Canaima 4 (Quito to Caracas)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive Quito

Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. Your tour begins in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. At 2,850 metres above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world after La Paz. It was founded in 1534 by the Spanish and was originally an Inca stronghold. The city is situated in a hollow at the base of the live Volcano Pichincha and the whole length of the city can be seen from atop Panecillo Hill where the enormous Statue of the Virgin of Quito stands. The city has two main sections – the old and the new. The new is the main commercial area with lots of good restaurants and bars, whereas the old city is the colonial area in the centre, with steep calles (cobblestone streets), busy plazas and Indian markets. The Equatorial Monument is just 23 kilometres north of the city, and also houses an excellent museum that displays clothing, other wares and photos of the varied and colourful Ecuadorian people. If you want to have time to explore Quito properly you may want to arrive a day or two early.

Day 2 to 8

Misahualli - Amazon Basin - Banos - Ingapirca

Departing Quito we drive over the Eastern Cordillera to descend into the humid Amazon Basin on the banks of the Rio Napo, towards our destination of Misahualli. There is an optional excursion from Misahuallí where we can take motorised dugout canoes downriver to enter the jungle by foot, led by a local guide who provides details about the plants, creatures and people of the region. He will show us how to find hidden food and water in trees, teach us about medicinal plants and even introduce us to the local monkeys! We stay overnight in rustic huts made of bamboo and leaves before travelling on from the jungle towards Baños. Along the edge of the rainforest we ascend back into the Andes along a spectacular route to Baños, a health resort renowned for its hot thermal springs. Besides soaking in the hot pools, there are paths where you can walk or ride horses into the hills, or for the more athletic, there is the opportunity to go bridge swinging, canyoning, white water rafting and mountain biking (optional). Those more inclined for a bit of quiet time can spend their time relaxing in cafés or buying souvenirs. This is the best place to buy beautifully painted balsa wood animals. Perhaps you could have a massage or try your hand at salsa dancing. Heading south we visit the Inca and Cañari ruins at Ingapirca, the country's most important archaeological site, which survived the invasion of the Spanish conquerors more or less intact. The pre-Inca Cañari people built the original structures and you can still see the temple / observatory area called Cashaloma, where they worshipped the moon. The fortress complex has a central platform where the Incas worshipped the sun.

Day 9 to 16

Cuenca Punta Sal - Lambayeque - Huanchaco - Chan Chan - Lima

We continue on to Ecuador’s third largest town, Cuenca, a colonial market community founded in 1557. The town’s beautiful cobblestone streets, open plazas and whitewashed buildings with ironwork balconies has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status, although it is most famous for being the place where the original Panama hat was created. According to legend, the hat was made world famous by the people building the Panama Canal in the early 20th century. When American president Theodore Roosevelt wore this hat to visit the canal the hats suddenly became very popular, were imported on mass and have been associated with Panama ever since. It’s possible to visit a factory where you can see the entire hat-making process. Cuenca is also the place to buy cheap, high quality gold and silver. After the banana plantations in the tropical lowlands, we cross into Peru and quickly the landscape changes to arid desert where vegetation is sparse. We pass through villages with fishermen working with their small hand nets, and onwards through the oil region of the derricks pumping out ‘black gold’. We camp at the beach of Punta Sal for three nights before entering the Sechura Desert, where the barren land is irrigated to cultivate fields of rice, sugarcane and other cereal crops. Today we stop off en route at the Lambayeque museum - one of Peru’s finest museums- displaying artefacts found at the tomb of the Lord of Sipan, one of the richest archaeological finds of the 20th century. Before continuing on to the small coastal town of Huanchaco, where the fishermen still ride the surf in reed boats is where we offer you the opportunity to rent one of these reed boats for a paddle or race through the waves! Our next destination is Huanchaco where fishermen still ride the surf in reed boats. You have the opportunity to rent one of these boats for a paddle or race through the waves. From here you have the option to visit the largest mud city in the world at Chan ChĂĄn, which was built by ChimĂș Kings. There are many other sites that you can visit including the Moche-built pyramids known as Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna (temples of the sun and moon). Don’t miss the excellent Cassinelli Museum in Trujillo which houses one of the best private collections of pottery (including some interesting erotic pottery) as well as a mummified baby in a bell jar. We enjoy another free day in Huanchaco before making our way to the capital, stopping over at SechĂ­n, another important ruin with temples dating back to 1500BC, with over 500 carvings gruesomely depicting warriors and their captives, then again at Paramonga, a well preserved temple by the side of the highway. From the Paramonga ruins we continue travelling to Lima, the capital of Peru.

