Venezuela's Angel Falls - unreal adventure travel


			Ruth Robertson’s “Forgotten Expedition” to Angel Falls Best time to visit – Rainy Season Special Departure Dates • 6 days
Imagine this			Spurting from a cliff more than half a mile high in the jungle fastnesses of eastern Venezuela is Angel Falls, world’s highest waterfall, 15 times higher than Niagara Falls or, by another yardstick, more than twice the height of the Empire State Building. Its first drop is 2,648 feet; its total 3,212. I saw it the first time from the co-pilot’s seat of an old unconverted C-47 just two years ago as we flew over this weirdly beautiful high jungle between the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers. On that flight to Auyántepui, so called Devil Mountain, I shot more than a dozen Kodachromes in the dead-end of Angel Falls’ canyon. As we flew over the dense jungle floor of the canyon, I resolved someday to enter that canyon valley on foot to get photographs from the base of Angel Falls and to determine its exact height. - Ruth Robertson - May 1949 This trip is a special program with specialist guest tour leaders that will relate the full Ruth Robertson experience, reading from extracts from her diary and memoirs as we follow her route all the way to Angel Falls. Special dates will be published for this expedition (May-Dec). For Ruth, her epic expedition started in Caracas on April 23rd 1949, she reached Angel Falls on May 11th 1949 and Mayupa Rapids on May 17th. Our expedition will take only six days!

Day 1			Caracas - Uruyén Early morning transfer to airport. Fly to Puerto Ordaz transfer to a light plane for two hour flight to Uruyén, landing on the same landing strip where both Jimmie Angel (who first discovered the Falls in 1933) and Ruth Robertson set up base camps before their respective expeditions. Spectacular overflight of Angel Falls included (weather permitting). Afternoon hike to Yurwan Canyon and local waterfalls with Pemón guide. Overnight at the Pemón lodge of Uruyén in beds. (B,L,D)

Day 2			Uruyén - Kavak Transfer to Kavak by jeep, or hike through the savannah and rainforests visiting local Pemón village’s enroute. Afternoon hike to Kavak Canyon and the sacred cave of Kavak with Pemón guide. Overnight at Kavak Lodge in beds. Special cultural evening (groups of 6 or more). (B,L,D)

Day 3			Kavak - Arenal Early morning transfer to Kamarata port for riverboat expedition (curiaras) to Angel Falls. First stop will be Kamarata to visit the local school children at school or homes of the local Pemón. Overnight in hammocks at Arenal camp on the bank of the Carrao River with spectacular views of the river and the tabletop mountains of Uey-tepuí and Auyántepui. (B,L,D)

Day 4			Arenal - Angel Falls After a “special” ceremony in preparation for the day’s adventure, we take to the river early morning for the penultimate leg of our expedition. Entering the awe inspiring “Devils Canyon” on the Rio Churún we will make our final approach to Angel Falls. Trek through the rainforest to “Laime’s Lookout Point” – the same point where Laime and Ruth stood in May 1949 to photograph the falls. Overnight at Ratoncito Island camp in hammocks. (B,L,D)

Day 5			Angel Falls - Canaima - Ciudad Bolivar Early morning curiara ride to Canaima along the Churún and Carrao rivers. We will pass close by Mayupa airstrip where Ruth finished her epic journey on May 17th. One last adventure - before bidding farewell to our captain and his Pemón crew – Sapo Falls beckons. Walk behind the gushing curtain – one of seven waterfalls unloading its raw energy into Canaima Lagoon with great vistas from the top of the falls. Fly to Ciudad Bolivar; visit with Jimmie Angel's famous plane at the airport. Overnight at Hotel La Cumbre. (B,L,D)

Day 6			Ciudad Bolivar - Caracas Morning city tour of Ciudad Bolivar (optional extra). Transfer to airport for flight to Caracas - for return journey home, an extra night of fun in Caracas or on to Henri Pittier for a few days relaxation at Coral Lagoon Lodge (or other Venezuelan eco-destinations). (B)

Groups			min 4 people – max 16 people

Includes			Specialized tour leader, all meals / services as listed in the program

Excludes			National airport taxes - national park fees – alcoholic beverages and some soft drinks. Tips are not included but much encouraged

PLEASE NOTE			Airport assistance, transfers and hotel accommodations are available in Caracas for first, and / or last nights

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			Project Kamarakoto – a portion of the revenues of this expedition are donated to the community of Kamarata through Angel Conservation a not for profit 501 (c)(3). For more information visit – www.angelconservation.org