Have just had three beautiful days in Canaima staying in a rustic but quite plush lodge (Tapuy Lodge) on the lagoon with waterfalls and palm trees all around, oh yeah and white sand. Water was brown due to tannin but hey, you cant have it all!
We had to fly in a pretty scary 12 seater plane but, amazingly, i didnt feel too sick but that might have had something to do with the stunning scenery from the window as we flew over jungle and a huge delta.
We had a tour of the lagoon and waterfalls on our arrival that was stunning, both waterfalls we got to walk behind-freezing cold but exhilarating. Also walked across the sabana which had amazing views of the mountains and tepuys (huge flat rocks).
Yesterday was the highlight for me so far, even though it involved a 4am start! A quick coffee followed by a short boat ride before we walked an hour across a plain as the sun started coming up (see photos). It was just us and another couple on the tour (andreas and susie) which was great as they were lovely and some of the other boats we passed were packed. They also both spoke great English so we chatted all day and had drinks with them afterwards. Anyway, I digress! After a three hour bum killing ride in our wooden dug out, we had our first glimpse of Angel falls, I'm stating the obvious here but god its high (which is why its the highest falls in the world I suppose!)
We left the boat and had a steep trek thru jungle for an hour to a stunning viewpoint (photos again!) Our guide took no prisoners and went at an incredible pace, which we matched but when we got to the top he told us he'd forgotten the water! Thankfully after snapping away, there was a short climb down to a beautiful pool at the bottom of the falls where we could cool off. Without that I'm not sure I would have made it back down without fluid (I think I'd already lost half my body weight in sweat)!!
Once we eventually got back down, Coke had never tasted so good!! The boat men had cooked chicken on a fire so we had lunch before starting the journey back. After 20mins the skies opened and we had torrential rain for two hours, the guide said it had never been so bad. It was so awful it was funny, and there was G at the pool saying "I'm not coming in completely because I don't want to get my hair wet!!" I now know where the expression soaked to the skin comes from, and this is the dry season!! A hot shower had never been more appreciated!
It had been a great day though and the rain didn't ruin it by any means. Last night a few welcome beers and nice chicken were had before we all slept like logs.
Our lodge was a lovely thatched building, completely in keeping with local surroundings, just as I'd hoped for. It is definitely one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. There are no roads so everything is flown or shipped in-lovely.
This morning was spent chilling out at the lagoon, followed by two flights back to our airport hotel in caracas.Time for bed now as tomorrow is another early start to the islands of Los Roques, where it will be time to shut down for a few days as we are shattered - there has been a lot of travelling and early starts this week.
Logistics for Canaima were once again a nightmare. Flights late, hotel over booked (which nearly made me cry!) so they chucked us in a crappy one next door before realising their mistake and moving us back in :-) They are getting a lot of things very wrong here which is a real shame as it is stunning with huge potential, but, as a lot of Venezuelans will admit, its complicated and difficult - bloody politics! Anywhere with 4 different exchange rates is going to be I suppose!