Canaima National Park and Angel falls - Venezuela
This Canaima park is the most popular park of Venezuela (just 2nd largest in area after Parima-Tapirapeco park)
along the border between Guyana and Brazil in south-east part of the country
covering over 3 million hectares in Guayana region south of the Orinoco River.
Roughly 65% of the park is covered by tepui (table mountain) formations.
It mostly gets the fame due to the popular
Angel falls, the world's highest free-falling, freshwater waterfall at 979
meters, they drop from the Auyantepui, or Devil's Mountain, with an 807 meters
of uninterrupted drop. Angel falls are
located about 5 hours' ride in a dugout canoe upstream from Canaima village. The
park was established in 1962 and became a world heritage site. The park
initially had an area of one million hectares which was later increased to three
million hectares, in order to safeguard the watershed functions of its river
basins, making it among the largest parks in the world.
The
park has spectacular scenery and vast natural resources. The name "Canaima
National Park"
comes from the Pemón people who inhabit the area, and means spirit of evil.
How to Reach the Canaima National Park and Angel Falls:
Flights to Canaima village start from Ciudad Bolivar or Caracas or
Margarita Island.
Most visitors take a two-day trip by air which initially reaches the village of Canaima, where you will do a night stay. This village is located about 40 miles from the Angel falls.
After that visitors need to reach the Canaima Lagoon which can either be reached by a small airplane or via the Orinoco river using the boat, then you will hike from lagoon to the Angel falls view/vista point.
Angel falls are located about 5 hours' ride in a dugout canoe upstream from Canaima village. Carmina lagoon is a tea/tannin coloured lagoon with six
stunning waterfalls.
There are other ways to reach Angel falls, which are relatively less preferred by most tourists.
The area is filled with grasslands and dense jungle along the course of the
rivers. The park entrance fee is about $5 USD. Most people come here is for the
three day, two night trip to the base of Angel Falls. Most of the attractions
inside Canaima can only be visited with a guided tour..
Best time to go:
The Angel falls are most spectacular during the rainy season, therefore during
December and April which is the dry season you will not be able to see the full
power of the Angel falls at the same time the view of Auyantepui mountain may be hazy
as it is often covered with fog/clouds. It is usually cheapest to book your tour
from Ciudad Bolivar airport if you do not plan to book in advance.
Popular Tourist Attractions:
Laguna de Canaima, Salto Hacha (waterfall), Salto El Sapo (waterfall), Carrao
River, Mayupa rapids, Salto Yuri (waterfall), Cucurital River jungle and
grasslands, Isla de la Orquìdea (orchid Island), Churún River, Angel Falls, Kavac and Kamarata. Tourists can travel to these sites by air, departing from
Maiquetía, Ciudad Bolìvar, Puerto Ordaz, and Margarita. The camps are well built
and provide lodging and meals. It is possible to take excursions by river or go
by plane into nearby areas.
About Angel Falls / History:
The Angel falls are named after Jimmy Angel, a barnstorming bush pilot from Missouri who has become a modern legend. Jimmy Angel first saw the falls in 1933 while searching for a valuable ore bed. His plane sits in the Aviation Museum in Maracay. Daily flights via Puerto Ordaz connect Canaima airstrip with the major cities of Venezuela. The airstrip is a short jeep-train ride from nearby Lodges. A minimum of two days-one night is necessary to have the opportunity to fly-by the Angel falls.
Native Indian Communities in Canaima National Park:
The traditional inhabitants of the south-east of Venezuela, including Canaima National Park, are the Pemon indigenous people, part of the Carib linguistic group. These Pemon Indian communities belong to the Arekuna, Taurepane and Kamaracoto families. Nearby, west of the National Park live the Yekuana of Maquiritate Indians.
Flora and fauna
The park's wildlife is extremely diverse, depending on such factors as altitude, type of plant life and productivity of the ecosystems.
Birds
More than 500 bird species have been recorded from the park. Red and green Macaw, Red billed Macaw, Musician Wren, Great Kiskadee, Bananaquit, King Vulture, Paradise Tanager, fiery-shouldered Parakeets, Brown-throated Parakeets, White Bellbird, Guianan Cock of the Rock, Velvet Browned Brillant, Capunchin bird, sooty-capped Hermit, Blue-cheeked Parrot and others.
Reptiles
Anolis auratus, Paleosuchus trigonatus, iguanas, Geochelone denticulata, Tropidurus torquatus.
Plant Life
One third of the plants are found nowhere else on the planet. The varied climate, different altitudes, and geographical diversity have produced exuberant vegetation in Canaima National park. The most characteristic elements in the park are forests and grasslands, but gallery forests along the rivers, grasslands spotted with mirity palms and tepuy vegetation are also plentiful.
Mammals
More than 100 species of mammal have been recorded. Collared anteater,guianan squirrels, red bracket deer, three-toed sloth, crab eating fox, long tailed weasel, tapir, paca, wgitw-lipped peccary, agouti, puma, common opossums, bush dog, brown capuchin monkey, howler monkey, night monkey.
