Mount Roraima in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil, Photo: Yosemite, Wikipedia

Mount Roraima Location on a Map

As it was mentioned above, Mount Roraima is located right on the junction of three borders – Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. That means that once you have climbed on top of Mount Roraima, you will be able to stand in three countries at the same time. The exact coordinates of the triple border are: 5°12’08N, 60°44’07W.

Mount Roraima is part of The Guiana Shield the highlands of which are known for being the home to some of world’s most spectacular waterfalls, including Kaieteur Falls in Guyana and Angel Falls in Venezuela which both have been previously described on Vacation Ideas website, because I believe they are some of world’s finest spots that should be on everyone’s “must visit before I die list”.

You can see the location of Mount Roraima on an interactive, navigable map below:

Mount Roraima Weather

As you can see from the map above, when satellite pictures of Mount Roraima were taken, it was engulfed in clouds. This is not unusual by any means as the weather patterns follow the same trends on almost daily basis. Mount Roraima is surrounded by thick rainforest. Tropical heat of this part of the world causes the moisture from the rainforest to raise and condense over the mountain as heavy clouds. As a result, Mount Roraima is almost always in clouds and it rains there pretty much every day. This creates some visual spectacles as water from the flat top of Mount Roraima makes its way down in spectacular, single drop waterfalls that count as some of the tallest in the world.

Eroded Surface of the Oldest Rock Formation in the World with Water Puddles, Photo: antonioperezrio.com, Flickr

How to Get to Mount Roraima

The best starting point for tours to Mount Roraima is Venezuelan town of Santa Elena de Uairén. The town is right by the border with Brazil and several tour companies organize tours to Mount Roraima from there. You can get to Santa Elena de Uairén by plane from Caracas. Helicopter tours for those who are not fit enough to climb the natural staircase for a day are also available from Santa Elena de Uairén.

Another option is to get to Paraitepui village where Pemon Indians can be hired as guides.

On Top of Monte Roraima, Photo: Simon Booth, Flickr

Tepui Tabletop Mountains

Tepui are fascinating formations that are more than just mountains. Tepuis are the king of the plateau. Geologists have been maintaining that Tepui Tabletop Mountains such as Mount Roraima are the oldest geological formations on Earth, dating back to Precambrian era, more than 2 billion years ago.

In the language of the Pemon, people native to La Gran Sabana, Tepui means “house of the gods”. While there are several Tepui Tabletop Mountains individually scattered across Pakaraima – tepui plateau in South America, Mount Roraima is the highest, the most famous and the most notable one. Venezuela can boast with the largest number of Tepui Tabletop Mountains, but since Mount Roraima reaches into Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil, each of these three countries can brag about being a home to world’s most famous tepui.

Steep Cliffs of Mount Roraima, Photo: Jeff Johnson, Wikipedia

Mount Roraima Myths and Legends

First written mention about Mount Roraima was made in 1596 by English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh, but native Pemon Indians knew about the mountain for centuries prior. According to their myths and legends, what we now know as Mount Roraima was once a giant tree that once held all the fruits and vegetables in the world. At some point, one of Pemon ancestors knocked the tree down the crashing of which caused immense flood. Mount Roraima as we know it today is the stump of that gianormous tree.

Mount Roraima Height

To talk about Mount Roraima height, we have to consider two factors. One is the height of the mountain above sea level. In this case, the Mount Roraima height is 2810 meters or 9219 feet. The height range fluctuate from one point to another between 2810 to 2851 meters above sea level. This is quite high altitude so no matter what time of year, when you are on top of the mountain, it is going to be fairly cold up there. The highest peak of Mount Roraima which reaches the height of 2810m is on Venezuelan part of the tabletop and is called Maverick Rock. When it comes to height of Mount Roraima from the bottom of the plateau, it averages to about 400 meters.

Mount Roraima is the highest point in Guyana. Brazil and Venezuela both have peaks that are higher than that elsewhere in the country.