Day 17 to 22

Lima - Pisco - Paracas Ballestas Islands - Huacachina - Nazca - Puerto Inca

We enjoy two free days in the busy city of Lima. Founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima was the capital of the conquistadors until it claimed independence in the early 19th century. Here you will find some of the finest museums in South America such as the Gold Museum and the Museum of the Inquisition, to name but a few (optional). Our hotel is in close proximity to the main Plaza de Armas, which houses the Cathedral, Municipal Palace and Presidential Palace where the changing of the guard can be seen every day at 12 noon. Those who have the stomach for it can visit the Catacombs below the San Francisco Church, where many thousands of bones can be seen. There are also many markets in Lima, possibly the best being in the district of "La Marina".   Continuing south we arrive at Pisco. Peru’s national drink, the ‘pisco sour’, was named after this town. We spend the night in Pisco where you will have the opportunity to try some wonderful local seafood. We will travel by boat from Paracas to the Ballestas Islands the following morning. The trip takes us past the giant “Candelabra” figure engraved on the side of a mountain, which is believed to be linked to the legendary Nazca lines. The Ballestas Islands are teeming with over 150 species of bird life (including penguins, cormorants, boobies and pelicans), are home to thousands of sea lions and boast some amazing rock formations. Although it is not possible to set foot on the islands, you will experience the magnificent sight and sounds of the sealife and maybe even spot seals and dolphins playing around the boat. Back onshore we will head deep into the desert towards the Huacachina oasis where you have the chance to try your hand sand-boarding or a ride in a dune buggy down the enormous dunes, which is a lot of fun. The brave can go for a dip in the murky lagoon (said to contain therapeutic properties). In the afternoon we will continue on to Nazca, an oasis town famous for the strange parallel lines and geometrical figures etched into the desert floor, thousands of years ago. The unexplained Nazca Lines include illustrations of a dog, a monkey, a hummingbird, a condor, a spider and even what looks to be a spaceman! The designs are thought to have been made by three different groups of people: the Paracas (900 – 200BC), the Nazca (200BC - 600AD) and then new migrants from Ayacucho around 630AD. Although there is a viewing tower, these strange designs can only be fully appreciated from the air. You can take a fascinating flight (optional) over the lines and shapes. You can also take optional tours to visit the underground aqueducts, gold mines and ceramic shops. We’ll have a chance to visit the extraordinary Chauchilla Cemetery where you can see the ancient mummies which still have skin and hair intact. In the evening we travel by luxury overnight bus to Arequipa. On our way out of town, towards Puerto Inca, we visit the incredible Chauchilla cemetery. The sites have been excavated so you can see ancient mummies with skin and hair still intact. We travel along the rugged coastline to Puerto Inca, the Inca port which connected the coast with Cuzco in the mountains. Just five minutes’ walk away are the preserved ruins, which once stored sea produce for trading with wares brought down from the Andes. In Inca times, messages and fresh sea fish were sent 240 kilometres to Cuzco using a series of relay runners each doing 7 kilometres, taking 24 hours to complete the journey.

