Travel Blog » South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Canaima National Park Travel Blogs

Background: Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: an embattled president, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Venezuela

Map of Venezuela

Venezuela's Flag

Recommended Books:

Hostels in Venezuela
Latest Canaima National Park Blog Entries
Canaima National Park Photos

By Travels with Tom and Alice
October 31st 2008

CANAIMA and ANGEL FALLS, Venezuela

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

October 27 - 30, 2008 CAMAINA and ANGEL FALLS, Venezuela WOW !!! We left Margarita Island on an early flight and flew to Puerto Ordaz and on to Canaima National Park. Alice “just loved” the small planes ! The views are spectacular in these aircraft as you fly fairly low. After a few hours and some beautiful scenery we arrived at the Canaima National Park that is home to Angel Falls ( highest in the world at about 1000 meters ). Shortly after arrival we took a fly over flight of Angel Falls and the surrounding mountains and gorges, in a [View Full Entry]

By Bluewater Cat
October 20th 2008

Guacharo Caves

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Lloyd in Cave

We anchored on the east end of the Golfo at Muellle de Cariaco. From there we took a day trip to the Gaucharo Caves in Caripe. The caves are inhabited by Gaucharo Birds that use sonar in a similar to the way bats use sonar. The Guacharo birds are born in fours and only the strongest two survive. [View Full Entry]

By Bluewater Cat
October 20th 2008

Angel Falls

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Falls between Canaima and Angel Falls

We took a land tour to Angel Falls in The Canaima National Park. One of the most fascinating features in Canaima's landscape diversity are the tabular formations called tepuys, rising abruptly in the horizon among savannahs and dense forests. The top of the formations are flat and collect rainwater that falls off the tabletops to make waterfalls. Angel Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world with a free fall of 979 meters. To get from the Canaima airport to Angel Falls we took a 4 hour canoe ride in a canoe that was carved out of a tree. The long [View Full Entry]

By BerLM
August 27th 2008

Venezuela

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Ciudad Bolivar
Old Church accross our posada

Just to catch up from our last blog entry, we flew from Cusco to Lima, spent a day or two there to get Visas for Venezuela and Colombia. We found that we don't need visas for both countries, so we left for Caracas as soon as we could. Usually we use the internet to book hostels or hotels wherever we are going to be, so that we are guaranteed to have space. For some reason no hostels in Venezuela are available on the internet. The only place I could find was the Embassy Suites Hotel, a hotel of the Hilton group. [View Full Entry]

By Chona
August 21st 2008

Some of the moments I don´t want to forget...

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Ok...so I never really explained what was so great about Canaima and what exactly happened on that crazy 2 day trek from middle of no where in southern Venezuela to the coastal city of Cartagena, Colombia. I couldn´t possibly be able to explain it all...sadly I have yet to develop my memory into one that remembers every detail that is worth remembering. There are so many worth remembering! So many striking and marvelous moments, thoughts, observations, experiences that enter my consiousness and within hours are gone...well, not gone...just receded and pushed back into my unconsiousness by new [View Full Entry]

By Chona
August 20th 2008

Added the rest of the Canaima photos!

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

So many of them are my favorites...which one is yours? [View Full Entry]

By Chona
August 11th 2008

That was yummy...I want a second helping :)

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

3 Germans, me, a Venezolana, and her flirtatious Dutch "boyfriend"
Just hanging out after all having traveled very far to get here to Ciudad Bolivar...good times with new friends. Lucky for me their only common language was English! :)

So when I arrived in Venezuela I was a little disoriented (see previous blog entry). Not just because of the whirlwind of different modes of transport that I took to get here, nor the problems with getting money once I arrived (which incidently lasted into the next afternoon but was fixed once I was able to first get into the bank and not just use the ATM, then second call my bank in the states and get the fraud alert removed from my ATM card....yes, I was in Guatemala, Mexico, and Venezuela in the last 24 hours...duh, why is that so [View Full Entry]

2 Germans, 2 Italians, a Venezolano pilot, and me!

By karenandpaul
June 22nd 2008

Canaima National Park and Angel Falls

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Angel Falls!
Amazing experience to stand under the tallest waterfall in the world

We arrived in Cuidad Bolivar tired, confused and in bad need of a long shower! We had left Merida at around lunch time on the 18th of June and it took over 24 hours to arrived in Cuidad Bolivar. First a 4 hour bus ride from Merida to a town called Barinas..... then a VERY hot and sweaty 5 hour wait in a really dodgy bus station in Barinas, which we had to sprint across a duel carriage way to catch (it was either run like the wind or wait until the following day!)......followed by 14 hours on the world´s coldest [View Full Entry]

By m1941426
November 4th 2007

Canaima, the paradise

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Photo 2

This is the story: I won a trip to Canaima in a raffle organized by the company where I work. The trip was planned between November 2 and 4th, and in total we were 30 people from the company travelling together. Definitively the national park Canaima is an amazing place, I recommend it to all, it was an unforgettable weekend, in which we manage to totally disconnect ourselves of all the worries of our day to day. Though the trip had it´s disadvantages, it was totally worth it, since we had the opportunity to get up in the morning with a [View Full Entry]

By Two Canadians Eh
November 3rd 2007

Salto Angel!

South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park

Angel Falls!!!
We finally make our way to the first viewpoint!!!

Soooo.... onto ANGEL FALLS!!! To our PLEASANT surprise, the tour we paid for turned out to be legitimate and actually quite nice. We bused from Caracas to Cuidad Bolivar overnight, and caught a flight to Canaima early the next morning. The plane was a little 6 seater and it was a clear day, so we got an awesome view of Venezuela. Upon arrival at Camp Wey Tupuy, we were debriefed and told to pack ourselves a bag for 1 day and 1 night in the jungle. Oh God, Kristena hates bugs. We left right away for the falls ... taking a [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park