According to Petwithsupplies.com, the village of Canaima is located in the east of Venezuela at the northwestern edge of the country’s most popular protected area, the Canaima National Park. Canaima is the base for most excursions in the park. Canaima National Park covers most of the vast Guiana Highlands, which covers about a third of Venezuela ‘s territory.. It was founded in 1962 and in 1994 UNESCO added it to the World Heritage List. The area of the park is 30 thousand square meters. km. It is here that the highest waterfall in the world – Angel (1054 m) is located, and numerous “tepui” (table mountains with flat tops) are located, which are considered by local Indians from the Pemon tribe as sacred places where spirits live. In the tropical forests and savannas of the park, there are about 9 thousand species of plants, among which there are more than 500 species of orchids, 150 species of mammals (jaguars, cougars, ocelots, tapirs, peccaries, agoutis, anteaters, monkeys, giant otters), more than 500 species of birds (eagles, falcons, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds), 72 species of reptiles and about 50 species of amphibians. The best time to visit the park is the rainy season (April-November), when the rivers and waterfalls are at their fullest. There is a fee to visit the park. All excursions in the park must be accompanied by a guide.
There is a small airport in the village of Canaima, where tourists from other regions of Venezuela arrive. Most tourists spend several days in the park. Canaima offers campsites and cottages for accommodation. The village is located on the banks of the picturesque Canaima lagoon (Canaima Lagoon), where there is a sandy beach. Anatoliy’s island is located in the center of the lagoon. Due to the presence of a large amount of quartz here, the water in the lagoon has a brown color, and the sand is pink. There are 4 waterfalls in this part of the lagoon. Two of them – waterfalls Ukayma (Salto Ucaima) and Golondrina (Salto Golondrina) – can be seen by sailing on a boat, and under the other two – waterfalls Sapo (Salto Sapo) and Acha (Salto Hacha) – a trail has been laid, that is, tourists can pass right under the stream. But the most famous waterfall in Canaima National Park is Angel Falls. (Sapo Angel). It is because of him that tourists from all over the world come to these parts every year. Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world. Its waters break down from one of the highest mountains of the Guiana Highlands – Auyantepui – from a height of 983 m. The waterfall was opened to the world in 1937, when American pilot Jimmy Angel landed on the top of Auyan Tepui. The waterfall was named after him. Tourists are taken to the waterfall from the village of Canaima either by boat or by plane. or helicopter. In the dry season (December-March), the local rivers become shallow, so at this time you can get to the waterfall only by air. During air excursions, tourists fly over Mount Auyan Tepui and over the waterfall, and helicopters have the opportunity to land on one of the ledges of the mountain near the observation deck. If you choose the boat tour, you will have to spend at least one night at the falls. Tourists are taken from Canaima to one of the camps located near the waterfall, where they spend the night in hammocks, and then along the path they get to the observation deck, from where you can admire the waterfall. The observation deck is small, so on weekends, when a lot of tourists come, queues accumulate. Almost constantly the top of Auyan-Tepui is shrouded in clouds, only in the morning the sky clears up.
On the other side of Auyan Tepui is the village of Kavac, where excursions are also arranged. They get to the village by plane. In the vicinity of the village is the Kavac cave. A river flows along the bottom of the cave, along which tourists swim and get inside. Inside the cave, twilight reigns, and water flows down the walls.
The eastern part of Canaima National Park is called “Great Plains” (La Gran Sabana). On the southeastern outskirts of the Gran Saban is the highest mountain of the Guiana Highlands – Mount Roraima (2810 m). The top of the mountain is absolutely flat, and its area is 30 square meters. km. Roraima is located at the junction of the borders of Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana. It is considered to be the “lost world” that Conan Doyle described in his book, and the Indians consider this place to be the “center of the Earth.” You can get to the top of the mountain only on your own. Most tours last about 6 days (2.5 days up, 1.5 days summit and 2 days descent). Climbing is mandatory with a guide, and tourists are also offered “porters” who will carry all the necessary things throughout the tour.
