoco to the Atlantic. The delta is very rich
in wildlife: parrots, toucans, hoatzin birds, piranhas and caimans.
The aboriginal peoples called “Warao” meaning “man with boat” live in this
region.
Day 1 Pick up in Cd. Guayana (Pto. Ordaz or San Felix) at 09:00.
Transport to Piacoa ca. 90 minutes. In the posada in Piacoa you
check in and enjoy your lunch. The first trip into the Delta by boat
starts around 14:00. You will visit the river arms Tipirua und
Piacoa. You will also get to meet a traditional family. Most of the
time you're accompanied by sweet water dolphins, howler monkeys and
many birds. Lots of great photo-opportunities!
Cold drinks on board. You will be back at the posada around 18:00
hours.
Day 2 After the breakfast you start to discover the Sacoroco river,
Tulipane river and the Laguna de Santa Catalina. Depending on the
water level you´ll see many beautiful, fine sandy beaches along the
way. You'll enjoy a refreshing swim. Picnic lunch on the way.
Again you'll have opportunities to photograph king fishers,
eagles, sweet water dolphins, medicinal plants and many more.
You get back to the campsite at about 16:30.
Day 3 In the morning you can try your skills at piranha fishing. During
the boat ride down the Guacara river in the Sierra Imataca, there
are many toucans, small parrots and during August and September many
big ara parrots who enjoy the hobo fruit.
You are back in the posada at 12:30. After lunch you leave the
camp around 15:00 and travel to Cd. Guayana.
Example "The Lost World" (5 days)
This trip is a combination of all the highlights of the Gran
Sabana. Get to know the beauty of the oldest formation on earth, the
lost world!
Day 1 Leaving Santa Elena in the morning to the border town la Linea in
Brazil. WATCH OUT The Brazilian authorities will check every visitor
for the YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION!! After buying some Brazilian
Souvenirs will we drive back to Venezuela and over a very
adventurous road for 2,5 hrs to Salto Catedral. A beautiful
waterfall hidden in the jungle.
We reach El Pauji in the late afternoon and we stay in a Camp run
by a joung gold and dimond seeker. it would not the first time that
some folks get a very inexpensive deal on some diamonds.
Day 2 After breakfast you hike for 3 hrs to the abyss of Pauji . After
app. 40 minutes you pass so many orchids (maxillaries) that it looks
like a carpet. When you arrive at the top, you have an amazing view
over the rainforest from both Venezuela and Brazil! It’s the
northern part of the biggest rain forest of the world (3.5 million
km2). Then you go to a small cave, the entrance is covered with moss
and ferns. This cave is home to hundreds of bats, who represent over
half of Venezuela's 300 species of mammals! From there, you return
to El Pauji for lunch and in the afternoon you relax in the emerald
waterfall, in the woods. Then you go back to Sta. Elena, with a stop
over at Brazilian border town of "La Linea".You get back to Santa
Elena late afternoon.
Day 3 Today you drive first to the very famous Jaspis waterfall with his
red shiny stone to take brillant pictures and later to the Indian
village Iboribo. From there you take a small boat trip of 20 minutes
to get to the Chinak Meru, the highest waterfall in this region with
107m free fall!!
After a lunch will you continue your drive to the Camp mantopai.
It will takes you about 2 hours to the entrance and the last 15 KM
to Mantopai takes another hour. It's an unbelievable journey,
covered with orchids and insect eating plants. It’s like driving
over the top of a flat-top mountain!! The camp is just next to the Karuai river and at the foot of the Soropan Tepuy (flat-top mountain)!
Supper and overnight stay is in one of the most beautiful camps in
the Gran Sabana.
Day 4 After breakfast you take a 2-4 hr walk through the jungle. This
is one of my favorite jungle walks because you'll see many
medicinal plants, our local aboriginal guide will explain some
techniques for hunting and you'll see the Indian way of growing
their vegetables and fruits, also you'll see how they brew their
typical beer. Lunch will be in the camp and afterwards you'll have
an hr to chill-out. In the afternoon you'll enjoy a natural
waterslide and a waterfall just 15 minutes from the camp. The shore
is covered with insect eating plants and orchids. Overnight stay is
in Mantopai.
Day 5 After breakfast you can enjoy a swim at the Kawi waterfall with a
8m high drop. If you dare to jump in, just do it!! Next you go to a
view point of the flat-top mountains and have lunch in the Indian
community of San Francisco. The last attraction is the walk behind
the La Cortina waterfall. This all depends on the water level.
Safety first, but in 80% of the excursions we can do it!! An
unforgettable experience for adrenalin junkies!!! You arrive in Sta.
Elena late afternoon. End of our service!!
Example Órinoco / Amazon (14 days)
This tour is a real expedition, off the beaten track. You go the
same way Humboldt did 200 years ago, from the Orinoco to the Amazon.
You visit the Yanomami tribe, one of the most primitive Indian
tribes in the world. You see the incredible splendor of the
buildings from the Rubber boom in 1880 in Manaus and you cross the Gran Sabana with the highest waterfall in the world, the Angel Falls!
BP Tours is the only company that offers this trip, worldwide!
We always inform our guests how to behave properly with the
Indian tribes. As a result, the Indians are always very friendly
with us. All expeditions start with the official permit from the
Department for Indian protection!
Day 1 Arrival in Caracas and assistance at the airport via our representative. Transport and overnight stay in a posada close to the
airport.
Day 2 Transportation to the airport and flight to Pto. Ayacucho. In the
afternoon there's a city tour with visits to the Indian market and
Indian museum.. In the evening you enjoy a barbecue and have time to
discuss the expedition.
