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The following self-drive journey is a perfect way to discover
Venezuela on your own. We provide you with a fully
insured car, book your hotels and a few guided excursions, and we provide you with
a set of maps and valuable information about Venezuela.
Then, you manage your time and go at your own pace.
This journey is separated in three parts.
The western part takes you from Caracas along the Caribbean Coast
to Maracaibo and then Merida, a pleasant colonial city within the beautiful Andes.
It includes the
visit of the national parks of Henri Pittier,
Morrocoy and Sierra Nevada, as well as the cities of Coro, Maracaibo
and Merida. It is possible to book an extension into the Llanos to San
Fernando de Apure.
A second self drive journey leads through the east of
Venezuela (the Oriente). You have the chance to visit Cumana,
the first South American city, Mochima National Park, the
Guacharo Cave and the Orinoco Delta. The tour finishes
in Puerto Ordaz or Ciudad Bolivar. From here it is possible
to book an extension to Rio Caura, the Gran Sabana and Kavac/
Canaima, or fly back to Caracas
The Itinerary
The western and the eastern itineraries may be booked separately or form a single journey. The Llanos extension is the logical continuation of the western itinerary.
Western circuit
DAY 1: Caracas
Arrival in Caracas. Transfer to
Hotel Las Americas and handing over of the documents.
DAY 2: Caracas - Henri Pittier National Park
Handing over of the car and drive to Choroni, a fishermen village within
Henri Pittier National Park. Lodging at the charming
Posada Colonial in Choroni. (B D)
DAY 3: Henri Pittier National Park
Day to
relax at the superb coco-palmed beach. Optional boat excursion to one of the
remote beaches of the park or to Chuao where the best cacao is produced. You can
also hike into the lush hills or organise a bird watching excursion. Lodging at the
Posada Colonial in Choroni (B D)
DAY 4: Choroni - Morrocoy National Park
Drive back to Maracay, and
from there to Chichiriviche in Morrocoy National Park, a paradise of tropical islands.
Lodging at Hotel Nautico. (B D)
DAY 5:Morrocoy National Park
Full day Boat trip to one of
the nearby island of the Morrocoy National Park.
Lodging at Hotel Nautico (B D)
DAY 6:Chichiriviche - Coro
Drive to Coro, one of the best preserved colonial city
of Venezuela. Lodging at the Posada Granja El Ojito, a very nice
guesthouse situated 30 min before
reaching Coro. In the afternoon, you may drive
to Coro and then visit the famous sand dunes (B).
DAY 7: Coro - Maracaibo
Drive to Maracaibo. Lodging at the Hotel Maracaibo
Cumberland. (B)
DAY 8 : Maracaibo - Sinamaica Lagoon
Full day excursion to the Sinamaica Lagoon, home of the Guajiros, a fiercely independent native people
straddling over the border into Colombia. Lodging at the Hotel Maracaibo Cumberland. (B)
DAY 9 : Maracaibo - Timotes
Picturesque 6 hour drive towards the Andes to Timotes (3.000
mts). Accommodation in Bungalows with kitchen, bath and chimney.
(B)
DAY 10: Merida
Drive to the highest pass
of Venezuela, the Pico El Aguila (4180 mts). Optional visit of a condor breeding
station and to the Mucubaji Lagoon. Arrive in Merida and lodging at the
Casona de Margot guesthouse. (B).
DAY 11: Merida
In the morning, excursion
with the cable car into Sierra Nevada National Park. The cable car is the highest and
longest of the world, reaching an altitude of 4765 metres at Pico Espejo, offering stupendous views
over the Merida Valley and the Pico Bolivar (5007 mts), the roof of Venezuela.
In the afternoon, you may drive to the picturesque
andean village of Jaji. Lodging at the Casona de Margot guesthouse.
(B).
DAY 12: Merida
In the morning you have time to visit the city before
handing over the car. Transfer to the airport. (B)
Llanos Extension
The Llanos, the vast savannah region of Venezuela, sustains a
breathtakingly rich variety of wildlife that revolves around dramatic
flood/draught cycles, of seemingly never-ending rivers and flat
plains, lush and flooded in the rainy season, baked and dusty in the dry season.
DAY 12: Merida - Altamira
In the morning you have time to visit the city. Around noon, you start your
drive across the Andes, visiting several andean villages en route, such as
Santo. Domingo. You stay for the night at the picturesque village
of Altamira in a nice posada. (B D)
DAY 13: Altamira
Visit of a coffee and sugar cane plantation. Lodging at the posada. (B D)
DAY 14: Los Llanos
You drive deep into the Llanos, the central grasslands of Venezuela, and arrive at
Hato El Frio, a local ranch dedicated to ecotourism.
