Canaima National Park consists of jungles in Venezuela and is a destination of isolated splendour. Getting to Canaima however, isn't exactly a cake walk. After flying into Venezuela, travellers will have to reach Canaima from Ciudad Bolivar or Caracas. The Angel Falls are invariably the highlight of the trip. You can either charter a small aircraft for an aerial fly-by or sail on the river to the bottom of the Falls.
There are some exciting options for getting around Canaima like sailing in a dugout canoe or travelling overhead in small aircraft.
Canaima Transportation GuideGetting to Canaima
By air
Ciudad Bolivar and Ciudad Guayana are the two Orinoco towns from where flights to the Gran Sabana and Canaima National Park are available. Ciudad Bolivar is a better option for transport arrangements, being more tourism-friendly. Large aircrafts are available to fly to Canaima and Santa Elena de Uairen, while six-seater planes fly travellers to missionary settlements and other small towns.
Caracas is another base from where flights go to several Orinoco towns. From both Caracas and Margarita, direct flights with Avior and LTA operate to Canaima. There are no direct flights to Santa Elena from Caracas and passengers will have to change flights. At Ciudad Bolivar's airport, tourists can get to see the salvaged aircraft flown by Jimmie Angel, the eccentric American pilot who first sighted Angel Falls in 1933.
For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.
By road
If you're travelling by road to Canaima National Park, take the main highway (BR-174) connecting Ciudad Bolivar and Ciudad Guayana to Brazil. Regular buses ply on this route.
You can also take the overland route from the Orinoco to Canaima village. However, there are no organized Canaima transport services available and you'll probably have to look around for a four-wheel drive vehicle to get you to Canaima.
Whichever option you choose, do pick up supplies at the Orinoco as these may be expensive or hard to come by in the Gran Sabana.
Getting around Canaima
From Venezuela to Brazil, for transportation in Canaima the main road traverses the park's eastern sector, passing by several waterfalls and scenic spots. This is also the way to access Roraima Tepui. From Santa Elena de Uairen, 8 km from the Brazil border, travellers can organize various tours or pick up supplies.
Canaima village itself is small enough to get around on foot. To reach the Falls, visitors will have to sail on the river in a dugout canoe, locally called a curiara. The half-hour walk from the nearest point on the river to the bottom of the Falls is pretty arduous thanks to the enormous tree roots growing on the path. It's essential that appropriate sports or walking shoes be worn on this hike.
If you're hiring a car for your transport in Canaima in Puerto Ordaz (Ciudad Guayana) or Ciudad Bolivar, try getting one with a high clearance. Some places like Roraima Tepui are controlled by native groups and it's mandatory for visitors to hire a local guide who'll escort them through the region. While rates aren't fixed, these guides can be expensive.
From the north-south highway, two roads break away to other parts of the region. One leads to the Kavanayen mission, with the beautiful Chinak Meru waterfalls en route. The other road goes west from Santa Elena to the tiny, fascinating village of El Pauji and further on to Icabaru, a mining town.
You can opt to visit these places with transport organized at Santa Elena. If you're more intrepid or on a shoestring budget, there's always the option of hitch-hiking. Many places can be reached by small aircraft, at surprisingly low fares, approximately $50 - $60 per leg, a great way to tour the Sabana. Small airstrips are located at Santa Elena, Icabaru, Wonken, El Pauji, Kavanayen, Canaima and Kamarata.