Day 23 to 27

Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Cuzco

We wind our way into the foothills of the Andes to the stunning colonial city of Arequipa, overshadowed by the massive volcano "El Misti". This city has some of the best examples of colonial architecture and the main plaza is quite magnificent, decorated with archways and dominated by the splendid cathedral, which was completed in 1612. Although an earthquake in 2001 damaged the cathedral it has not diminished any of the splendour of this charming square. The other main attraction here is the vast Santa Catalina Convent (optional). Situated in a maze of cobbled streets, cloisters and other decorative buildings, it has only been open to the public since 1970 and it is certainly well worth visiting. Enjoy a free day in Arequipa to explore at your leisure. Our next destination is the Colca Canyon, the deepest in the world. The drive takes us through a high Andean desert, with amazing scenery all the way. With luck, we will see a condor or two soaring out of the canyon from our vantage point, 1,200m above the canyon floor! With wingspans of over three metres these birds make a spectacular sight – it won’t be hard to imagine why the Incas believed that a condor carried the sun into the sky every morning! If you’re very lucky you may see herds of wild vicuñas, a relative of the llama which were hunted almost into extinction for the highly-prized silky wool in its undercoat, but have experienced a revival as they are now protected by law. In the evening we have time to soak in the thermal springs near Chivay, where we spend the night. A lengthy drive crossing the Andean flats takes us to the fabled old Inca capital of Cuzco. Originally settled by Incas between 1200 and 1500, this marvellous city was officially discovered by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Cuzco is situated at 3,310 metres and has a population of around 300,000 people, mostly of Indian descent. Numerous churches were built by the Spanish colonialists over old Inca temples and using their stonework, a method of recycling used in the construction of many other buildings in Cuzco. The main square is called the Plaza de Armas, which has the cathedral on one side and the church of La Compañia de Jesus on the other. The colonial arcades, which occupy the remainder of the plaza, are full of restaurants and shops. There are also many fascinating markets in Cuzco, the most famous being San Pedro where they sell all kinds of textiles and artisan merchandise. Enjoy a day to yourself, wander the streets, visit the many markets and soak up the friendly atmosphere. The following day you have free time if you wish to visit some of the nearby Inca ruins: Kenko, Tambo Machay and Puka Pukara. Up on a hill overlooking Cuzco is the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, which has the largest Inca stonework of all. This is where the Inti Raymi Festival takes place each year around the 24th June.

Day 28 to 29

Sacred Valley

On our full day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas; we take a trip up to a hill overlooking Cuzco which is where we will explore the ancient archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, which has the largest and most impressive Inca stonework of all. We continue on to the Pisac ruins perched on a hill high in the mountains and visit the famous Indian market of the same name, in the valley below. This is another great place to buy textiles, pottery and jewellery and admire the fantastic view. After some time at both the ruins and the markets, we move down the valley to the temple fortress of Ollantaytambo, with its enormous terraces stepping down the hillside. Here we will spend the night and those who are trekking the Inca Trail will have a briefing to prepare for the next few days and there will be an early departure the following morning. For those who have chosen not to trek the trail a tour to Machu Picchu by train is included. The 3 other days are spent in Cuzco where you have free time to enjoy this great city. There are plenty of other optional excursions available including white water rafting down the Urubamba River, horse riding through native villages.

Day 29 to 32

Inca Trail (or free time) Machu Picchu

Please ask your agent or download our ‘Inca Trail Information Sheet’ or ‘Lares Trek Sheet’ for a day to day itinerary of your trek. The Lost City of Machu Picchu was originally completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs. Located high above the fast flowing Urubamba River, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation that will simply take your breath away. The ruins were only discovered by the outside world in 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham found them while looking for another “lost city” called Vilcabamba. Due to their isolation many of the buildings are still quite intact and you can’t help but admire Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”), which towers above the ruins. It is a hard climb to the top of the mountain (it takes about 50 minutes) but you are rewarded with spectacular views over the whole site.

