Canaima National Park and Angel Falls

Canaima National Park

Canaima National Park is spread over 3 million ha in south-eastern Venezuela along the border between Guyana and Brazil. Roughly 65% of the park is covered by table mountain (tepui) formations. The tepuis constitute a unique biogeological entity and are of great geological interest. The sheer cliffs and waterfalls, including the world's highest (1,000 m), form a spectacular landscape. The Angel Falls cascade down a 2560 meter-high table mountain. The 979m waterfall is the world’s tallest. The water turns to spray before it reaches the foot of the mountain and provides moisture to the tropical forest. The 3rd wounder of the world that we have sceen so far on this trip!

Here is a picture of us in the pools at the bottom of the first drop:

In order to get to the pools you must hike further up and over from the traditional look out point.

Take a look at this promo video of Angle falls it is very acurate: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/701/video

Angle falls got its name the American aviator James "Jimmie" Crawford Angel flew over them on 16 November 1933 on a flight while he was searching for a valuable ore bed.

Returning on 9 October 1937, Angel tried to land his Flamingo monoplane "El Rio Caroni" atop Auyan-tepui but the plane was damaged when the wheels sunk into the marshy ground and he and his three companions, including his wife Marie, were forced to descend the tepui on foot. It took them 11 days to make their way back to civilization (still the only knowen way down the Tepuy) but news of their adventure spread and the waterfall was named "Angel Falls" in his honour.

Angel's plane

Angel's plane remained on top of the tepuy for 33 years before being lifted out by helicopter. It was restored at the Aviation Museum in Maracay and now sits outdoors on the green in front of the airport at Ciudad Bolivar exposed to the elements. It is the original. The one visible on the top of the tepui is a replica.

A little promo clip from angle falls : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVMdNj5dd-U

Here is what you will get:
You gaze in awe at the powerful force of nature known as Angel Falls, whose waters plunge more than 3,000 feet. Angel Falls-the world's tallest waterfall-is one of the eight natural wonders of the world.

You are there, after a long, hot hike, swimming in one of the refreshing natural pools beneath the towering falls.

You look up and see a rainbow created from the dance of the mist and the tropical sun. As you swim in the clear waters with your traveling companions, you sense a spiritual force, a mysterious energy that soothes you. You lean back and float in the natural pool and realize that you are far way from everything, but there is no other place that you would rather be. Make This Angel Falls Hiking Dream A Reality Truly
The sites and sounds of Angels Falls and the Canaima National Park are unforgettable. Canaima National Park is one of the world's great natural wonders and a hiker's paradise. You will trek across grassy plains that never seem to end and rainforests that reach to the heavens and take a trill boat ride in a large canoe (curiaras). to which you will be guaranteed to get wet.During your hiking adventure to Angel Falls and Canaima National Park, you will hopefully encounter a dazzling array of birds, such as macaws, toucans, parrots, tanagers, hummingbirds, as well as many other exotic species. The land is also rich in exotic wildlife, such as anteaters, jaguars, sloths and howler monkeys. If you crave a hiking adventure tour that is out of the ordinary and off the beaten path, Angel Falls and the Canaima National Park are the natural wonders and adventure destinations for you. This trip is moderately strenuous. To get to the base of Angel Falls it is about 45min to 1.5-hour hike (depending on level of fitness) through the rainforest.
At night you typically go back to camp (what ever tour agency you have chosen) where they cook a home made open fire pit meal and you slip away in your hammock for a good nights sleep. Ensure you have a few extras to stay warm, pants, sweater and a hat if you have it.

We paid $500 each or our tour and it was worth every penny.

Tip: when you finally met your actual guide ask in deal what the itinerary is. This way you can make sure you get what you paid for and not wind up in the same bid we did. Us and three others decided on a 4 day three night trip. We would get our first night free in the posada and leave early AM to take the flight to Canaima. Upon arrival we would spend the first day at the Canaima camp and go to see the surrounding falls. Following day we would go to Angle falls sleep at the base of the falls and the next morning we would go back up to the falls leaving back to Canaima at about 11:00 am.

Follwing day would be free. This is not what we got: what we got was the flight to Canaima, hurried on to a jeep and directly onto a boat for Angle falls. We stopped at one of the falls to have lunch but that is about all the time you had as they rushed everyone back on the boat. Carrie never got to go in the water by the time she had taken a few photos and eat lunch the guide was on us about getting back into the boat.

We arrive at Angle Falls after hrs in the canoe with no breaks and a sore butt. We are rushed to get going up to the falls. The five us are reluctant to proceed as we enquire what is the rush. We discover the other 4 people are only on a two day and must leave the following day at 7:00am for Canaima (which included us). It was close to dark and wanting to see the falls we leave this for the time. We get to the top snap a couple of pictures and once again hurried along as it is about to get dark. Plus the guide has not waited to see if all people in the party were okay nor did he tell us anything about the falls. Eventually we met another guide who gave us the full low down. That night we told the guide that we were not returning with him that they must send another boat. This is not what we paid for. He said we would have to go back to Canaima to talk about it with the manger. We knew once we left we were not returning. With a steady no we stayed. The next day as the other 4 left the 5 of us went back up took more pictures and took a swim in the frigid waters of the mystical Angle Falls, returning to camp at 11:00 am. Now with no food and no guarantee of a return boat (could be a couple of days according to the guide) Brent talked to another tour guide we met and inquired about trying to secure a chicken from there camp.

He explained our situation and said if the guides discover that there is extra left over after the fed their group we would buy one and that is what we did. Beside the camp we find a small pineapple still growing so we cut that up and our friends from Holland had some pasta to cook in there back packs. Now we are set for the long haul.

By 3 pm a boat picked us up- it was a quite ride back on behalf of the tour company.

The next morning tension was tight we still wanted the rest of our tour and the manger was asking for an additional $175 us from each of us. Once again not sitting well and we knew we were not going to pay that much.

By 3 in the afternoon finally a guide took us out to see the rest of the falls –

this guide was fantastic, knowledgeable and kind!

The next morning brought more tension as we have now told them we do not want to pay. The National Guard shows up and sits out the day until all was resolved. Brent spoke with the tour company back in Ciudad Bolivar and expained what had taken place. From there on out the subject was dropped and we flew out at about 3:20pm.

Although this had been quite exiting the three guys HI from Holland, David from South Africa and Brent desided they would float the lagoon from the sand beaches back to our camp.

Securing three life jackets as they are in an area with 5 major water falls spilling into it, walk over to the beach and hop in. About 1 hr later the National Guard shows up agin (this time a different fellow) madder than hell.

Apparently it is a crime to be in the lagoon with a life jacket on as they then send people out to rescue you thinking you have fallen from one of the boats. With a little help from our second tour guide all was setted down and the men were sent away with a warning.

WE HAVE NOW DESIDED IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE BEFORE SOME ONE WENT TO JAIL. :)

By the way bring in food and booze. Beer normally $1 US is now $7 and rum normally $8 now $40. Snacks were the same! (This is an all inclusive tour; just no booze no pop and no snacks)