Key Features
• Walk to the base of the breathtaking Angel Falls
• Traverse the rapids and jungle rivers of the interior
• Discover & experience the lives of the Shirian Indians
Included
2nts hotels, 7nts camping, 5nts jungle shelters; 14 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 11 dinners included.
Transport
On Foot/Motorised Canoe/Bus/Flights as itinerary.
Group Size
Approx. 10 to 14.
Tour Staff
Explore Tour Leader/local guides/boatmen/drivers.
Angel Falls
The glistening waters of Angel Falls knife downwards in a single unbroken cascade, leaping some 975m off the vertical escarpment of Auyan Tepui (Devil's Mountain, 2400m) - the tallest waterfall in the world. When water levels allow, our launch will carry us over the rapids to the base of the falls. Then, with the sound of the falls fading behind us, we head downstream for the next leg of our adventure.
Journey to the Tribal Lands
From the frontier town of La Paragua our journey into the hinterland begins in earnest. Three days by motorised dug-out canoe, traversing raging rapids and spectacular falls, sees us emerge from the jungle-lined banks of the Paragua river to Kavaimaken Village, home to the Shirian Indians. The Shirian Indians are a little known sub-group of the Yanomami Indians whose lands are limited to the upper reaches of the Paragua river and the head waters of the Uraricaa river in Brazil. Their settlements are all along the banks of these rivers and, although they are traditionally jungle hunters and gatherers, recently they have adapted to using the river for fishing and communicating with the outside world.
Shirian Village Life
Our time in the village is spent with the Shirian tribe, learning about their way of life. We hope to join them on a fishing excursion and with luck they will guide us up the Ichun River to Ichun Falls where we will make an overnight camp. Returning to the village for the final time, we leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of this small community and their ancestral lands.
Comment
An adventurous tour for the intrepid traveller, conditions are basic and the going will be tough, but the reward of meeting and interacting with the Shirian Indians is immeasurable. This tour operates in the wet season when water levels should be at their highest, allowing for easier navigation along the rivers, however, please be prepared to walk and help carry equipment around shallow areas and rapids. Although the walks are graded as easy to moderate, you should be a fit, healthy and an active person to get the most from this tour.