View of Monte Roraima from Basecamp at Canaima National Park, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela, Photo: Nicholas Laughlin, Flickr

Mount Roraima Treks

The first person to take a trek up on top of Mount Roraima was Sir Everard im Thurn in December of 1884. To climb up on top of Mount Roraima is near impossible because of its endless and steep sides, but Sir Everard im Thurn found slightly sloped area covered with trees which allowed him to trek the mountain all the way to its massive top. Trekkers taking tours to Mount Roraima use the same route Sir Everard im Thurn took more than a hundred years ago. This hike is on Gran Sabana side of the mountain in Venezuela.

Once you make it on top, you should try to get to the junction of all three borders. This point is marked by a concrete cairn, but keep in mind that the top of Mount Roraima is 31 square kilometres in size (5 miles across). Depending on where you are, you could be several kilometres away from it, which means it could take you hours to get to the point.

This is the Strip on the Side of Monte Roraima that Creates a Natural Staircase and the Only Way Up, Photo: One Off Man Mental, Flickr

Mount Roraima Tours

There are several companies offering tours to Mount Roraima, mostly in Brazil and Venezuela as impenetrable jungle on Guyana’s side makes for challenging access from this country. As it goes with any tour company, enquire with other tourists before you make a booking and try to agree on written contract before you pay the money. Mount Roraima is a large mountain. It’s massive. It takes 2.5 days to get on top.

Most companies organize 6 day tours. After 2.5 day ascend, you would spend 1.5 days camping on top of the mountain and then take 2 days to descend the mountain. Because it’s quite an adventure, it is essential to make sure you are going to good tour company. Tents must be of decent quality and reasonably reliable. all other equipment, such as stoves should also be operational and clean. It’s also essential to enquire about food supplies so you don’t spend your 6 day tour hungry. At the time of this post, Backpackers Tours was a recommended company, but things change quickly. Try to track down backpackers who took tours and ask them about their experience. This is the best way to avoid shady tour companies and pick a good in at this given time.

Sunset at Monte Roraima, Photo: slash__, Flickr

Mount Roraima Video

The video below is form the BBC series about plants surviving in extreme conditions. It features nice aerial photography of Mount Roraima, even though it mostly focuses on incredible flora found on the hostile mountain. In order for the plants to adapt to the life on the mountain that is continuously being washed off by flowing water which takes away all nutrients, the plants turned carnivorous and feel themselves by eating insects. This video us a nice documentary of all this.

The intriguing nature of the world’s oldest geological formation which is Mount Roraima makes all visitors feel as if they’d stepped back in time a few million years. 2 billion year old caves have been recently discovered on the Roraima formation. All of this truly make for an unforgettable adventure that would be savoured by any tourist. There are some of world’s most spectacular spots on the Guiana Shield that every avid explorer should look deeply into. I have yet to meet one person who would not have been completely blown away after visiting this area. Yet it is often missed by many. It’s truly ironic how biggest gems are left for few to discover.

Related Vacation Ideas

• Angel Falls in Venezuela
• Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
• Kjeragbolten, Norway
• Kaieteur National Park

El Camino de la Muerte Winding Up in the Slopes of The Andes in Bolivia, Photo by Twaize, Flickr

El Camino de la Muerte stretches for almost 69 kilometers as a single lane road in poor condition and with no guardrails along the eastern slopes of The Andes which are notorious for extremely steep and endless drop-offs. To top it all up, the area gets often engulfed in fog with zero visibility and the road gets covered in mud with zero traction during rainy season. But that’s not it yet. Even if you are the safest driver in the world and can handle bad road condition with ease, you are still looking at possibilities of being his and knocked off the road and down into the canyon by loose rocks from the hillside. Excited yet? Well, there’s one more thing – I have already mentioned that El Camino de la Muerte is a single lane road. What I didn’t mention is that it stretches for miles upon miles without any turnoffs or rest areas. If you happen upon on oncoming vehicle, you have no option but to try to squeeze next to each other with one of you taking on the birdseye view along the vertical crack. At times you however meet with an oncoming car on a stretch that’s simply way too narrow so the vehicle coming down needs to reverse and start backing uphill towards a wider stretch to let the other vehicle pass. That backing up along narrow, windy road with the chasm of death just centimeters from your wheels is the most dangerous part of the journey. The smallest of errors can send you 800 meters down in near free fall. Imagine the impact!

