Into the Venezuelan Jungle: The Trek to Angel Falls
The tallest waterfall in the world has always been on my radar. Ever since I was a teen I dreamed of coming here, however, the biggest stumbling block was that it was located in Venezuela, which isn’t the easiest country to visit (and in a pretty remote part of it too).
Currently traveling through Venezuela, I’ve finally been able to cross this one off, and to say my mind has been blown is a huge understatement.
Venezuelan Jungle: The Trek to Angel Falls
In this article I’m going to share my experience on reaching Angel Falls, why you should visit, as well as some tips for the hike and visiting Venezuela in general.
Is it Worth visiting Angel Falls?
Standing at a total height of 979m, Angel Falls is an absolute monster. In photos you can get a pretty good idea, however, once you actually get here you’ll see what the hype is really all about. Alongside it are various towering Tepui mountains, which are famous for their vertical walls and table shapes.
The surrounding green jungle and layers of mist created from the fall (which is a lot given it’s falling almost a kilometer without interruption) completes what a truly stunning backdrop is. It’s by far one of the most impressive sceneries I have ever seen in South America.
Finally (and in my opinion the biggest reason to come) is for the adventure in getting here. Given it’s so hard to access, it makes for a memorable downstream trip (which I will talk about later).
The weather is also pretty wild and unpredictable too, which makes it more of an adventure. It goes without saying that you’ll want to bring a decent Poncho to keep yourself dry.
Travel Insurance for Venezuela
Are you planning to visit Venezuela soon? It can be difficult to find a reputable provider who will cover you in this country. SafetyWing is a solid choice who provide a monthly renewable plan, which includes medical cover and multiple home visits during your trip.
My Experience getting to Angel Falls
As already mentioned, getting here isn’t the easiest task, however, it was a mandatory stop for me. So I joined an organized expedition, where we first met at Caracas airport early in the morning.
The hour flight over to Canaima is where you’ll see the first bit of magic, where massive table-top mountains appear out of the clouds, as well as seeing the joining of different tributaries into a larger river.
Once landed, we headed out on a jeep towards the river where we also passed the town and a few local jungle huts. We then boarded the motorized canoe ready for the adventure – however, didn’t know just how “hands-on” it would turn out to be.
After spending several hours passing yet more tepui, we ended up hitting a rock and capsizing, sending a couple of tourists downstream. Thankfully everyone was fine and nothing was lost, however, it definitely reminds you just how small we are compared to nature.
We finally arrived at the campsite where we would spend several nights sleeping in a hammock. As the boat turned past a corner of dense jungle foliage, right there Angel Falls mysteriously appeared, sending everyone’s phone out of pocket and into hand.
Although the water levels were little (I headed during the dry season), there was a storm overnight which changed everything. The next morning it looked fuller than I could have ever imagined, with the jungle now painted with newly bright greens thanks to the showers.
Is it safe to visit Venezuela?
This is by far going to need an article of its own, however, I’ll do my best here.
I feel that in general, the safety situation is made to look a hell of a lot worse than it actually is (remember fear-mongering sells more than something less attention-grabbing). With good preparation and an understanding of the current conditions, you can easily have a safe and memorable time in Venezuela.
If you’re heading straight to Angel Falls, Margarita Island or Los Roques (from Caracas airport once you’ve landed), then you’ll find these parts extremely safe, even more so than other Latin American countries. This is because these areas are very touristy, naturally without conflict and also more protected too.
Outside of these, it can be somewhat of a gamble. In Caracas, it didn’t feel too bad, especially if you are in the neighborhoods of Chacao and Altamira.
I spent most of my time in the historic center and never had a problem (El Silencio, which you’ll need to keep a guard up when walking around). It’s worth leaving valuables at home at bringing this hidden Money Belt when out and exploring the city.
However, in the state of Zulia (where Lake Maracaibo is located), it was really dangerous. I’m talking about me getting put in handcuffs and threatened by police, random bus searches every barricade in the rural regions etc. Not a place for a non-locals to head by themselves.
Here’s a list of safe and not-so-safe destinations based on my experience:
Tips for Visiting Angel Falls
Firstly it goes without saying: you’re going to need to go with an organized group to reach the falls. Many will meet you at Caracas Airport, however, all will start from the small town in Canaima.
Although it’s usually easier and cheaper to fly yourself and find a tour on-the-go, it’s much better to pre-book in advance given there’s limited availability and a lot of demand for this experience.
Also, be aware of the season you visit. The dry season runs from January until April, which is actually the worst time to visit although you think you would be better off as it’s drier.
The river shrinks due to less rain, making the boat ride more difficult and longer than if it was a full river. Angel Falls also appears a little underwhelming too. The wet season is the best by far (May until November), where you’ll see the falls in all their glory as well as a more healthy and vibrant jungle too.
Lastly, be sure to prepare well. Remember that you’ll spend several days navigating through the wild jungle, so it’s best to invest in some high-quality equipment. This means bringing some really good hiking shoes (I recommend these for men, and these for women), sunscreen, more sunscreen, a bottle, light shorts and a poncho.
Venezuelan Jungle trek to Angel Falls
The Lost World certainly lived up to its reputation, and was a beautiful ending to what has been a really memorable two years in Latin America for me.
Although Venezuela still scares off most tourists, with some proper planning it can be a really fun and safe country to visit (in some regions of course). It’s not one I would recommend for first-timers, however, given it may be too much of a shock to the system and would not be so enjoyable.
In this article, I’ve talked about my experience heading to Angel Falls, and also given some tips for when making the adventure yourself.
I’ve also shed some light on the safety situation in Venezuela, which usually is generalized fear-mongering rather than the actual truth.
Keep an eye out as we’ll be posting more content on backpacking Venezuela (and the actual reality of it) soon!
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