caura river and para falls
Written: Mar 31 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: the food was great
Cons: none
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| charly2000's Full Review: Venezuela |
ROUTE: Our guide drove us from Caracas to Ciudad Bolivar (8 1/2 hours) on the highway. We stayed overnight in Ciudad Bolivar. The following morning, we then drove for about 3 hours on mostly dirt roads to get to the village of Trincheras, which serves as the port town to the Caura River. From there, travel was by wooden canoe along the Caura River. We camped for 5 nights along the river.
HOTELS: Once we reached the town of Trincheras, we were met by 2 people from the local village who joined us for the 6 day river portion of the trip. One of the villagers served as the cook (the food was great!), and the other navigated the river with the motorized canoe. We slept in hammocks near the river each night. There were designated areas set up with covered shelters for this purpose, and each hammock had mosquito netting. One of the nights we stayed in a Yekuana Indian village and had a chance to interact with the people and to learn about their culture. We also had a tour of the forest by the chief of the village who showed us many of the plants that are used for medicinal reasons.
ESSENTIALS: Bring binoculars and a good flashlight, (headlamps like Petzl are best for nite hikes). The nights are a little bit cool, so you should bring a light blanket. A sleeping bag is not needed, and the hammocks will be set up for you upon arrival at a campsite. Remember to take sunblock and a water bottle.
COMMENTS: The cost of the trip was $810 per person, but it varies with the size of the group. The drive from Caracas to Ciudad Bolivar is not a good way to spend one's time. The groups normally fly into Ciudad Bolivar, whcih I would suggest.
The trip itself was excellent! I have been on 12 different " jungle trips" in the last 4 years, including several that are popular with SAEC members. I think that this trip was the most well-organized and interesting that I have been on. I was with a friend who had never been to Central or South America, and he had a great time as well. Our English-speaking guide was very knowledgable about the cultural and environmental issues of the region. We spent a lot of our time birding and trekking to look for primates. There were great places for night hikes to search for nocturnal wildlife as well. One of the best activities was a hike to Para Falls, which is a pristine place visited by very few tourists. It was absolutely breathtaking in its beauty!
It is fascinating to meet the indiginous Yekuana indians and to learn about their culture. While they have their own language, many of them spoke Spanish as well. They were very friendly and eager to talk with us.
In order to do this trip, it is necessary to go with a tour company that is established in the area. While there are several, I would STRONGLY suggest Akanan Travel and Tours in Caracas. We spoke with several other tourists who had gone with other groups, and they voiced a lot of complaints. The tour company we went with was very concerned with safety and with maintaining a low impact on the environment.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
charly2000
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Reviews written: 21
Trusted by: 1 member
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