Yungas Road Location

The Yungas Road is the official name of the Road of Death which was assigned to it because it stretches along the Yungas, a forested area on the eastern slopes of Bolivian Andes. There are two parts of Yungas Road: North Yungas Road and South Yungas Road, with Bolivian capital city La Paz serving as a divider. North Yungas Road (connecting La Paz with Coroico) is the more dangerous of the two, but South Yungas Road (connecting La Paz with Chulumani), even though less dangerous is still no where near safe and also claims many lives. You can navigate through the satellite view of the location of Bolivian Road of Death by using the interactive map below:

View Larger Map

Yungas Road Deaths

There is no knowing what the death count of Yungas Road aka El Camino de la Muerte is, but if you conduct just a little search on the internet, you will find thousands of horror stories about countless people who plunged to their deaths as they tried to cross this South American road. But even though the dangers of El Camino de la Muerte are well know to both locals and visitors, people have to take it because there is no other road across this part of The Andes. It is estimated that Road of Death in Bolivia claims the lives of about 300 people each year (about one vehicle full of passengers every two weeks). As you drive along El Camino de la Muerte, you will see the side of the road lined with crosses. These crosses were put in a place where someone died by their relatives or friends.

Riding Down and Up Yungas Road in Bolivia, Photo by saf2285, Flickr

History of Bolivian Road of Death

El Camino de la Muerte was built in the 1930′s – during Chaco War by the prisoners of war from by Paraguay as the only road connecting Bolivian capital La Paz with Amazon reainforest in North Bolivia. Given its location on steep slopes of The Andes, El Camino de la Muerte has been claiming lives ever since it was open for use. Due to its legendary dangers, El Camino de la Muerte was given a label of “the world’s most dangerous road” by the Inter-American Development Bank in 1995.

As the death toll kept rising, Bolivian government with aid from international sources initiated the construction of replacement route in late 1980′s. At present time there is a replacement route in place for one of the most dangerous parts of the 56 km (35 miles) long North Yungas Road (the one connecting La Paz with Coroico). The section between Chusquipata and Yolosa now contains a re-route to the north, which is paved according to international standards and meets safety requirements (quality asphalt, drains to keep water off the surface, solid bridges, guardrails along the plunges and multiple lanes for safer navigation).

The Andes and The Most Dangerous Road in the World, Photo by thekjkev, Flickr

Road of Death for Thrill-Seekers

Being as dangerous and notorious for countless deaths as El Camino de la Muerte, the Road of Death in Bolivia attracts thrill seekers from all across the globe who would risk their lives for the thrill of plowing it down the most dangerous road in the world on a mountain bike. The demand for this type of adrenaline adventure was so high, local businesses started to pop up offering equipment rentals and information/guide services for crazies with oversized balls.

Road of Death in Bolivia Attracts Thrill Seekers Who Descend it on Mountain Bikes, Photo by Señor Hans , Flickr

The thrill of mountain biking down Road of Death is simple – you are going down the road in poor condition with deadly slopes that claimed many lives along its side and you’re getting 64 kilometers (40 miles) of almost nonstop downhill slope. That’s one hell of a long ride downhill at high speed while the abyss of death is constantly on your side.

Road of Death Video

Bolivian capital city Lapaz is the highest capital city in the world. El Camino de la Muerte is one of the main roads out of La Paz and as if cities altitude was not enough, when leaving the city by El Camino de la Muerte, you will be going higher and higher. Once you get to the altitude of almost 5 km above sea level, that’s when El Camino de la Muerte begins to descend in a series of narrow curves and half mile long drop-off near-misses until you are 3,600 meters lower than you were when you reached the top of the road of death. While Yungas Road is an exciting and adventurous destination for avid travellers, the reputation of the world’s most dangerous road needs to be taken well in the account. Many a life have been lost and remain lost inside wrecked piles of smashed-up cars, trucks and buses laying unreachable at the bottom of the ravine. Make wise traveling decisions so there is no need for one more cross to be erect alongside the road of death.

