Sagar

Hi All, <BR><BR> I'm a first time traveller to South America and am a little confused and need some advice about visiting Angel Falls. <BR><BR>There are four of us arriving in Caracas in July for two weeks. <BR><BR>We've allocated 3 day's for our visit to the Falls (is this enough?) Can anyone recommend a good tour that involves more than just flying past the falls? (A small hike? Maybe a boat trip?)(is this really exoensive?)<BR> <BR>Part of our tour is to Margarita Island too, can anyone recommend any apartments, where the four of us can stay.<BR><BR>Please Help, look forward to hearing from you soon!<BR><BR>PS: I was really worried by some of the postings regarding Caracas.

Meredith

You may want to take a look at the website for LostWorldadventures.com We got some cheap tickets via Delta & took a 1 week trip to Caracas. From what we read Caracas itself was not a really great place to tour or stay. We did not really want a packaged 'tour' but did want some assistance in getting from Caracas to Canaima & Los Roques (Nifty quieter island w/nice snorkling) & back 2 Caracas for the return flight. Really loved the trip & the accomodations. Strongly suggest checking w/Denise @ lostworld. We managed to get a little 1/2 day tour of a little bit of Caracas & and nearby town for crafts/souveniers. Good luck & happy touring !

Live From Caracas

www.narconews.com

xxxx

Hit a nerve name caller. I like to web page because of the reporters credibility which the Paid media has less and less of these days.<BR><BR>Another good site for people travelling the third world is Common Dreams.<BR><BR>Here is a link to a recent article.<BR>Corporate interests the third world, and how it grinds the wheel of povery.<BR><BR>Where money paid for gas and minerals is not made transparent and is embezzled by the Elite. Then again look at America and Enron. You will get the picture.<BR><BR>http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0620-05.htm

J.J.

"LONDON While oil, gas and minerals are by far the largest sources of state revenue for the world's poorest nations, these resources, which should help fund development and sustainable economic growth, all too often turn out to be a curse, leading to increased poverty, child malnutrition and civil conflict. <BR><BR>At the heart of this paradox is the secrecy surrounding payments by oil and mining companies to governments - a lack of transparency that provides the perfect cover for corruption and embezzlement by ruling elites. <BR><BR>That is why Global Witness, 30 other international organizations and the international financier and philanthropist George Soros last week initiated an international campaign calling for legislation requiring companies to disclose payments they make to governments for the resources that they use. <BR><BR>Global Witness is devoted to exposing links between the exploitation of natural resources and the funding of conflict and corruption. The organization's work in the world's conflict zones has highlighted the double standards of the world's resource extraction industries and the dispossession that results." <BR><BR>There is more.<BR>Good Piece.

gracie

There you go....back with the politics !! You guys just can't help it can you?<BR><BR>Sagar, my mother went to Canaima 2 years ago in a 3 day tour. From the camp in Canaima she went to angel falls in a tour which leaves very early in the morning and combines boat and hiking. This tour only took a day but I know there are other tours in which you can spend the night near the falls camping. <BR>You can book the tour when you arrive at Canaima.<BR>I would really avoid the fly by if I were you. The area around the falls is cloudy most of the day because of all the water vapor so a good view is not guaranteed and the flight can ge VERY bumpy and nauseating. When my mom took it, most of the passengers on the plane were barfing their guts out!<BR><BR>The excursion is the best way to go in order to experience the awe of standing near the falls! And on the way back through the Carrao River the tour guides make a stop at El Sapo falls which are also very very impressive since you can walk through the inside of the falls.<BR>This is a standard tour which you will find through any tour operator.<BR><BR>My mom stayed at the Hoturvensa Camp..very good, nice rooms, fairly good food and nicely located in front of a lagoon with some falls on the background.<BR> <BR>In the past these trips to Canaima used to be very expensive but nowadays the rates have gone down somewhat and are really worth every penny.<BR><BR>Regarding Margarita Island, I don't know about apartment rentals but if you're looking for good hotels I would suggest the Margarita Hilton (top notch and a bit expensive), Margarita Lagunamar, Playa el Agua Beach Hotel, Dunes Hotel (far from town but with a nice beach), Marina Bay or the Bella Vista Hotel (located right in the center of town although the beach is not that nice)<BR><BR>If you're spending time in Margarita, don't miss a day trip to Coche Island. It's very near Margarita and the beaches are way better, also less tourists and less developed for tourism so you can enjoy the peace and quiet.<BR><BR>I wouldn't really visit Caracas that much, there's nothing really worthwhile for tourists so If I were you I would concentrate on these other destinations.<BR><BR>Gracie

Sagar

Thanx heaps Gracie.<BR><BR> Do you know how much your mother paid for her excursion? Or how much it would cost for one of the over night trips?<BR><BR>Thanks again.<BR><BR>Sagar

