Canaima and Angel Falls: tepuis, rivers and the world's highest waterfall

Canaima village and the lagoon

Most visits start at **Canaima**, a small village beside a lagoon fed by a row of waterfalls: Hacha, Ucaima, Golondrina and Wadaima. The water is stained the colour of tea by tannins, the beaches are pinkish, and the backdrop of tepuis is unforgettable. A classic first afternoon is a boat across the lagoon and a walk behind the curtain of **Salto El Sapo**, where a path runs between the rock and the falling water. Expect to get soaked, so bring a dry bag for your phone.

Reaching Angel Falls

Angel Falls is not near the village. In the rainy season, roughly June to November, motorised dugout canoes travel up the Carrao and Churún rivers for several hours to a riverside camp on Isla Ratoncito, where you sleep in hammocks. Early next morning, a steep hike of about an hour through the forest brings you to the **Mirador Laime**, a viewpoint facing the falls. Some tours continue to a pool at the base.

In the dry season, roughly December to April, river levels fall and boats may not reach the falls, and the flow can shrink to a thin ribbon. Scenic flights from Canaima over Auyán Tepui are the dry season alternative and give a breathtaking view of the scale of the landscape.

Booking a tour

All visits to Angel Falls are guided. Most travellers book a package that includes the light aircraft to Canaima, park fees, lodging, meals and the river trip, from a licensed operator or a lodge in Canaima. Many guides are Pemón, the indigenous people of the region, and choosing operators who employ local guides keeps money in the community. Read recent reviews and confirm what is included.

Beyond the falls

The wider **Gran Sabana** to the southeast has Roraima, the tepui of Conan Doyle's The Lost World, reached on a six to eight day trek from Paraitepui, and countless waterfalls along the road to Santa Elena de Uairén, such as Quebrada de Jaspe with its red jasper riverbed. That region borders Brazil and Guyana and has mining areas where governments advise extra caution, so read your government's travel advice and travel with a reputable operator.

Practicalities

Pack light, as luggage limits on small planes are tight. Bring quick drying clothes, a rain jacket, sturdy sandals and walking shoes, a dry bag, insect repellent, sun protection, a torch and cash in US dollars for park fees, tips and extras. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for this region, and malaria is present in parts of Bolívar State, so speak to a travel health clinic well before you go. Mobile signal and internet are very limited.

Is it safe?

The Canaima area is remote and generally calm, and most risks are natural: rivers, slippery rocks, heat and insects. Follow your guide's instructions, wear a life jacket on boats and do not swim where you are told not to. Your main exposure to wider risks comes in transit through the cities, so arrange transfers with your operator.

Use the free trip planner to fit Canaima into your route.