Venezuela

Starting Price:	$4,262.00
Trip Length:	8 days

Canaima National Park

Margarita Island Shore

Canaima National Park

Caracas, Angel Falls and Margarita Island

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

Pack your camera, and get ready for an adventure. On this Venezuela tour, you’ll take in some of Caracas’s most impressive architecture; roam the narrow streets of a small, colonial village; tour Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site; and explore Margarita Island’s lagoons, castles, forts, cathedrals and pink and white beaches.

Founded by the Spaniard Diego de Losada, sacked by the English in 1595 and by the French in 1766 and freed from Spanish domination in 1821 by Simon Bolívar, Caracas has profound colonial heritage apparent in its streets and palpable in the villages that surround it.

You’ll begin your tour in Plaza Bolívar—full of history and known for its symmetry and traditional, Spanish layout. Then, after you’ve seen the plaza, the colonial house where Bolívar was born and some of Caracas’s most impressive architecture (the Capitolio, Palacio Legislativo, Palacio Federal and more), you’ll check out some barrios, or shantytowns, set on Caracas’s green hills. The homes in these barrios form an almost otherworldly, nativity-type landscape at night. You’ll continue on to El Hatillo, a small town just outside of Caracas, with a central square surrounded by colonial houses that are now restaurants, bars and artisan shops.

After that, you’ll head to Canaima National Park, where you’ll explore the Canaima lagoon, Auyantepuy, a Spanish fort built between 1662 and 1684 and the world’s tallest, single waterfall (3,212 feet): Salto Angel, or Angel Falls, named for its discoverer, Jimmie Angel, a North American pilot.

From there, you’ll set off for Margarita Island. Home to two national parks and three natural reserves (with local colonies of scarlet ibis, flamingoes and a parrot species—unique to the island—called “cotorra margariteña”), Margarita is known for its rich wildlife as well as its castles, fortresses, cathedrals and churches and wide range of distinctive beaches (from Playa El Agua, a quiet beach bordered by small restaurants, to Yaque, set apart by its world-class windsurfing and good nightlife; restaurants, bars, discos, nightclubs and casinos are not far off).

This trip can be customized to fit your individual travel dates and any specific requests you may have. Your travel consultant will prepare a customized itinerary for you. Yampu offers a choice of 3-, 4-, 5-Star and deluxe hotels. In Caracas the Deluxe option is with Marriot or the Tamanaco Intercontinental. On Margarita Island the deluxe suite is at the Hilton—and it looks out on the ocean.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Visited Cities:
Caracas, Canaima (Angel Falls), Margarita Island

Day 1

Caracas
Upon arrival to the airport private transfer to your hotel. Unpack, settle in and, if you feel up to it, explore.

Founded by the Spaniard Diego de Losada, sacked by the English in 1595 and by the French in 1766 and freed from Spanish domination in 1821 by Simon Bolívar, Caracas has profound colonial heritage, apparent in its streets and palpable in the villages that surround it.

Day 2

Caracas
Begin your day with a private tour of the city: You'll start off in Plaza Bolívar (a central part of Plaza de Armas, the historic city center), known for its symmetry and traditional, Spanish layout. Plaza Bolívar—originally called Plaza de las Armas—adopted its current name in 1883 on the hundredth birthday of Simón Bolívar (whose statue overlooks the square).

After you've seen the plaza, the colonial house where Bolívar was born and some of Caracas's most impressive architecture (the Capitolio, Palacio Legislativo, Palacio Federal and more), you'll check out some barrios, or shantytowns, set on Caracas's green hills. The homes in these barrios form an almost otherworldly, nativity-type landscape at night.

You'll continue on to El Hatillo, a small town of 70,000, just outside of Caracas, with a central square surrounded by colonial houses that are now restaurants, bars and artisan shops.

Day 3

Caracas – Canaima National Park
After breakfast private transfer to airport to take your flight to Puerto Ordaz. One of our representatives will assist you with your air taxi to Canaima upon arrival. After you've settled into your lodge and had lunch, you'll set off to explore the Canaima lagoon.

Day 4

Canaima National Park
Before sunup you'll transfer to Puerto Ucaima, the upper part of the Canaima lagoon waterfalls, where you'll set off in a “curiara,” or wooden canoe, and take in the Carrao river and the Auyantepuy (the park’s largest rock formation). After a hour-and-a-half trip, you'll take a break and have some breakfast.

Later you'll explore the Churún River (2 hours) and make your way back to base camp on Ratón Island. Once you're back at camp, you'll take a one-hour trek through the jungle to Mirador Laime, which looks out on Angel Falls. You'll return to base camp in time for lunch.

