✈ Free travel guides updated for 2026

Canaima & Angel Falls Itinerary 2026

Day-by-day plans for 3, 5, and 7 days — organised to make the most of your time.

Angel Falls — Classic 4-Day Canoe Expedition

The standard and most rewarding Angel Falls experience: fly in over the Gran Sabana, reach the base of the world's highest waterfall by dugout canoe, and spend two nights in the tepui jungle.

Day 1 Fly In to Canaima — Lagoon Afternoon

Light aircraft from Ciudad Bolívar to Canaima (45 minutes, extraordinary views over the Gran Sabana). Arrive at Canaima lagoon — the bright turquoise water and Hacha Falls cascading into the lagoon create an immediate sense of having arrived somewhere extraordinary. Afternoon: walk behind Hacha Falls, pink-sand beach, and orientation with your Pemón guide.

💡 Tip: Keep your camera accessible during the flight — the aerial views of the tepuis and the Gran Sabana are some of the best you will take on the entire trip.
Day 2 Full Day Canoe — Into The Tepui Jungle

Depart Canaima by motorised dugout at 7am. The 3–5 hour canoe journey up the Carrao and Churún rivers passes through dramatic canyon scenery — tepui walls rising hundreds of metres, the jungle tightening around you as you approach the base of Auyán-tepui. Arrive at jungle camp late afternoon. Short walk to the first Angel Falls viewpoint at dusk.

💡 Tip: Keep all electronics in dry bags throughout the canoe journey. Even on calm days, spray from rapids can soak equipment. Your operator should provide dry bags; bring your own camera case.
Day 3 Angel Falls — Dawn Approach & Base Hike

Wake before dawn for the walk through the jungle to the base of Salto Ángel. The falls emerge from the mist as you approach — first the sound, then the spray, then the full 979-metre curtain of water. Swim in the plunge pool at the base (wet season only — water levels permitting). Return to camp for lunch, then begin the canoe return to Canaima in the afternoon.

💡 Tip: The window between 6am and 9am is the most likely to be cloud-free at the summit. Position yourself at the viewpoint before the cloud descends — your guide will know the timing.
Day 4 Canaima & Fly Out

Morning free in Canaima — kayak on the lagoon, visit the Pemón community, or simply sit by the water. Light aircraft back to Ciudad Bolívar in the early afternoon. Overnight in Ciudad Bolívar before your connection home.

💡 Tip: Buy carved Pemón crafts (animals, hammocks, woven baskets) directly from the community artisans in Canaima — your purchase goes directly to the families.

Angel Falls + Gran Sabana Overland

Combines the classic Angel Falls canoe expedition with a 2-day overland journey through the Gran Sabana — Venezuela's extraordinary high-plateau savanna of tepuis and waterfalls.

Day 1 Ciudad Bolívar — Colonial Old City

Arrive Ciudad Bolívar. Afternoon exploring the Paseo Orinoco riverfront and the beautifully preserved colonial old city. The Casa del Congreso de Angostura, the cathedral, and the river views at dusk are all worth seeing. Good restaurants on the old city waterfront.

💡 Tip: Ciudad Bolívar is underrated — give yourself the afternoon rather than treating it purely as a transit stop.
Day 2 Fly to Canaima — Afternoon at the Lagoon

Morning light aircraft to Canaima. Afternoon at the lagoon — Hacha Falls, pink-sand beach, and the extraordinary colour of the water up close.

Day 3 Canoe to the Jungle Camp

Full day canoe journey up the Carrao and Churún rivers to the jungle base camp. Arrive at dusk — first views of Salto Ángel at last light.

Day 4 Angel Falls at Dawn

Pre-dawn hike to the base of the falls. Swim in the plunge pool. Return to Canaima by early afternoon canoe. Fly back to Ciudad Bolívar.

Day 5 Gran Sabana Drive — Waterfalls & Tepuis

Drive south from Ciudad Bolívar toward Santa Elena de Uairén through the Gran Sabana. Stop at Quebrada Pacheco (a roadside waterfall with natural pools), Salto Kama (20m wide curtain fall into an emerald pool), and a viewpoint of the Roraima tepui — the flat-topped mountain that inspired Conan Doyle's The Lost World.

💡 Tip: The Gran Sabana road (National Highway 10) is paved and in reasonable condition. Your operator will provide a guide and vehicle. The waterfalls are all signed and have basic facilities.
Day 6 Santa Elena & Fly Home

Morning in Santa Elena de Uairén near the Brazilian border. Fly back to Caracas for your international connection, or cross to Boa Vista in Brazil for onward South America travel.

💡 Tip: The Santa Elena–Boa Vista border crossing into Brazil is functional for tourists. Your operator can advise on current conditions and documentation requirements if you plan a Brazil continuation.