The school year started with 9 long weeks devoid of even the slightest 3-day weekend. In early October, we finally had our week-long fall break.
After talking with another colleague about travel plans, we both decided to make the trip to the crown jewel of Venezuela: Angel Falls in Canaima National Park. Angel Falls is approximately 980 meters (3,215 ft) tall and is the tallest uninterrupted waterfall on planet earth. It is located deep in Canaima National Park in southeast Venezuela. The waterfall descends from a tepui (or tepuy) which is a mesa originally carved out from a inland river delta millions of years ago on Gondwana.
My friend Heather and I flew out to Caracas on Saturday then jumped on a plane Sunday to arrive at a comfortable little lodge nestled alongside Laguna de Canaima.
We were stunned by where we were staying. The Rio Carrao poured over a cliff into the lagoon giving us a picturesque spot to call home for the next few days. Plants and animals surrounded us.
We stumbled across a tapir taking up residence at the lodge. I had the pleasure of swimming with her a few days later.
I got me some kisses.
On our first day in Canaima, we and our new cohort took some speedboats to Salto el Sapo to hike behind and around the local waterfalls. It was beautiful, immense, and inspiringly powerful.
One of the mind-blowing parts of this area is that all the water is fresh water (rain). The distinct amber color comes from the freshwater & natural mineral mix. The water felt fresh and clean.
Thanks to Heather for the slow-mo video.
After an incredible day exploring three local waterfalls, Heather and I got our rest before starting our excursion to Angel Falls the next day. The trip to the falls was an overnight adventure. We took the boats up the river (with sporadic hiking sprinkled in) and ate and slept in open-air "lodging". It was basically a roof with surrounding poles to hang up our hammocks.
I didn't take many photos until the next day after we arrived at the falls.
After a downpour the prior evening , we woke up for a sunrise viewing of these majestic falls before beginning our trek to near the base of the falls.
Time lapse.
After returning back to Waku Lodge, I decided last minute to join a crew for a small propeller plane around the main tapui and to a hike into a waterfall within a small cavern.
Once the short hike began, we left our electronics behind to swim up to the falls inside the cavern. Upon returning, we had lunch and jumped back in the plane.
Before the trip was out, we were fortunate to have our timing land on Indigenous Resistance Day which honors the heroes fighting back against the Spanish. We all went in to town to celebrate with them and I learned how to make a local headdress. I actually made a good one, so this little girl asked me to make one for her. I was honored to oblige.
Overall, it was a fantastic trip. Everything about it was indescribably wonderful. I enjoyed the fresh air, clean water, and kind people. There was so much more to document, but I didn't want to get caught up in constantly taking photos, so I did what I could. The virgin territory meant there were almost no other humans out on the rivers with us. There was virtually no trash on the paths, and everyone did their part to keep it clean. I look forward to my next visit.