Day 33 to 34

Cuzco

After the Inca Trail we have two free days in Cuzco where you can spend your time exploring this wonderful town. Of course there is much to see during the daylight hours but once the sun goes down, Cuzco’s lights come on and around the plaza the nightlife is spectacular with bars, nightclubs and every type of restaurant imaginable.

Day 35 to 40

Puno - Lake Titicaca Uros, Amantani and Taquile Islands - La Paz

Time to leave the excitement of Cuzco with an early start, destined for the little town of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The journey takes us alongside majestic snow-capped mountains before reaching the La Raya pass at 4,321 metres. Here we’ll pass by a research station, which studies high altitude animals such as llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. At 3,855 metres above sea level, Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. At the Bay of Puno we’ll visit the floating reed Islands of the Uros Indians to learn about their unique way of life and ride in a traditional reed boat made of totora plants, which also form a staple part of the Indians’ diet and medicine. We’ll then make our way to Amantani Island to spend the night in the homes of native families. This beautiful traditional island is home to Aymara Indians and is situated in the centre of Lake Titicaca. The following morning we’ll stopover at Taquile, where the men walk around knitting typical woollen hats, while the women tend the fields. We return to Puno in time to do more shopping. We cross into Bolivia, to the highest capital city in the world, La Paz, at 3,636 metres. Just about every building is built on some sort of hill, so sightseeing can literally take your breath away! Our hotel is close to the fascinating Indian markets including the ‘witches market’, so named because local bowler-hatted women sell dead cats, llama foetuses (these are placed under the buildings to keep evil spirits away) and other strange potions. The main square is the Plaza Murillo, where a president of the Republic was once lynched from a lamppost. One of the evenings here can be spent at a peña listening to locals playing “Andino” music on zampoñas and charangos. There are also many optional excursions available. You might like to visit the Moon Valley with its strange rock formations shaped by the weather or take in the incredible views from Mount Chacaltaya and the world's highest ski resort at 5,221 metres. Another fantastic excursion is to the emerald green area of Coroico, the gateway to the Bolivian jungle region and a great place to see sub-tropical vegetation and plants. En-route you will cross a 5,000 metre high pass before descending to 1,300 metres on narrow mountain roads bordered by sheer drops. The excursion to Coroico can also be done by mountain bike, as it is downhill nearly all the way and very exhilarating, but not for the fainthearted! While in Coroico you can have lunch by a swimming pool and admire the snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Day 41 to 48

Potosi - Salar de Uyuni - Humahuaca Canyon - Salta

From La Paz across the Altiplano to Potosí, the highest city of its size on earth at 4,070 metres, with a population of 110,000 people. The history of Potosí, its fame and splendour, tragedy and horror, is closely linked to silver. The city was founded in 1545 soon after the discovery of silver in a nearby hill, the Cerro Rico (or “rich hill”). The veins proved to be so rich that the mines quickly became the World's most prolific. Silver from Potosí underwrote the Spanish economy, particularly its monarchy's extravagance, for over 2 centuries. (In Spanish there is still a saying, valer un potosí, "to be worth a fortune".) Millions of Indians, and later, African slaves, were to work in the mines where conditions were so appalling and dangerous that miners died in astronomical numbers, either in accidents or from silicosis pneumonia. During the three centuries of colonial rule, it is estimated that eight million Africans and Indians died in the Potosí mines. Reminders of the grand colonial city are still evident in the narrow streets, formal balconied mansions and ornate churches. We offer you the opportunity to visit one of the mines (optional) where you can experience something of the hardship that miners still suffer. You soon realise that the mines are worked today in much the same way as they were under Spanish rule. From Potosí we travel to the small town of Uyuni in the south of Bolivia to visit, what is claimed to be the largest salt flat in the world, the Salar de Uyuni. It is brilliant white as far as the eye can see and is quite a surreal experience. Covering an estimated10,500 square kilometres, the salar contains about 10 billion tons of salt. Our excursion takes us to a hotel made entirely of salt and then to “Fish Island” where giant cacti and llama provide unique photo opportunities. We wind our way along the dusty roads of Bolivia, to the Argentine border passing through Tupiza and Villazon. Our first night in Northern Argentina is spent free-camping in the arid landscape of giant cacti and unusual rock coloration in the Humahuaca Canyon. Our next stop is the attractive city of Salta in the Lerma Valley, established in 1582. Salta features many old colonial buildings, a Cathedral with ancient statues of Cristo del Milagro (Miracle of Christ) and the Virgin Mary, which were brought over from Spain in 1592. You will also find pavement plaques, which will guide you on an interesting walking tour of the city.

