We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
Please bear in mind that some of the areas of Venezuela visited on this trip are remote and conditions can change from one day to the next. As far as practical we shall adhere to the day-to-day route as printed below, but overnight stops may vary from those suggested.
The nature of this tour means we will be living and travelling with only the basics. The type of canoe we use does not have a canopy, so you will be exposed to the elements for large parts of the day.
For most of the trip you will be living on and around the river. Whilst we provide safety equipment it is important that you are confident in the water and have the ability to swim at least 25m.
It is essential that you pack light – see luggage section for details.
The Shirian Tribe are at a fragile point in their existence and we are not there to impose on their culture or way of life. The activities for the days we stay with them will depend on what the tribe happens to be doing at the time.
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
Please note that airport taxes are approximately US$100.
Accordingly, you should allow US$50 for tipping.
Local Costs
| |
UK |
Venezuela |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
$1.20 |
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
$1.20 |
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
$1.20 |
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
$1.20 |
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
$11.00 |
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
$11.00 |
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
$7.50 |
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
|
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
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Please note: Please note that flights on the tour may transit through the USA. According to US law, passengers will have to disembark, collect luggage and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight.
Holders of the UK, AUS, NZ, CAN and several EU country passports can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they hold a machine readable passport. They must also be entering the country by sea or air on a carrier participating in the visa waiver scheme, holding a return/onward ticket. As well as being machine readable, if your passport was issued on or after 26 October 2005, it must contain both a digital photograph of the holder and also an integrated circuit chip that stores biographic information.
All passengers travelling to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme must provide their details online no later than 72 hours prior to travel. British travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely to be detained and sent home. In addition to passport information, you must also supply the full address of your first night’s accommodation in the USA. This information can be obtained from your joining instructions which are sent out approximately 3 weeks before travel.
Anyone applying for ESTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to travel under the Visa Waiver system will be charged a fee of 14USD (9GBP).
For more information, and to apply online, please visit the following website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Once obtained, the application will be valid for a period of two years, or for the validity of your passport (whichever is shorter).
For more information about who is eligible for the VWP, or any other questions you may have regarding your eligibility, or machine readable passports, please contact your local consular office, or visit www.usembassy.org.uk
Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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A Venezuelan Tourist Card required by citizens of UK, AUS, NZ, CAN and USA. Obtained from consular offices or at check-in desk of airline to Venezuela.
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Vaccinations & Protection
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against yellow fever, malaria, tetanus, infectious hepatitis, typhoid, and polio. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria.
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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Climate
Tropical with little seasonal change in temperature, but great variation with altitude. It can be hot at midday, but cold at night. The rainy season is from June to November. Caracas can be cool at night, especially December to February.
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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
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One main piece of luggage – ideally soft (kitbag or rucksack) which is essential for light aircraft, and a small day sac to carry water etc. You may need 3 bags for this tour:
1) Main luggage (holdall); 2) Smaller bag/daysack for your immediate requirements; 3) Soft small bag for gear you need to take on the boat. Your main luggage will be left behind in Caracas. Total allowance: 44lbs/15kgs. Remember not to overload yourself and think carefully about what you really need for the majority of the itinerary.
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Clothing
Waterproof jacket or poncho, widebrimmed sun hat, 3 x t-shirts, 2 x lightweight trousers (or 1 x trousers and 1 x shorts), 1 x long-sleeved shirt and underwear. The clothes need to be loose fitting and comfortable for hot, humid weather. NB: pack at least one set of clothes with long sleevesand legs to avoid sunburn and insect bites.
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Footwear
Rafting shoes / trainers - these are sometimes called amphibian shoes. They have a trail walking sole with good grips for wet rocks and walking, and a mesh upper which is extremely quick drying and lightweight. NO OPEN TOED SANDALS.
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Equipment
Bring a 2 season / lightweight sleeping bag, a torch and a water-bottle. Insect repellent (with DEET) is essential for the jungle. High factor waterproof sunblock, quick drying towel, alcohol gel handcream, camera, SPARE BATTERIES (there is now nowhere to charge), sunglasses, water purification tablets, Binoculars for wildlife spotting, minimal toiletries and earplugs for light aircraft flights. Mosquito nets are provided.
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Personal First Aid Kit
For an exclusively designed Explore Medical Kit, visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
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General Information
Trip Summary
Travelling by small bus, light aircraft and finally motorised canoes, this exploratory expedition reaches deep into territory little explored by the outside world. Embarking on a jungle river trip in the virgin forest along the Akanan and Carrao rivers, we’ll observe river fauna and flora. For much of the year (between June and December) it is possible to get right up the Churun river to within an hours’ walk of Salto Angel, where we may bathe. 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 sight of the falls fading behind us, we head downstream for the next leg of our adventure – into the tribal lands of the Shirian Indians. 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. Their habitat is limited to the upper Paragua river banks and jungles 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. We will have the extraordinary experience of sharing a few days with these isolated people, learning from the tribal elders their way of life whilst sleeping in makeshift hammock camps along the rivers edge. This is undoubtedly a very special tour that will appeal to the intrepid explorer, conditions are very basic and the going will be tough, but the rewards of meeting and interacting with the Shirian Indians are immeasurable.
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Country info
Area: 9,120,050 sq.km.
Population: 22,311,000.
Language: Mostly Spanish.
Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic.
Local time: GMT-4.
Electric Supply & Plugs: 110v AC 60Hz. Type A and B.
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Electric Supply & Plugs
For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Maps & Books
Recommended Maps: International Travel Maps, Venezuela (ISBN 0921463596) TM Venezuela 1:1,750,000; Rutas de Venezuela; 1:1500,000 (Lagoven).
Recommended Books: ‘In Trouble Again’ by Redmond O’Hanolan,‘The Lost World’ by Sir Authur Conan Doyle. ‘Islands in Time’ by George Uwe; ‘Journey to Angel Falls’ by Ruth Robertson; ‘Neotropical Companion’ by Jon Kricher.
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