Canaima National Park Parque Nacional Canaima
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Canaima National Park covers 3 million hectares and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is usually associated mainly with Angel Falls and the area around the town of Canaima. This is actually only a small area of the vastly diverse park.The park also encompasses the high plateau of La Gran Sabana and includes more than 100 tepuis (table top mountains). The tepuis are a sharp contrast to the surrounding landscape as they rise more than 1000 m above the savannahs.The park is also home to numerous waterfalls which can be found throughout the park, particularly in La Gran Sabana near the Brazilian border. Swimming at the base of the waterfalls is one of the highlights and can provide a refreshing escape from the heat of the mid day sun during the dry season.
Related Attractions
Angel Falls
Falling almost a kilometer, Angel Falls is the star attraction of Canaima National Park. At 979 m it is the highest waterfalls in the world. The best time to see the falls is during the rainy season, between May and November. During the dry season the falls may be little more than a trickle which turns to mist by the time it reaches the bottom.The falls are usually visited by either a sightseeing flight or a 3 day boat trip beginning in the town of Canaima. Visitors must fly into Canaima as there is no road access. The boat trip may not be possible during the dry season due to low water levels in the river.Tours can be arranged from a number of cities including Caracas, Ciudad Bolívar, Santa Elena, as well as other major cities, although usually with a connecting flight.
Roraima
Roraima is one of the highest tepuis (table top mountains) in Canaima National Park. It is also one of the most easily accessible and a popular hiking destination. Hiking to the top can be done as a minimum two day hike and camping trip.This tepuis was the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle's novel "the Lost World".
More Canaima National Park Pictures
