The  Caura river region remains still as one of the less known sites, since it passes through endless jungle and untouched rain forest. For years it was the only possible way of getting inland until a few years ago when one very irregular dirt road was built and which has been improved somewhat  since. 

       Para falls from the air

There are parts of the river, where tremendous granite rock interrupts passage and where at some parts walls of accumulated rock has  formed somewhat like a ditch, (trinchera). This jungle village Las Trincheras was founded mainly due to the presence of a very valuable tree called SARRAPIA. People gathered its fruits, which were a desired product on the market because of its aromatic oils used in fine soaps as well as for some medicines. Unfortunately due to the Oil boom most of these people left searching for better luck and the  few remaining, mostly belong to the Yekuana – Maquiritare tribe, who live mainly on fishing and small crop growing in the midst of the jungle and fishing. They are excellent pilots of their dugouts of course and can be trusted to get safely through the Caura’s somewhat difficult waterways. Therefore we invite you to visit the Para falls with the experts. We'll form a team of tourists and local people in hope to interchange our experiences. With some luck we may have fresh water Dolphins, Otters, Turtles, Cormorants, Parrots and may be other creatures for companions.....
The Caura Lodge, our camp, is amidst all the mentioned beauties and preferred meeting point for tourists and natives. It is a huge colonial house with a spacious kitchen where the proprietor invents delicious home cooked meals. Your choice is, to either sleep in one of the Churuatas in Hammock equipped with mosquito net or indoors in a double room with private bath, where of course you'll miss the fascinating sounds of the jungle!
 

In Short:
1st day: Drive from Ciudad Bolívar to the Caura Lodge at Rio Caura. Trip to the "Peña Negra" watching the sunset. Overnight stay in hammocks * (-/L/D).
2nd day: 5 - 6 hours passage in an indian canoe to a sand bank "Playon" at the rapids of Rio Caura. Overnight stay in hammocks. (B/L/D). 
3rd day: Jungle-Hiking to the "Para Falls". Overnight stay in hammocks. (B/L/D)
4th day: Return-trip to the Caura Lodge. Overnight stay in hammocks * (B/L/D)
5th day: Drive to Ciudad Bolívar (B/-/-)

Detailed Itinerary:

1st day: Our journey starts in Cuidad Bolivar at 11 am, 
towards Caicara del Orinoco, always going along the river. The landscape equals that of a soft desert, a few Moriche palms here and there, and traversing small rivers from all directions. The Moriche is somewhat like the” tree of life” for the people living here, since it provides valuable food as well as fibers from which hammocks are made. After one hour we reach the rio Aro and take a rest at the last gas station before getting deeper into the jungle. The above mentioned dirt road will eventually take us to Las Trincheras, village where we'll stay at the Caura Lodge.

In the afternoon we start our first trip with an indian canoe (curiara). Our destination is the "Peña Negra", a huge granite rock laying like an island in the middle of the Caura. Up there we have a great view over the river-course and the deep green jungle. To watch the sunset we go back to our Lodge, where our host already awaits us with a delicious “Parrilla”  on open fire – take a guess whatever that might be? (barbecue)

2nd day: Trip to “El Playon” next to the rapids
We'll have to travel about 80 miles (130 km) up river and therefore use one of the local Curiara boats equipped with outboard motor. In order to protect all our equipment and luggage we put it away in waterproof containers. One of the village experts will take us with great skill over and around rocks as well as scary rapids. One of those we reach about ½ hour later ,pass without trouble and go on, still some 5 hours ahead of us! At times we meet other boats along the trip, those are mostly Indigenas who live further up the stream. Please, and BY ALL MEANS do not try to take pictures of them and respect their customs, quite different from yours! Far away we can see mountains and know that we are near our destination and the so called “Playon”, presenting it’s inviting white sand beach right in the middle of the jungle.

3rd day: Walk to Para Falls 
(about 2-2,5 hrs., 7 km, 250 m difference in altitude)
Early in the morning dense fog embraces us until the sun finally wins and invites to have breakfast. After that we start hiking through forest which reminds a bit of Tarzan and always follow the course of the river. At one point we will loose sight of it, since it enters a canyon about  150 ft. (50 m) away from us. Two hours later we can hear from afar the thunder of the powerful Para Falls. Almost impossible to believe that such beauty exists and to cool off from exhaustion as well as ecstasy we take a refreshing bath in the lake above the falls.
Nearby is the former research plant of Cadafe, Venezuela's authority on electricity. This was turned over to one of the Indigenous tribes ,by whom it is run today. There is a possibility to buy some typical crafts here. At night we may build a bond fire on the river bank...

4th day: Return to Caura Lodge
We return back the same way and arrive at the lodge around noon. The afternoon is free to choose between kayaking or swimming.

5th day: Trip back to Cuidad Bolivar
Along the way we will stop at a place called “Jugo Caura”, famous for its delicious natural fruit juices.

• Transfer from Ciudad Bolívar    
• Excursions as indicated    
• Meals as indicated    
• Camping-Equipment    
• Hammocks and mosquito-nets    
• Snake-protectors    
• Life-vests    
• Waterproof luggage container    
• Canoes/kayaks    
• Attendance with english- speaking guide   

• Soft drinks and alcoholics drink (to be paid locally)   

Bookings:Tour starts every Saturday (you should sleep the night before in Ciudad Bolivar as the tour starts early!)
(for groups on request any other day and eventually reduced price)
 

Prices: Caura River - Para Fall (5 days / 4 nights) Prices in US-$, net and per Person stay in from / until   2003 -> until further notice Hammock $ 394 (incl. all taxes) Double room* $ 424 (incl. all taxes) Single room* $ 459 (incl. all taxes) Prices are calculated in US-$ and per person in: (prices might change without prior notice)

Note: *At Lodge visitor can choose between hammocks and double rooms with private bathrooms. During our three day trip to the waterfalls we sleep in hammocks with mosquito protection. Only few rooms available!