Related Vacation Ideas

• Salar de Uyuni Lithium Salt Flats in Bolivia
• El Caminito del Rey – The Most Dangerous Walkway in the World

Salar de Uyuni aka Worlds Largest Mirror Lithium Salt Flats in Bolivia, Photo by Tati@, Flickr

Salar de Uyuni on a Map

Salt Flats of Salar de Uyuni (sometimes also called Salar de Tunupa) are located in south-west Bolivia, in the Oruro and Potosí districts, right near the highest peaks of The Andes – South American mountain range. This places Salar de Uyuni at exceptionally high elevation of 3,656 meters. You can navigate through the location of Salar de Uyuni on an interactive map below:

Salar de Uyuni Lithium

Salar de Uyuni was once a salt lake similar to the Dead Sea. There still is a salt lake at Salar de Uyuni, however it’s at the bottom, underneath the tens of meters of salt flats. It’s that brine which is covered by salt flats that’s an exceptionally rich source of lithium, however at present time there is no lithium mined out of Salar de Uyuni.

Salar de Uyuni As Calibration Mirror for Earth Orbiting Satellites

Salar de Uyuni is exceptionally flat (hence the World’s Largest Mirror reference). Even though it spreads for miles upon miles, the altitude difference between the highest and the lowest point is less than one meter. During wet season, the salt flats get covered with a layer of water which turns Salar de Uyuni into a highly reflective surface. Given these reflective properties as well as the exceptional flatness, Salar de Uyuni is frequently used as calibration mirror by the satellites orbiting the Earth. From a perspective of a person who stands on the sand flats, the view is nothing short of extraordinary. From as far as you can see to as far as you can see it’s all this blue flatness which blends in the distance with the sky. Distant hills sometimes blend with the view, making it look as though they were floating atop the blue haze.

Salt Mining at Salar de Uyuni During Dry Season, Photo by Jessie Reeder, Flickr

Salar de Uyuni Photos

Reading about Salar de Uyuni and seeing the photos is already enough to leave one at awe, but being there and seeing the spectacle with your own eyes is breathtaking. Abundance of pleasing blue and white colors will make for spectacular pictures whether you are an experienced photographer or not.

Salar de Uyuni Tours

Most tourists who don’t pass out on the opportunity to witness the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni take one of the organized tours that start from nearby town of Uyuni. Most tours to Salar de Uyuni last for 3 to four days, but custom tours can be arranged. They are considerably more expensive, but they are… well, custom so they meet your demands and expectation as to the camping, tour guides, translations, length of stay, etc.

Standard tours will take you and a few other tourists for a 4×4 SUV ride from Uyuni south-west along several lakes until you reach the salt flats. Driver will be your tour guide and a cook. Accommodation is an experience on its own. You will sleep in small sheds and depending on which time of your you go, it could be pretty cold (keep in mind that you’re on top of The Andes – very high elevation), so make sure you have warm clothes. Salar de Uyuni is a vast place with many amazing spots to explore. It will be up to the vote of the group to decide which spots the tours visits and how much time is spent at which spot.

Salt Hotel Provided Lodging at Salar de Uyuni for Tours, Photo by Tati@, Flickr

It is advisable to enquire with travellers who have returned from the tour to find out how it was. Not all tours are equal and you have no means to know who you’re going with, so make sure you ask around before you pick. A lot will depend on the tour driver, so ask what the driver was like. Don’t go with anyone who you were told drives recklessly or drinks while driving. Ask what kind of food this tour comes with as some tours don’t leave equipped with enough food or water making it difficult during a four day trip. Ask about the condition of a car. Sitting in a noisy car in desperate need of repair will make for a lot of headache or worse – could get you stranded in the middle of nowhere. And also it is important to make sure the car is equipped with emergency supplies should things go wrong during the tour.