Day 49 to 56

Gran Chaco Trinidad - Asuncion - Iguazu Falls

We pass through the town of Roque Saenz Peña as we make our way into the thorny scrublands of the Gran Chaco. This is also where the quebracho tree grows, the bark supplying much of the world with a red-brown tannin used for dying leather. Our journey takes us to Posadas through the Department of Mesopotamia, hopefully seeing the local cowboys (gauchos) and spotting rheas (South American emus) along the way. We cross the Rio ParanĂĄ into the poor country of Paraguay, destined for Trinidad. It is here that we visit the Jesuit Ruins, which were built in the early 1700s and give us a good idea of how the Jesuit missionaries lived. The Jesuits came to this area to convert the Guarani Indians to Catholicism, but were eventually expelled from South America by the Spanish in 1767. Subsequently we camp at Mantanial Park with its surrounding farmland and pristine swimming pool. The park is a great place to relax with optional horse riding available. We make our way to the capital, AsunciĂłn, a pleasant city with a hot and humid climate. Built on the banks of the Paraguay River, the streets are laid out in the Spanish grid pattern and lined with beautiful trees. AsunciĂłn is a good place to stock up on cameras and electronic equipment as it’s another duty free port! Along the riverfront are the Government and Municipal Palaces, the cathedral and a shantytown. There are a few markets where you can buy local handicrafts. We cross into Brazil at Foz do Iguaçu, where over 275 waterfalls cascade over a frontage two and a half kilometres wide. There is also an excellent bird park which we visit near the entrance to the falls. We visit both sides of the falls - from the Brazilian side there are panoramic views of the numerous falls and from the Argentine, you can walk through rainforest along catwalks directly above the falls and visit the "Devil's Throat" where fourteen falls drop with such force that there is always a massive cloud of spray overhead. For a bird’s eye view take the optional helicopter ride.

Day 57 to 66

Curitiba - Bertioga - Parati - Rio de Janeiro

We spend one night near the city of Curitiba, one of the most prosperous cities of Southern Brazil. Driving through rich farmlands before dropping from the high central plateau to the Atlantic we stop at the coastal town of Bertioga, which has a beautiful long beach just perfect for swimming and water sports. Following the stunning coastline north, we come to colonial Parati, an old pirate town with streets made of stone slabs designed to let the tide wash over and clean them. You have an option to go on a full day boat cruise around the bay with plenty of time for swimming in the turquoise waters and eating the fresh seafood. A short drive brings us to fantastic Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Here the many optional excursions on offer include Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado with its famous Statue of Christ – both offering great city views, a visit to the Botanical Gardens and the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Plus you should get ready for the world’s biggest party, THE RIO CARNIVAL! Please note that the 4 post-tour nights during Rio Carnival are not included in the tour price and it is essential to pre-book accommodation during this time if you want to experience the Carnival.

