Venezuela is having incredible biodiversity. It is having the second richest birds’ population after neighboring Columbia. Harpy eagles in Imataka are well tracked by local ornithologists, Orinoco Delta is having unique swamp forests, savannas of Los Llanos are full of birds during the dry season and the rain forest in the mountains is also having its secrets for passionate birders. The timing is reflecting the mating season of the bird species Guianan Cock-of-the-rock. The trip is taking its grand final on the beaches of The Caribbean and we will fly home from Caracas. This trip is based on previous birding expeditions in 2010 and 2016.
Time: Ideally March or based on an agreement with the guide, usually as from October up to February of next year.
Price: 1.300 € + flight ticket to Venezuela (intercontinental flight from Europe is approximately 1.000 €).
The price does include: guiding services by Anakonda Tour, best local Venezuelan birdwatchers’ guiding services, domestic transport (mainly by 4×4 cars, boats and buses including 3 domestic flights), program based on the itinerary, accommodation, full board during trips in Orinoco Delta, Los Llanos, Altamira and The Caribbean and half board during the trip to observe the Harpy.
The price does NOT include: travel insurance, transport to the airport of your departure, tips for local Venezuelan guides and food between the trips.
Personal spending: usually for food in restaurants, drinks, fruits and souvenirs it starts as from 150 €.
1st up to 2nd day – arrival to Caracas and accommodation at a hotel nearby (only 11 kilometers), money exchange and common welcome dinner. Next day will be spent on abandoned beach with the first opportunities for birdwatching. In the evening, we will fly to town Puerto Ordaz and late in the night we will arrive to our hotel.
3rd up to 6th day – departure from Puerto Ordaz by bus – direction to Imataca area which is 2 hours far. After accommodation in a hostel we will visit several nests of Harpy Eagle. We will travel around and spend time on pastures and in primeval forest to enjoy the richness of local fauna and flora. The last day we will travel direction to Orinoco Delta. We will be accommodated in a hostel in town Tucupita.
7th up to 10th day – from Tucupita, which is the gate to Orinoco Delta, we will take a boat and travel deep into the swamp forest. We will see the dolphins as well as local Indians whose life did not change much in the time. We will visit several communities of the Warao tribe who are living on the water using shelters built on pillars (palafitos) which is their tradition for hundreds of years. Their existence depends on fishing, forest as well as limited agricultural activities. The women are skilled artisans making baskets, bowls and hammocks. We will be able to observe birds of prey, woodpeckers, parrots, macaws, parakeets and parrotlets, antbirds and tyrant-flycatchers. Further we will see several species of monkeys and with a good luck also a sloth. Our camp is located in the forest just next to the river and the structures are wooden and it feels like they are part of the nature around. We will try Indian canoe, how to make fire without matches, night trip on the river, search for snakes and morning concert of the howler monkeys. The last day we will travel 100 kilometers to Mturin town from where we will fly to Caracas in the evening.
11th up to 15th day – next day morning we will leave Caracas again and we will fly to the Western part of the country. After breakfast in Barinas town our 4 days’ trip in Los Llanos shall start. It will take us 4 hours to get to the land of cattle – Apure. We will be accommodated in an eco-ranch which provides the best safari of South America. We will also do some hunting on anaconda snakes and fishing piranhas. The land is regularly changing from woodland and grassland into a temporary wetland which makes it unique for its wildlife. There are 70 bird species in the area including Scarlet Ibis. We will also see spoonbills, herons, egrets and ducks. We will float a canoe on the river and try horse-riding as well. The last evening will be spent in famous ranch Hato Cedral which hosted many documentary film makers. The last but not least is the Los Llanos where we will see besides others Orinoco Crocodiles. Finally, we will travel back towards Ands mountains.
16th up to 17th day – we will be accommodated in a hostel in Altamira next to river Santo Domingo. Water and surrounding primeval forests are perfect habitat for the birds including humming birds. The next day we should search for nests of Guianan Cock-of-the-rock species.
18th day – after breakfast we will leave Altamira and travel via town Valencia up to the coast, to resort Chichiriviche. The same evening, we shall see flamingos on the lagoons of Morrocoy National Park.
19th up to 20th day – whole day trip in mangrove forests and rock cliffs with unique cultures of local Indian tribes. On the Cayo Sombrero island there is an opportunity for snorkeling. We will also relax under the palms after intense two weeks’ trip and enjoy the typical evening Caribbean atmosphere. Next day we will explore another neighboring island and in the afternoon, we will travel to Macuto near to the airport of Caracas. There is also an alternative to travel to Henry Pitier National Park to Choroni resort.
21st day – the last day belongs to Caracas and its modern and colonial districts. We will use local metro and visit Miranda Park with animals which are not so easy to be spotted in their natural habitat of wilderness (e.g. Saltwater crocodile, Puma and Jaguar). In the evening we will fly back home.
22nd day – arrival home (e.g. Europe).
