Arrival at Caracas Airport. Assistance, welcome and transfer to the 4* Hotel Avila, a tropical colonial style city-hotel. Check-in, dinner and overnight stay. Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, is the country’s most densely populated city with nearly six million inhabitants and the political, administrative, financial, industrial and cultural center. Located in a narrow and long valley 1000m above the sea, it extends for 25 km and borders to the north on Avila National Park.
(-/-/D)
DAY 2
Today you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of Caracas, known for its temperate climate as the city of eternal spring. The tour will give you an impression of the “Caraqueños” way-of-life, their history and culture. One of the highlight is the ride up Avila Mountain in a modern cable car built by the Austrian company Doppelmayr. During the ride and from the top of Avila Mountain you will have spectacular views of Caracas. Overnight stay in Hotel Avila.
(B/L/D)
DAY 3
After early breakfast transfer to the airport and flight to Mérida. Ride the longest and highest cable car in the world to the top of Pico Espejo and see the distinctive vegetative zones of the Andes on your way. Enjoy the spectacular views from the top of Pico Espejo. Discover Merida during the afternoon sightseeing tour. Mérida is known for its many parks and is located on a picturesque high plateau in a relatively warm valley and surrounded by snow covered peaks of the Andean mountain range. The ancient cathedral, the Bolivar square and the colonial houses with beautiful inner courts are reminders of the colonial history of this city. Many parks and sidewalk cafés give Mérida, famous for its university, its relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Overnight stay at Estancia Mucunuy close to Mérida.
(B/-/D)
DAY 4
Today the tours takes you through quaint Andean villages on the high plains (Páramos) surrounding Mérida, along narrow, winding roads and through Santo Domingo Valley, a fantastic landscape of towering Mountains, crystal-clear glacial lakes and tobacco plantations to Hacienda Santa María in the vicinity of Barinas. Dinner and overnight stay at Hacienda Santa Maria.
(B/L/D)
DAY 5
You will spend the next two days in the Llanos. The spectacular plains of Venezuela are a region of extremes, with periods of draughts alternating with periods of flooding. The area boasts an incredible variety of fauna – more than 320 bird species, about 50 species of mammals and many reptile species, including the endangered Orinoco Caiman, have their natural habitat here. The llanos, covering about a third of Venezuela’s land area, are the traditional region of the immense livestock farms (Hatos). Dinner and Overnight stay in one of the most beautiful farms of the Llanos, Hato El Cedral.
(B/L/D)
DAY 6
Today is a day of various excursions with 4-wheel drive vehicles and by boat in the surroundings of Hato El Cedral. During these excursions you will have the opportunity to observe wildlife. With a little bit of luck you will be able to spot, amongst many others, Caimans, Anacondas, Jaguars, Armadillos. With more than 320 species of birds the Llanos are a paradise for birdwatchers.
(B/L/D)
DAY 7
You will see more of the Llanos during the drive to Barinas, where you will board a flight to Carúpano in the east of Venezuela via Caracas. Transfer to Hacienda Vuelta Larga. The Hacienda has engaged for more than 20 years in a re-forestation project, which you will be shown during a tour of the Hacienda. Dinner and overnight stay at Hacienda Vuelta Larga.
(B/-/D)
DAY 8
In the morning you will visit the thermal springs of El Pilar, where you will have the opportunity to relax in the hot waters. In the afternoon boat tour through the national park of Turuepano. Observe the wildlife and more than 230 bird species on your tour through the mangroves of the northern Orinoco Delta. Dinner and overnight stay at Hacienda Vuelta Larga.
(B/L/D)
DAY 9
Travel by Jeep to “Serrania de Paria”, from where you will start your trek along the mountain-ridge. You will be walking through cloud forest, amongst tangerine groves and cacao plantations. Again and again marvelous and breathtaking views will open up to both sides of the path. To the south lays the great plain, to the north the coast of Paria, where Columbus landed on his 3rd journey. At the End of the trek you will have lunch at the beach and time for a swim in the Caribbean sea. Transfer to Carúpano and return flight to Caracas.
(B/L/-)