Day 3 After breakfast a 2hr 30min flight to San Carlos de Rio Negro.
You fly in a small 5-7 seat Cessna. From there a half day boat ride
in a kayak to the Yanomami Indians. Overnight stay in hammocks
camping with the Indians.
Day 4 The whole day is spent observing the life-style of the Yanomamis
and seeing how they make their traditional handicraft. For this, is
it always useful to bring some gifts with you. Probably some
corporate gifts from your firm like pens, pocket mirrors or pocket
knifes. What's especially useful for them is fishing gear like hooks.
Day 5 Boat ride over the Casiquare back to the Rio Negro and back to
the Brazilian border. Overnight stay in hammocks with an Indian
family of Baré Indians. This tribe is a lot more developed and they
use self-made furniture and clothing.
Day 6 Boat ride in the small boat into Brazil. Beautiful white beaches
along the way, covered with palm trees. Overnight stay with an
Indian family in hammocks. During the day on the river we can always
find time to fish and enjoy fresh food.
Day 7 Arrive in Sao Gabriel do Cachoeira and overnight stay in the
Hotel Roraima. Sao Gabriel is a small town with beautiful beaches
west of Manaus.
Day 8 Flight with Rico Airways to Manaus. Pick up at the airport and
city tour including the Opera house, Indian museum and the market.
Overnight stay at the Best Western Hotel in the centre. Manaus was
the richest town on earth in 1800 and they had first electric
streetlight, even before Paris and London. You can still feel the
atmosphere those times!
Day 9 After breakfast you see the meeting of the waters of Rio Solimoes
(yellow water) and Rio Negro (black water). Both kinds of water need
over 20km to completely mix together!! The Amazon has more water
than the eight longest rivers all together! At 08:00pm we take the
luxury night bus to Sta. Elena, Venezuela.
Day 10 Arriving in Sta. Elena at 11:00am and transfer to the best Camp
in town. Time to relax in the afternoon or you can walk around Plaza
Bolivar in the centre.
Day 11 Leave Santa Elena and go to the Canaima National Park where you
visit the Jaspe waterfall. The shiny red stones in the jungle are
very photo worthy!. After this you go to the natural waterslide of Soruape, incl. lunch. Next will be a photo stop at the
Pacheco-waterfall and you´ll see different insect eating plants (unique
to this region).
After this you stop at a beautiful viewpoint to see
the flat-top mountains where legend has it the Indians ask the gods
to make true their wishes come true. Then you continue to the 55m
high waterfall Kama–Meru and overnight stay with dinner in the
company of an Indian family in the Canaima National Park.
Day 12 After breakfast you visit the Kama waterfall and then enjoy a
swim at the Kawi waterfall. Our lunch will be in the Indian village
San Francisco de Yuruani. Then after 20 minutes you can walk behind
the La Cortina waterfall if the water level is not too strong,
safety first!! (but it is an unbelievable experience for adrenalin
junkies). Overnight stay in Sta. Elena.
Day 13 After breakfast comes one of the main highlights, the flight to
the Angel Falls! The highest waterfall in the world at 1000m
altitude. The Angel Falls drop from the Auyan Tepuy and the Cessna
has to go into the devils canyon. It is truly unbelievable .sightseeing
but it also depends on good weather conditions. Safety first!! After
two rounds at the Angel Falls the flight continues to Cd. Bolivar.
Pick up at the airport and transportation to the Posada.
Day 14 After breakfast transportation to Pto. Ordaz. End of our service!!
Food on Treks
Breakfast: There is usually oatmeal or pancakes, bread, jam and
butter, eggs & bacon, and plenty of coffee or tea, tropical fruits,
juice and yogurt. Lunch: Different types of cheese, sausages, tuna
sandwiches, spinach pie, etc. Dinners: Often three courses. Example:
Vegetable soup, smoked fish or pork chop with mashed potatoes and
dessert. We also have vegetarian menus. All meals are included on
our itinerary.
Services while trekking
The camp staff will generally include the following: an
experienced English-speaking mountain guide or naturalist escort (depending
on the program). Plan on hiking or traveling 4-5 hours each day,
depending on the overall group pace. Lunch is usually taken around
12-1 p.m. Depending on where the group is along the route, we
usually spend an hour or so on a lunch break. When trekking, we
arrive at the camp around 3:00-4:30 p.m. Tea is generally served
around 5:00 p.m. and is a welcome treat at the higher camps. Dinner
is served between 7:00-7:30 p.m.
Equipment
4-season tents for 2 people; Rucksacks 60 lt.; Collective cooking
equipment; Stoves. And if you need, we can supply the following
Equipment: Various comfortable sleeping bags; Mattress; Therma Rest;
Fleece jackets and pants; Rain coats and ponchos; Gloves; Wool hats; Petzl head lamps; Water bottles.
Security is vital. We know the field very well and understand that there are uncontrollable variables in adventure
activities.
Transportation 4WD jeeps (private) with professional drivers who
know the routes.
What to bring
Pack sack
Raincoat (downpours are frequent)
Comfortable walking shoes or boots
Sandals
Warm clothing
Hat
Sleeping bag
Flashlight
Sunscreen
Bathing suit
Water bottle
Plastic bags for documentation, camera
Nuts, chocolate
and a good dose of humor
To better enjoy the hike, pack up to a maximum of 12 kg (25
pounds). You can also rent the services of a porter to carry all or
part of your personal effects; that way you can better concentrate
on taking pictures, or enjoying the scenery. Although your pack sack
says it is waterproof, pack everything in sturdy plastic bags inside
the pack.
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