The Lost World: Roraima to Angel Falls

Deep in the jungles of southern Venezuela, dramatic sandstone mesas called tepuis tower into the sky, rising like isolated islands above the lush, misty landscape. With Trip Leader extraordinaire Annie Hawkins, we set out for an adventurous trek to the top of the highest of these tepuis, Roraima (9,219'), whose famed summit plateau is an eerie 13-square-mile realm of twisted rock sculptures, multi-colored crystals, vast caves and canyons, and unique flora including endemic orchids and even carnivorous bromeliads. Roraima’s summit is truly an island forgotten in time and thought to have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World. We then descend for a journey by dugout canoe along the Rio Churún to the base of legendary Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world, plunging a sheer 2,600 feet from the summit of Auyantepui (8,068'). The lost world of Mount Roraima should be on the to-do list of any adventurous traveler—join us for the journey of a lifetime!

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Caracas / Puerto Ordaz / Santa Elena de Uairen

From Caracas, fly to Puerto Ordaz the continue by small aircraft over the vast expanses of Canaima National Park in southeastern Venezuela. The plane flies relatively low, making our aerial journey an exhilarating one with spectacular views of the dramatic tepuis (sheer-walled mesas), snaking rivers, and innumerable waterfalls that we are about to explore. Overnight at an ecolodge in Santa Elena de Uairen, a small town near the Brazil border.

Days 3-9
Roraima Trek

From Paraitepui, a Pemón village at 4,500 feet, trek across the rolling, open Gran Sabana grasslands with the majestic silhouette of the tepui of Mt. Roraima (9,219') rising before us. We then make a steep ascent on a rock trail to our base camp close to the vertical 1,500-foot wall of Mt. Roraima. The trail to the summit is steep, leading through cloud forest beneath tumbling waterfalls. Once on the summit plateau, we have two full days to explore this extraordinary environment of exquisite rock gardens, swirling mists, strange sandstone sculptures, caverns, rock formations that look like miniature castles surrounded by small lakes, and intriguing endemic botanical wonders. A steep descent brings us to the Rio Tek on Day 8. On Day 9, we hike to the village of Paraitepui and transfer back to Santa Elena.

Days 10-12
River Expedition to Angel Falls

Boarding curiaras (motorized dugouts), we navigate the Akanan River, then join the mighty Carrao River, contouring around majestic Auyantepui amid dense rainforest sparkling with blue morpho butterflies. We follow the Churún River upstream to reach the ethereal setting of Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. Overnight in camps.

Days 13-16
Canaima / Caracas

We head downriver to the port of Ucaima, enjoy an excursion to beautiful Canaima Lagoon, overnight in Caracas, and depart on Day 16.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 4+, according to our trip grading system. This 7-day trek across the savanna to the top of Mt. Roraima is challenging, with rugged terrain and altitudes of 5,000 of 9,200 feet. Along the way, the trail can be very muddy and there are three rivers to cross on foot. On the day we hike to the summit plateau of Roraima, the trail is very steep, wet, and covered with roots and rocks. The porters will carry the group’s sleeping bags and camping equipment, with trip members carrying just a daypack, but please note that this is a very strenuous trek. When we are on top of Roraima for two days, although the terrain is “flat,” the hiking is not easy because we encounter streams, rocks, deep cracks, and mud. The descent from Roraima is very steep with an altitude loss of around 5,400 feet in one day. Our camps are very simple, without the usual amenities we would have on a Himalayan or Andean trek (although tables and stools are provided). Everyone should be prepared for seven days of hardy outdoor living, and be in excellent health and physical condition for the trip; previous hiking experience and a sense of adventure is a plus.

On the Roraima trek, it can be hot and sunny or rainy and cool. There is a damp and cool cloud forest around the base of Roraima, and the summit is often rainy and in more exposed areas—windy and cold (from 32ºF to 40ºF at night) on the summit.

On our river expedition to Angel Falls, we travel on open, blackwater rivers in a motorized dugout canoe. The weather can be hot or rainy. Be prepared with a sun hat, sunscreen, and lightweight long-sleeve shirt and pants. Rain (sometimes heavy downpours) is not uncommon so have your rain gear ready. On several occasions, we may have to step out of the canoe and allow the boatmen to maneuver through a difficult rapid.

Explanation of Trip Levels