Once again, there is no means to recommend the tour you should go with. Discuss the options with travellers who have just returned from the tour and ask about the relevant matters before you pay for one. It is also important to consider the altitude sickness. Unless you have been in high altitudes for a while, give yourself a few days to acclimatize. That especially applies if you have come from coastal areas.

Normal cost for a tour is $80 and includes food and lodging. You will have to pay for the entrance to the Salar de Uyuni park area and may want to give a tip to the driver. Make sure you have clean and untorn bills as anything less than perfect could be rejected. Do not forget good sun screen and sun glasses. You will be at high elevation, close to the sun, surrounded by highly reflective surfaces. You’ll be glad if you don’t forget to take extra bottles of water with you.

You can also take a Salar de Uyuni tour from La Paz or Tupiza. Same rules apply to these tours as above. Make sure you ask around and pay extra attention to items mentioned above for a safe tour. Some tours are arranged to go one way and take you all the way to Chile.

In Wet Season, Salar de Uyuni Becomes The Worlds Largest Mirror, Photo by vagabondaggie, Flickr

Salar de Uyuni – Best Time to Go

Salar de Uyuni is breath taking during any time of year, but looks way different in dry season than in wet season. If you want to see it with the reflective surface, then the best time to go is between December and March. However that’s also when salt flats are difficult on the eyes and footwear. Surface of Salar de Uyuni is dry between July and November making the visit significantly easier (hence potentially more enjoyable) on most travellers. If you opt for going in November, you may be able to see pink flamingos that use Salar de Uyuni as their feeding ground.

Pink Flamingos in Shallow Water Covering Salt Flats of Salar de Uyuni by Volcan Tunupa, Photo by Jessie Reeder, Flickr

Salar de Uyuni Video

Visiting El Salar de Uyuni would be the highlight of any avid traveller. Due to its large, perfectly flat surface, Salar de Uyuni offers spectacular photo opportunities. Compared to Bonneville Salt flats in Utah, USA, Salar de Uyuni has 25 time as much salt – about 10 billion tonnes. Less than 25,000 tonnes of salt are extracted from the salt flats annually. Salar de Uyuni is also used as a road by cars (Bolivian Altiplano) offering perfectly flat surface across rugged mountainous terrain of the Andes. Whether it’s for breathtaking scenery, unrivalled photo opportunities, unique ecosystem or just out of inimitable adventure, Salar de Uyuni offers an experience that’s so unique and exhilarating you will never get tired of sharing the stories and pictures from salt flats. Get there before your friends find out and piss you off by going there before you.

Related Vacation Ideas

• El Camino de la Muerte – Road of Death in Bolivia (Yungas Road)

Angel Falls in Venezuela, Photo by ENT108, Flickr

Angel Falls Location

Salto Ángel, which is the name of Angel Falls in Venezuela’s native Spanish language is located in Venezuelan Parque Nacional Canaima (Canaima National Park). The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of main tourist attractions in Venezuela. The state in which Angel Falls is located is called Bolivar State, and the name of the region is La Gran Sabana. You can see the location of Angel Falls on an interactive map below:

Kerepakupai Merú

Angels Falls is sometimes referred to as Kerepakupai Merú, which is its name in the tongue of native Pemon people. In Pemon language, Kerepakupai Merú means “The Fall from the Highest Point” or “Waterfall of the Deepest Place”. Angel Falls is located on the Churun River. “Churun” means “Thunder” in Pemon.

Swimming in the Pond tt the Base of Angel Falls, Photo by César González (Destinos360), Flickr

Angel Falls Facts

The discovery of Angel Falls is attributed to American pilot Jimmy Angel who was flying over La Gran Sabana in search for a legendary Gold Ore. His Flamingo mono-plane got stuck during an attempt to land on top of Auyan Tepuy (the name means “Devils Moutain”), the sandstone, tabletop mountain that houses Angel Falls. The plane was not recovered until 33 years later and is now on display at the entrance to Ciudad Bolivar Airport.