Ana

I checked an internet site called Despegar.com Venezuela to see if they had some packages. I found this one.<BR><BR>Day Excursion to los Roques:<BR><BR>2 days 1 nite- $ 260 + $ 50 tax. Includes airfare and lodging. This is the link for this offer:<BR><BR>http://www.ve.despegar.com/paginas/paquetesv4/paqpaquetedetalle.asp?IdPaquete=32702&Grupo=1&CodC iudad=CCS<BR><BR>Links to see the sights:<BR>http://www.venezuelatuya.com/tour/eng.htm<BR><BR>The Gran Sabana, is the Canaima area where The Angel Falls "Salto el Angel" is. We flew with Aerotuy and stayed at the Arecuna Camp. It's set atop a hill, with full view of the Caroni River. We recommend it fully. The best time to travel there is during the rainy season. May-June and Sept-Oct where the falls are the fullest. <BR>I don't recall the price and it was a long time ago.<BR><BR>First you arrive from Margarita Island to Canaima. Spend the day there and see the falls (Ukaima, Guadaima, Hacha and Golondrina are the major falls). Then, walking tour under the Sapo Fall and Sapito Fall. In the afternoon you take an airplane to the campsite where you spend the nite. Following day, excursion to other falls and the native villages on curiara boats. <BR>There are other excursions suchs as to the Kanavayen caves (lots of orchids, etc.). We would have stayed longer there. One of the best trips we've taken - EVER. <BR><BR>This is the link:<BR><BR>http://www.venezuelatuya.com/gransabana/eng.htm<BR><BR>There is a link in that page where you can check the prices.<BR><BR>Ana<BR>

Ana

http://www.venezuela-tuya.com/viajes/ofertaseng.htm<BR><BR>Special Offer.<BR>Departures from porlamar M-F, 8:30 am <BR><BR>Day 1: Flight porlamar-canaima, Over Flight to the Angel Falls. <BR>(if the weather conditions allow it) <BR>Excursion to Salto El Sapo, lunch and dinner and lodging in double or triple occupation. <BR><BR>Day 2: Breakfast and lunch at arekuna camp with local excursions*, flight back arekuna-porlamar.: <BR><BR>*local Excursions:<BR>- Navigation and walk to Las Babas Falls <BR>- Guided Walk through the forest <BR>- Visit to indigenous community <BR>- Walk to the Nonoy Tepuy <BR><BR>Note: All these trips are programmed directly at the camp according to the weather conditions.<BR> Trip of 2 Days / 1 Nights <BR>3 - Arekuna<BR><BR>Arekuna Camp<BR><BR>Cost per person:<BR><BR>Only US$ 425,oo per/person<BR><BR>Reservations click here<BR>

pat

3 yrs ago from Margarita Island guide from airport suggest a tour which included pickup to airport and from there to Camini National forest. on the way saw Angel Falls, walk thru jungle to some other falls and under those.Cost $200 PP include lunch. Sorry no detail, but ask around airport

Sagar

Hi everyone, got back from Venezuela last week, and have only just recovered from, what has to be, the best holiday I have ever been on.<BR><BR> Admitedly, arriving at Maiquita airport was scary, especially being warned by a soldier not to take any taxi otherwise you'll get shot! <BR><BR> We spent three days in Caracas, and ventured out mainly during the day, and rarely at night. We had a wonderful guide called Louisa who showed us around Caracas, and helped us to organise our trip to Canaima and Salto Angel.<BR><BR> After Caracas, we travelled by Coach to Ciudad Bolivar, where we stayed overnight at Hotel Gaeta. The next morning, bright and early we took a 6 seater plane to Canaima, where the adventure really began. <BR><BR> Angel Falls was amazing! And the boat rides up the rivers, the trekking and the walking made it even better. Staying in the middle of the rainforest with our food being cooked on an open fire made the experience really fantastic. I have to thank everyone at Bernal/Sapito Tours (especially Walter Bernal, Mario and our beatiful tour guide Joanna) for an adventure I will never forget.<BR><BR> After Canaima, we flew back to Ciudad Bolivar and took a taxi to Puerto La Cruz. Except we came across some very bad luck along the way! Our taxi driver decided to take a corner at 160kph... the car spun around several times and threatened to go over the side of a mountain, which would have been the end of not only our holiday, but possibly our lives! The only thing that saved our lives was the weight of 5 man and our luggage!<BR><BR> The damaged taxi's driver managed to take us as far as barcelona, where he dumped us on the street! But we were rescued by a helpful man by the name of Alfonso, who took us to our hotel in Puerto La Cruz. <BR><BR> The next day we took the ferry to Margarita island, where we took a well deserved break!<BR><BR>By the way, if you do go to Margarita Island, and your up for a good bit of clubbing, do not miss Senor Frogs on Saturday Night. It's the best club night I've ever had!!<BR><BR> If anyone needs any questions answered, I'll be happy to try and help. <BR><BR>P.S Thanks for your help Gracie, and especially Ana.

Ana

Sagar:<BR>So glad you had a good stay. Too bad you had that incident travelling into Puerto la Cruz. Some drivers can be reckless, and there is some pretty fast driving in VZ, not quite like Italy, but close. <BR>I hope Noel reads this thread, since he is planning his trip at the end of August, so this first hand recent info. would be so helpful.<BR>Did you go use the venezuela tuya or the Despegar links? Which were the most helpful? Do you have contacts for the agencies you booked?<BR>Thanks for your input<BR><BR>Ana