This expedition through the Guayana Highlands takes you into the  heart of the Gran Sabana. Highlight of this tour is the trek to the  Monte Roraima Tepuy ( tepuy = Table Top mountain of Limestone), the highest tepuy (9.216 feet), situated in the three-country-triangle  formed by Venezuela, English Guayana and Brazil. On the top of  these tepuys, adventurers and scientists have discovered plants and animal species, which were considered extinct or never have been observed  elsewhere on earth. This geological formation is around 600 million  years old and is considered one of the oldest rock on earth. The name RORAIMA stands for "mother of all waters" and any kind of river that we are going to cross here, and there will be a few, have their source on one of these tall mountains. When tourism became a hazard to spoil this unique territory, Inparques, the National Guard members of the Pemon tribe decided to toughen up permits to go up the mountains and if so, only with one of the Pemon Indios as a guide. Such measures are understandable if one thinks that this area should remain unaltered.
 
 

Short Itinerary

1st day: Drive to Parai Tepui. (-/L/D) 2nd day: Hiking to Kukenan River (ca. 5 hrs.) (B/L/D) 3rd day: Hiking to our Base Camp, at the foot of the Roraima (ca. 4,5 hrs.) (B/L/D) 4th day: Ascend the Roraima (ca. 4,5 hrs.)  (B/L/D) 5th day: Exploring the Roraima (B/L/D) 6th day: Hiking back to the Tek River (ca. 7,5 hrs.)(B/L/D) 7th day: Hiking to Parai Tepui and ride to Sta. Elena.(ca.3,5hrs.)(B/L/D) 8th day: Transfer to the airport.(B/-/-) B=Breakfast / L=Lunch / D=Dinner   Subject to change!

Detailed Itinerary:

1st day: Drive from Sta. Elena to Parai Tepui (Optional: Flight from Caracas or Puerto Ordaz or Canaima to Sta. Elena - see more information at end of this page). Our tour starts in Sta. Elena. From here we drive by jeep to San Francisco de Yuruani, turn off into a partly dirt road which will take us to another Pemon village called Parai Tepui. We camp in tents and contact our local friends, which will help us to carry our tents and other equipment (you may hire one of them personally if you prefer to hike without weight on your back). Overnight stay in tents. (-/L/D) 2nd day: Hiking to Kukenan River (about 5 hours) Awakening with spectacular sunrise  - we can see in the distance the mountain which we will climb, accompanied by its somewhat smaller brothers, the Kukenan- and Warao-Tepui. After about 5 hours of steady hiking through the hilly Gran Sabana we will reach the Kukenan river. Well done! We plunge into its refreshing waters and set up camp.(B/L/D) 3rdday: Hiking to base camp, this stretch on continued Savanna will take us another 4 to 5 hours and bring us to the very foot of Mount Roraima. Luckily another refreshing stream awaits us here and we set up camp right under the impressing steep face of the mighty mountain. 2.600 Meters! (B/L/D) 4th day: Ascend to the Mountain (about 4,5 hours) Impressed by the vertical wall in front of us, we enter into wild woods and a narrow pass takes us deeper and higher into a world of surprises. Orchids, Bromeliads, Mimosas and other some unknown plants will make us stop many times and we will admire small water sources which form beds for carnivorous plants and give the tiny ugly frog (Oreophynella), its habitual residence. This is quite steep here and at some point we come to a narrow bypass called “Paso de los Zamuros”, which means: “Vulture pass”. Don't worry, it sounds more dangerous than it actually is! From there we will enter at last the plateau of Roraima and stand amazed of what we see: Giant rock formations almost like big sculptures rise in front of us. We will cross the plateau to some big rock and make camp under its protecting overhang. (B/L/D) 5th day: Exploring the Roraima Exploring this fantastic world will be on the agenda today. There is a valley of pure crystal rock shimmering in small puddles and surrounded by carnivorous plants, orchids and other strange vegetation. Besides that, fantastic rock formations have formed small basins and waterfalls where you can enjoy a dip. All in all, this unknown world is worth the effort! We camp another night here. (B/L/D) 6th day: Hiking back to Tec River (about 7,5 hours) The descent of Roraima is somewhat faster than coming up here, therefore we cross the river Kukenan and continue to the next place, where we camp, near the river Tec. This is our last night here, where we can contemplate from afar once more the ancient mountains in all the mystery which surrounds them. (B/L/D).  7th day: Hiking back to Parai Tepui (about 3,5 hours) where we will leave our local porters behind and continue by jeep to Sta. Elena. On the way we will stop at one of the beautiful waterfalls called: "Quebrada de Jaspe", with its riverbed of pure semiprecious Jaspe stones. Very impressing indeed. In Sta. Elena we will stay at a small hotel in rooms with private bath.  (B/L/D) 8th day: Transfer to the airport In the morning we drive you to the airport. (B/-/-)   Tour is subject to changes!       B=Breakfast / L=Lunch / D=Dinner

Price, Conditions, Tour departures

Price Roraima Trekking: 8 days / 7 nights (from/to Sta. Elena) 4 or more participants: US-$ 692 each(see dates below) 3 participants: US-$   799 2 participants: US-$ 1.053 in case we should find additional participants for your tour, we will refund the amount you paied to much all rices add 1% of Tourism promotion tax from Aug 99 Above prices are valid until 15.Apr.03. Prices do not include Venezuela's valid sales tax.  Prices in US-$ and per person in: (prices might change without prior notice)

We have divided our reservations in three groups as follows: Fixed dates (we already have people) Open dates (our suggested dates) New dates (you suggest a departure date)

Tour departure dates for 2003

Included Transfers as indicated all excursions as indicated meals as indicated all overnight stays English / Spanish speaking guide (for groups on request any other language) We provide tents and all kitchen equipment Excluded: Flight to and from Sta. Elena Additional Porters for your personal luggage (on request)

Equipment to bring along: Solid walking shoes, sneakers, light cotton trousers for hiking, sleeping back mat, long-sleeved shirt, sweaters, rain protection, bathing suit, sleeping bag, sun protection/sun blocker, hat or scarf, insect repellent, water bottle, flashlight, back-pack

Round trip tickets to Santa Elena from: (prices change frequently!) There are a daily charter flights (small planes from Ciudad Bolivar to Santa Elena or vice versa, (important to make previous reservation!). Price: about $ 88 per one way. Caracas:  Puerto Ordaz: Canaima: Porlamar: