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Angel Falls

From Wikitravel

[+] Understand
Get in
Fees/Permits
Get around
Do
Eat
Drink
[+] Sleep
- Lodging

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A view of Angel Falls on an August morning

Angel Falls, called Parekupa-meru by the indigenous people, is in Canaima National Park of Venezuela.

[edit] Understand

Angel Falls or Salto Ángel is the world's highest waterfall, dropping a total of 978m from the summit of the Auyan Tepuy, and with an 807m uninterrupted drop.

[edit] History

In 1937 pilot Jimmy Angel landed on the Auyan Tepuy in search of gold. Unfortunately his plane got stuck and he wasn't able to take off. After 11 days he made it to Kamarata. His plane was later recovered after 33 years, and can be seen in front of the airport at Ciudad Bolivar.

[edit] Landscape

Angel Falls is situated in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela. The area is filled with grasslands, with some dense jungle along the course of the rivers and at the base of the numerous tepuis, or flat-topped mountains. Angel falls is located on the side of the largest of the Venezuela's tepuis known as Auyan-tepui.

[edit] Flora and fauna

There is an incredible variety of tropical wildlife in the area, including monkeys, poison arrow frogs and hundreds of species of orchids. Aside from the monkeys, mammals in the area are generally difficult to spot but include giant anteaters, armadillos, porcupines, three-toed sloths, otters, jaguars, pumas, tapirs and capybaras.

[edit] Climate

Tropical, with frequent rainstorms. The driest time of year - when the Falls may be just a trickle - is from December to April.

[edit] Get in

It is possible to charter a plane to Canaima from Caracas, Margarita Island, or Ciudad Bolivar airports , and then organize a tour to the falls on your own. In practice, the simplest thing to do is sign up for a tour that takes care of the details. If you book a tour from your home country, it will be more expensive. Similarly, booking a tour from Caracas will cost more. It is cheapest to book a tour from the airport in Ciudad Bolivar. Nearly all the Angel Falls tours operate out of this city, and their prices include the cost of a plane that flies from Ciudad Bolivar to Canaima. Expect to pay between Bs. 500,000 and 600,000 (approximately US$ 250) for a three-day. two-night tour that brings you to the falls. Most tours booked on your own from Ciudad Bolivar airport will include a fly-by of the falls on the way to Canaima camp.

A typical tour will include the flight to Canaima, and then three days of meals and (very basic) accommodation at the various campsites along the river towards the falls. The trip involves several hours in a dugout canoe and a few hours hiking through gallery forest to the main viewpoint below the falls. Most tour guides speak Spanish with limited English.

[edit] Fees/Permits

Angel Falls is deep within the National Park. When first entering the park (at the airport in Canaima) one must pay the park entrance fee of Bs. 8000 (US$ 4). Visitor flying out to Canaima National Park must also prove they have received a yellow fever vaccination. Those who cannot prove this will be given the vaccination in the airport at Ciudad Bolivar.

[edit] Get around

The small settlement of Canaima is negotiable by foot. Trips up to the Falls, however, will be in a dugout canoe, or curiara. The 30-minute or so walk from the closest point on the river to the base of the Falls is not easy going because of large tree roots on the path and visitors are advised to take sports shoes or suchlike for this hike.

[edit][add listing] Do

The pool of water that collects beneath Angel Falls makes for a refreshing swim.

The trip towards the fall itself has many attractions. The boat rides and walks through the jungle offer a unique view of Venezuelan flora, fauna, and terrain. If the water flow is mild enough, you can swim in the small pool that forms below the falls.