After lunch you'll go back to Canaima, where you'll have the chance to check out El Sapo waterfall, walk under the falls and take a swim.

Return to the lodge.

Note: This tour can only be done during rainy season (May to November). Please ask one of our travel consultants about alternative tours if you are traveling during other months.

Day 5

Canaima National Park – Margarita Island
After breakfast transfer to the airport and take a flight in a small airplane to Cañón del Diablo (the source of Salto Angel, or Angel Falls, the world’s tallest, single waterfall). From Cañón del Diablo, you'll see the irregular surface of the Auyantepuy and hear the falls and the Carrao River. You'll have time enough for one last excursion close to the lodge before you transfer to Canaima airport to take your flight to Margarita Island. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.

(Angel Falls is named for its discoverer, North American pilot Jimmie Angel. In October of 1937 Jimmie flew over the falls. On account of technical difficulties he landed on the top of the Auyantepuy, and unable to take off again, he, his wife and two other passengers decided to follow the river and descend; after eleven days, they reached civilization.)

Day 6

Margarita Island
In the morning you'll head north toward the town of Pampatar, where you'll check out the Castillo de San Carlos Borromeo, a Spanish fort built between 1662 and 1684.

Once you're through exploring, you'll continue on through the Valle del Espíritu Santo (the spiritual capital and seat of the Virgen del Valle, the patron saint of the island) to Asunción, the official capital.

In Asunción, you'll visit the Castillo de Santa Rosa (one of seven forts built during Spanish rule to defend the island from pirate attacks) and take a walk around one of Venezuela's oldest cathedrals.

Rest of the afternoon at leisure. Relax at the beach or roam around the island some more.

Day 7

Margarita Island
Full day at leisure. A day trip to Laguna de La Restinga or a day at sea (off of Island de Coche) are highly recommended.

Day 8

Margarita Island – Caracas
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon you'll transfer to the airport to take flight back to Caracas, where you'll connect with your flight back home or overlap with an add-on of your choice.

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Caracas
3-star	Caracas Cumberland or similar
4-star	Olé Caribe or similar
5-star	Embassy Suites or similar
Deluxe	Tamanaco Intercontinental or similar
Canaima (Angel Falls)
3-star	Tapuy or Parakaupa Lodge
4-star	Tapuy or Parakaupa Lodge
5-star	Wakü Lodge
Deluxe	Wakü Lodge
Margarita Island
3-star	Costa Linda Hotel or similar
4-star	Casa Caracol or similar
5-star	Hesperia Playa El Agua - Deluxe Room or similar
Deluxe	Hilton - Deluxe Room with Ocean View or similar

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

8 days , from $4262

Occupancy Type	3-Star	4-Star	5-Star	Deluxe
Double	$4262	$4579	$5015	$5379
Single	$5276	$5737	$6459	$7209

Prices shown above are per person, in US Dollars ($).

Prices include international airfare from Miami to Caracas as well as roundtrip, domestic airfare from Caracas to Canaima, from Canaima to Porlamar and from Porlamar to Caracas, hotel accommodation (including a daily, continental breakfast; all transfers between airports and hotels; and assistance & baggage handling), guided tours in English (including entrance fees) and meals where specified.

On Day 4 your itinerary varies dependent on the season:

From the base of the Angel Falls (May to November, 9-10 hours)
This morning you will leave early at 4:30 am and transfer to Puerto Ucaima, near the Canaima lagoon. Navigating down the Carrao River you will reach Orquidea enjoying beautiful views of the Auyantepuy, the park’s largest rock formation. After an hour and a half, you will break for breakfast before navigating down the Churun River to reach Isla Raton. Here, disembark and hike one hour along a jungle path to Mirador Laime; from here you will have a pristine view of the magnificent Angel Falls. Returning to Isla Raton you will have lunch and then transfer to the Canaima Lagoon where there will be time to swim near the falls before returning to your lodge.

Full Day Excursion to Kavak (December to April, 6-7 hours)
This morning you will depart on a small plane and take flight over the Angel Falls arriving at Kavak, a small indigenous village of the Pemon community. Here, at the base of the Auyantepuy, the Park’s largest rock formation, the village is built with traditional huts of thatched roofs made with Moriche Palm leaves. Leaving the village you will enjoy a short walk in the savanna and then a thick forest for a better view of the Auyantepuy and then to the Kavak cave. Here a deep canyon offers a 13 meter drop into a refreshing pool of clear water where it is possible to enjoy a swim. After some leisure time, you will return to the village for lunch and then transfer to your hotel.

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