While credit for discovery of Angel Falls was given to Jimmy Angel, he was not the first to discover it. There were in fact two non-indigenous people who visited Angel Falls prior to Jimmy Angel. Sir Walter Raleigh is believed to be the first and Venezuelan explorer Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz the second.

If it wasn’t for the adventurers who discovered the falls, Angel Falls would be unknown to Venezuelans. The Guiana Highlands are vastly inaccessible, full of steep slopes and impenetrable jungle making access to the falls difficult. Even today, it is only possible to get to Angel Falls either by a plane from Caracas or Ciudad Bolivar or on a boat.

Official height of Angel Falls is 979 m (3,212 ft) – as determined by The National Geographic Society, but there are additional 30 meters of downstream plunge so some publication list the height as 1,002 m. Either way, Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world.

People within 1 km radius from Angel Falls can still feel the spray of the mist created by the falls. The drop is so high, that by the time water reaches the bottom, it is broken down into atoms that create the mist.

In Rainy Season, Angel Falls Splits into Three Strands. Photo by antonioperezrio.com, Flickr

Angel Falls in Venezuela Video

Check out this impressive video with some amazing camera work of Angel Falls in Venezuela. The video was put together by Planet Earth BBC and uses musical score by John Williams from Jurasic Park:

Related Vacation Ideas

• Mount Roraima in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil
• Bay of Fundy
• Kaieteur National Park
• Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
• Niagara Falls Vacations

• A Spectacular Waterfall
• A Virgin Rainforest
• A Rich Cultural History of Guyana

Kaieteur National Park, Photo: brokekid, Flickr

Kaieteur National Park Weather

There is a constant temperature of about 30 Degrees Celsius any time of the year. That translates to “hot”. You will sweat a lot and you will be exposed to whole plethora of insects. Repellent with DEET is essential.

Best Time to Visit Kaieteur National Park

In order to enjoy your trip to the fullest and make the most out of it, visit Kaieteur National Park after the rainy season. Being close to the Equator, Guyana gets hit by the rainy seasons twice a year as the tropical rain belt passes over these regions when it goes south and when it goes north.

The first rainy season starts in May and ends in August, and the second one starts in November and ends in January. Schedule your trip to Guyana for after the rain season has ended to catch the full grace of the Kaieteur National Park.

Kaieteur Falls, Photo: Bill Cameron, Wikipedia

Kaieteur National Park Restaurants

There are two awesome restaurants in the Kaieteur National Park area I would like to recommend. You got to check them out, they are impossible to miss:

#1 – Self Picnic, located by the giant tree
#2 – Eat What you Have – located on the brink of the river

Unfortunately none of them takes credit cards and last time I checked, they didn’t take debit either.

Remember: Kaieteur National Park is a remote and unspoilt place. There are no restaurants in virgin rainforests of Guyana. There are no snack shops, no souvenir booths, no vending machines and… no other tourists either. You have to bring everything you need with you, including food.

Kaieteur National Park Hotels

See above. Kaieteur National Park is a virgin wilderness untouched by humans. There are no hotels in the area. If you hike through the park to reach the falls, your hotel room will consist of a comfy hammocks bed sprung between two random trees. No need to tip the staff.

Kaieteur Guesthouse

Guyana government owned Kaieteur Guesthouse is the one place in Kaieteur National Park area that offers accommodation to tourists. It is located near Kaieteur Falls, however it only has limited space and offers limited services. There is no infrastructure leading to the guesthouse so all supplies are either delivered in backpacks or by planes that carry tourists.

Kaieteur Guesthouse, Kaieteur National Park, Guyana, Photo: nicholaslaughlin, Flickr

Village of Chepanau

The village of Chepanau located on the border of Kaieteur National Park could possibly offer some form of accommodation and hospitality services. The villagers live off fishing and hunting. It takes 3 hours by speed boat to reach villages of Chepanau from Kaieteur Falls.