Day 67 to 71

Ouro Preto - Porto Seguro

We depart the fantastic city of Rio along the main autopista heading north into the interior destined for Ouro PrĂȘto. The whole area was once a mining region and this celebrated town was founded in 1711 and is a National Historic Monument. This quaint municipality has much colonial architecture, which gives an aura of times past. We camp en route as we make our way towards the beautiful coastal town of Porto Seguro. It has miles of palm-fringed beaches and bars, which are great places to sample delicious fresh fruit juices, or the Brazilian national cocktail of caiparinha (be careful of this one though). Just north of here is where the Portuguese, led by Pedro Alvares Cabral, first landed in 1500 and a cross marks the site. There is plenty of typical Bahian food available in Porto Seguro and you may want to try the delicious moqueca, a hot spicy seafood casserole. A great chance to top up the holiday tan or to experience some of the local nightlife.

Day 72 to 82

Salvador - Maceio - Olinda/Recife - Canoa Quebrada

Continuing up the coast we head for Salvador, we enter the city by ferry over the bay of all saints to the capital city of the state of Bahia. The centre of Salvador has many historic colonial buildings and dates back to 1549; it was the original Brazilian capital until 1763. It is situated on the bay of Todos os Santos, is the largest bay on the Brazilian coast and has 38 islands, some of which can be visited by ferry on an optional excursion. There are also enormous elevators going from the upper to the lower city, where the docks are situated. It is in this area, just outside Mercado Modelo, where we can find the Bahians practising the foot fighting sport of Capoeira, which was originally brought to Brazil by black Angolan slaves. Another key feature of Bahian life is the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomblé and you may be able to see one of their amazing ceremonies (please check locally for schedules of these optional tours), alternatively, we can enjoy the traditional music of the area with a strong emphasis towards drums in the evening. Our next stop is Maceio, where you have the opportunity to hire jangadas, typical Brazilian sailing boats. The boatmen can take you out to a natural reef swimming pool about two kilometres from the shore, where you can order cocktails and crayfish from the surrounding boats. Following the coast northwards our next exciting destination is the old colonial town of Olinda, which has a variety of historic churches, convents and monasteries, dating back to 1537. Nearby is Recife, a city built on three islands and joined by a series of bridges. Here an old prison has been converted into a cultural centre, which is not only impressive and interesting, but also houses some unique shops. If you want to see how the other half live in Brazil, then you can visit the rich suburb of Boa Viagem. Continuing our journey north we enter the State of Rio Grande do Norte, which is famous for its beautiful beaches. We have some short drives as we work our way up the coast with a stopover in Praia Pipa where we spend a couple of days enjoying the beach. With opportunities to either take a boat trip to see dolphins or maybe a dune buggy trip in the nearby sand dunes (Optional). Continuing our travels, we carry on to Canoa Quebrada, a fishing village built on a sand dune with long deserted beaches ideal for relaxation and swimming. For the more active there are two exciting optional activities: sandboarding down the dunes or horse riding along them. But the nightlife is not to be missed.

Day 83 to 87

Ubajara National Park - Sete Cidades National Park - Belem

Leaving the coast behind we head inland to our next stop at Ubajara National Park famous for its caves, pretty forest scenery and waterfalls. Here you can take a cable-car ride down into the caves, which also accords great views of the SertĂąo, scenery. About Âœ a day’s drive brings us to the Sete Cidades National Park, which contains strange 190 million year old rock formations, caverns and natural swimming pools. Sete Cidades Park was named after the ‘seven cities’ its rock formations are said to resemble. From here we travel along the rough roads of Brazil’s northern region to Bom Jardin and further to the mouth of the mighty Amazon River, to the port of BelĂ©m.