Interesting fact: Chepanau is inhabited by members of the Patamona Tribe, the same tribe, the chief of which sacrificed himself by canoeing over the Kaieteur Falls to save his tribe from raiding Caribs. Entire area is named after the Chief Kai and the legend of his sacrifice lives on.

Flights to Kaieteur National Park

Chartered helicopter and small aircraft flights to Kaieteur National Park are available from Georgetown. There is a number of tour operators in the capital of Guyana that provide flights to Kaieteur National Park – basically more than there are tourists looking to visit the rainforest, so one won’t have a problem flying to the park. Flights typically depart in am and leave you wander around Kaieteur Falls for about 4 hours before flying back to Georgetown.

Flying to Kaieteur National Park, Photo: brokekid, Flickr

Hiking in Kaieteur National Park

Kaieteur National Park is a real treat for adventurous hikers and trekkers. You’ll be submerged within true jungle, you’ll have direct encounters with native wild animals, including brightly colored frogs and parrots. Countless orchids and other exotic plants growing in undisturbed wilderness will be line up alongside narrow trails as you hike by.

Keep in mind that Kaieteur National Park houses virgin jungle. Many plants and animals are poisonous. It’s advised you take a tour guide to lead you through the jungle rather than hiking on your own. Inexpensive porters are also available. You may want to consider one as it takes some weight to carry enough supply to hike for 3 to 5 days through the jungle.

Related Vacation Ideas

• Kaieteur Falls, Guyana
• Mount Roraima in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil
• Angel Falls in Venezuela

Kaieteur Falls View from a Plane, Photo: brokekid, Flickr

Kaieteur Falls in Guyana is the place to go if you love unspoiled tropical rainforest wilderness in a totally un-touristy natural setting. Guyana is a small country in South America and is an amazing trip for those looking for adventure at one of the most majestic spots on Earth. Not many people have heard of Kaieteur Falls which adds to the joy of the place. The area offers beautiful scenery, amazing waterfalls and very few people to get in the way. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is nice but everyone, even you, has already been there.

The Legend of Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls is named after Chief Kai of the Patamona tribe, who sacrificed himself by canoeing over the falls to please the great spirit Makonaima so he could save his tribe from the savage Caribs who were raiding the area. In tribe’s native tongue, “Teur” means “Falls”.

Direct descendants of Chief Kai and members of Patamona tribe still live in the villages of Chepanau, located on the border of Kaieteur National Park. The village is on the Potaro River and can be reached by speed boat. It’s a 3 hour ride upriver from Kaieteur Falls.

Kaieteur Falls Fact Sheet

Kaieteur Falls is located on the Potaro River in the very heart of Guyana. As one of world’s greatest natural wonders, Kaieteur Falls flows over a flat sandstone cliff and then plunges down in a single drop of 226 meters (741 feet). This makes Kaieteur the largest single drop waterfall in the entire world. Once the falls reach its first break, it continues cascading down over a set of steep rocks for another 25 meters (101 feet) so the total distance from top to bottom is actually 251 meters (822 feet).

Kaieteur Falls vs. Niagara Falls vs. Victoria Falls

Let’s compare Kaieteur Falls with better promoted (hence more famous) Niagara Falls: Kaieteur Falls has five times the drop of Niagara Falls. Kaieteur Falls is also twice as high as famous Victoria Falls in Africa (located on Zambezi River, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Victoria Falls is home of the Devil’s Swimming Pool).

Kaieteur Falls, Guyana, Photo: Merlinthewizard, Wikipedia

Kaieteur Falls Flora and Fauna

The unique environmental conditions created by massive waterfalls support a variety of fauna and flora that can only be found in the area of Kaieteur Falls. Kaieteur Swifts (a type of bird) are known for being the most rapid living creatures capable of capturing flying insects. Kaieteur Swifts build their nests in the rocks hiding behind the impenetrable curtain of falling water.

Many endangered species feel at home within the area of Kaieteur National Park so bird and critter watching is varied and interesting. Kaieteur National Park has areas that are especially designed to offer these face-to-face encounters with both animal species and various exotic plants.

Kaieteur National Park

Beautiful Kaieteur Falls is found in raw, natural surroundings of the Kaieteur National Park. Located on the Guiana Shield in the Pakaraima Mountain region Kaieteur National Park is one of the world’s oldest and most remote geological formations. The rainforest located within Kaieteur National Park is considered to be one of the largest and most bio-diverse in the world.

Kaieteur National Park, Photo: brokekid, Flickr

Guiana Shield

Guiana Shield in Guyana is known for being the planet’s oldest surface. It’s considered to be about 2 billion years old and you can feel “the spirit of old”. If you thought Machu Picchu in Peru made you feel “the spirit of old”, just wait until you step foot within the rainforest of Guiana Shield. This is not to ditch Machu Picchu as it is without doubt one of the most magnificent places on Earth, but if there is one place that can make you feel “the spirit of old” more than Machu Picchu, it’s Guiana Shield.

Located between the Orinoco and the Amazon rivers, Guiana Shield covers an area of 75,000 square kilometers (30, 000 square miles). The Amazon River borders Guiana Shield in the south, Japur-Caqueta River borders Guiana Shield in the southwest, Sierra de Chiribiquete Mountains border it in the west and Guaviare and Orinoco Rivers in the northwest. Guiana Shield reaches all the way to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

Getting to Kaieteur Falls

Kaieteur Falls are literally in the middle of nowhere, giving you the true feeling of unspoiled nature and remoteness from any signs of civilization. You get to Kaieteur Falls by either of two means:

Kaieteur Falls by Plane:
Small air craft can be boarded in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. The flight takes about an hour and aside from getting you to the Kaieteur Falls area quickly and conveniently, it also offers you the bird’s eye view of the falls which is beyond spectacular.

Kaieteur Falls on Foot:
If you’re more adventurous and physically fit for long hiking, you can reach Kaieteur Falls on foot. Depending on your fitness level, it can take you 3 to 5 days to reach Kaieteur Falls. The advantage is that you will see lots of virgin rain forest with many great sights within Kaieteur National Park before you reach the cherry on top – Kaieteur Falls.

Kaieteur Falls, Black and White Picture, Photo: Wswaugh, Wikipedia

Remember, Kaieteur area is wilderness in its purest form. You won’t find any roads in the rainforest of the Kaieteur National Park, no luxury hotel chains, no protecting guard rails. Kaieteur Falls is the most popular vacation spot in Guyana, but you’re still likely to be the only person around if you go there during the week. On weekends during busier seasons you might see other tourists who dared the wild hike or took a plane to see the marvel of Kaieteur Falls. Guyana rainforest offers you the ability to experience authentic wilderness that has not been altered by humans.

If you decide to hike to the Kaieteur Falls from Georgetown (capital of Guyana) it will likely take you five days before you get to the falls. You’ll leave Georgetown by car, then you will board a small boat and will sail the river for two days. The rest of the trip will be on foot and will last 3 days. It’s rather demanding and may not be suitable if your fitness level is not up to par. It may also not be for you if you’re looking for a lazy, scenic vacation. During your three day hike, you will sleep in hammocks attached between two trees. You will also cross the river with no bridges. You’ll throw yourself in waist deep to get on the other side. When I said it was pure wilderness with no human made accessories to make the trip easier – I was not kidding. Even at the Kaieteur Falls – there are no railings, no safety warnings, no nothing. You are on your devices. You can get as close to the edge as you dare. It’s not the easiest adventure to take, but it’s highly rewarding, uplifting and scenery is beyond beautiful.

Related Vacation Ideas

• Kaieteur National Park
• Mount Roraima in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil
• Angel Falls in Venezuela