Day 88 to 94

Belem - Amazon River ferry - Manaus

BelĂ©m has fascinating waterfront markets, the Theatre of Peace (one of the largest theatres in Brazil), the excellent Goeldi Museum which houses a zoo, and there are many stalls in the markets for cheap and tasty meals. Another interesting spot to visit is the Bosque Rodrigo Alves, a public garden with many species of native flora as well as a small collection of animals. From BelĂ©m we cruise up the world’s longest river, the Amazon, which flows for 6,200 kilometres. We travel by riverboat for 1,368 kilometres into the jungle. At the start of this adventure the river is narrow as we travel through one of the hundreds of estuaries in the delta but then it widens to in excess of 10 kilometres and it is still around 8 kilometres wide at our destination, the city of Manaus. As we are going upriver, the boat stays mostly close to the shoreline to avoid the stronger currents coming downstream in the centre of the river. Accommodation on the riverboat is in hammocks (purchased locally for approx. US$20 to US$50) for 5 nights (depending on the river current) and usually, each boat has a bar on board plus all meals are included. A stop is generally made at the port city of Santarem. On board the river ferry is a great opportunity to relax, read books and enjoy incredible sunsets, keep an eye out for the pink dolphins on the first couple of days, before eventually arriving in Manaus with new Brazilian friends and fond memories of the mighty Amazon.

Day 95 to 100

Manaus - Amazon Jungle

The jungle city of Manaus used to be the world’s largest suppliers of rubber. During that heady era the famous Teatro Amazonas (Opera House) was built and completed in 1896. Manaus is our base for the opportunity to join an exciting optional excursion deep into the jungle by boat or dugout canoe in search of caiman, fresh water dolphins, jaguar and many other creatures of this threatened rainforest. The local guide on this trip will give you an in-depth view of the past and present day lives of the Amazonian Indians. He or she will also explain the importance of manioc (a root vegetable which must be processed to remove the cyanide) to the Indian economy and diet as well as explaining the uses of numerous other jungle plants. You will also go to the meeting point: where the black waters of the Rio Negro and the yellow-brown waters of the SolimĂ”es River run side by side for several kilometers, providing an excellent photo opportunity. We return to Manaus where we highly recommend a visit to the fascinating waterside markets.

Day 101 to 107

Boa Vista - La Gran Sabana - Santa Elena - Ciudad Bolivar - Canaima - Angel Falls - Caracas

Rejoining our expedition vehicle we drive due north through the jungle with a photo stop at the Equator Monument. We gradually leave the jungle behind, as we reach the drier climate near the city of Boa Vista. Continuing north, we cross into Venezuela, a country renowned for its large oil reserves. This is savannah country, dotted with hundreds of mountains and the whole region is known as La Gran Sabana. This area was totally inaccessible until the 1970’s when a road was built. It was finally completed in 1990 and is now one of the best roads in the country. Santa Elena is our next stop. Travelling through the Sabana Grande region, which has an abundance of delightful waterfalls, lagoons and flat-topped mountains called tepuyes. Throughout the park you can see many local PemĂČn Indian settlements in this sparsely populated land, which covers an area of 30,000 square kilometres. You will never forget the beauty of this “lost world” region. After passing through this beautiful area we arrive to Ciudad Bolivar on the Orinoco River; this town was once called Angostura and is where Angostura Bitters originate. It is also where SimĂłn BolĂ­var was declared President of Gran Colombia. This interesting little colonial town is our base for the optional excursion to the Angel Falls. From Ciudad Bolivar we fly south to the small village of Canaima where there are many interesting waterfalls flowing into a black lagoon - the colour emanating from the tannin of the local vegetation. From here you can fly over the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls. The falls, named after an American pilot, Jimmy Angel, who discovered them in 1937, drop nearly 1,000 metres from the flat-topped mountain called Auyan-Tepuy to the jungle floor below. From here we return to Ciudad Bolivar before heading north again where we climb the steep highway into Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, which is 960 metres above sea level and has one of South America's most pleasant climates. It is a very modern city with an efficient metro system, which goes from our hotel area into the city centre in minutes. Caracas has many lovely plazas, parks, museums and impressive buildings, it was the birthplace of the Liberator, SimĂłn BolĂ­var, whose presence is still seen everywhere. Because of the climate, there are many outdoor cafĂ©s and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by.

Day 108 to 108

Depart Caracas

Our tour concludes after breakfast.