In the afternoon, excursion in the reserve to observe the abundant wildlife (crocodiles,
turtles, anacondas, capybaras, scores of birds, ante eaters, monkeys, foxes....).
Lodging at the hato. (B D)
DAY 15: Los Llanos
Excursions in the hato. Hiking, riding canoeing around
the wildlife reserve to observe animals and the llaneros' way of life..
Lodging at the hato. (B L D)
DAY 16: San Fernando de Apure
Drive to San Fernando de Apure.
Hand over of the car and flight to
Caracas. (B)
Eastern circuit
The following itinerary is the logical continuation of the previous but you may book it
separately.
DAY 16: Caracas
Arrival in Caracas. Transfer to
Hotel Las Americas and handing over of the documents.
DAY 17: Caracas - Tacarigua de La Laguna
Handing over of the car and drive to the National Park Tacarigua
de La Laguna. Boat transfer over
the lagoon to the simple Hotel Club Miami, directly on the beach. (B D)
DAY 18: Mochima - Cumana
Drive via Puerto La Cruz to Cumana, along a scenic coastal
road crossing the whole
Mochima National Park. Lodging at Hotel Barecelo Nueva Toledo.
(B D)
DAY 19:Mochima National Park
Day to enjoy the beach or to go for a boat excursion
into Mochima National Park (optional).
Lodging at Hotel Barcelo Nueva Toledo.(B D)
DAY 20:Guacharo Cave - Caripe
Drive to Caripe a small town set in the mountains at the heart of
the Venezuela coffee growing region.
Optional visit to the Guacharo Cave. Lodging at Hotel Pueblo Pequeno.
(B)
DAY 21:Orinoco Delta
Drive via Maturin to the
small port of San Jose de Buja, in the Orinoco Delta.
Transfer by boat to Boca de Tigre Ecorourism Camp deep into the marshes of the Delta.
Hiking and canoe excursions into the Delta, discovering its many channels and its wildlife.
(B L D)
DAY 22: Orinoco Delta - Ciudad Bolivar
Excursions in the morning and return by
boat to San Jose de Buja. Drive to Ciudad Bolivar to hand
over the car. Lodging at Hotel Laja Real just in front of the airport.
(B L)
DAY 23: Ciudad Bolivar
Breakfast and end of services (B)
Recommended Extensions
We do recommend:
Canaima and the Angel Falls
- Visit of Canaima National Park.
This first class journey brings you into close contact with the fabled "Lost World" of Canaima National Park,
discovering landscapes of high tabletop mountains looming over impenetrable forests, savannahs, splendid lagoons and
spectacular waterfalls, amongst them, the Angel Falls, the highest of the world.
From Ciudad Bolivar or Caracas
Caura River Canoe Expedition
- A 5 days/4 nights canoe odyssey along the Caura River to the Para Falls
inside a pristine jungle.
From Ciudad Bolivar.
General Information
Read our customers' feedback about this journey.
We can book all domestic flights upon request. Average prices are USD 50 for San Fernando/Caracas
, USD 100 for Ciudad Bolivar/Caracas and USD 80 for Merida/Caracas.
Rated: Easy
Prices are given per person on a double room basis and considering that 2 persons travel in a
Ford Festiva or equivalent, and 4 persons
in a Toyota Autana. If your party consist of 1, 3 or 5 people, please contact us for a quotation.
| Toyota Autana (4 people) | |||||||||
| Western Venezuela | Llanos Extension | Eastern Venezuela | |||||||
| Room | SGL | DBL | SGL | DBL | SGL | DBL | |||
| USD | $ 1605 | $ 1265 | $ 744 | $ 583 | $ 1035 | $ 783 | |||
| EUR | € 1332 | € 1050 | € 617 | € 484 | € 859 | € 650 | |||
| GBP | £ 899 | £ 708 | £ 416 | £ 326 | £ 579 | £ 438 | |||
| Ford Festiva (2 people) | |||||||||
| Western Venezuela | Llanos Extension | Eastern Venezuela | |||||||
| Room | SGL | DBL | SGL | DBL | SGL | DBL | |||
| USD | $ 1739 | $ 1421 | $ 796 | $ 649 | $ 1107 | $ 855 | |||
| EUR | € 1443 | € 1179 | € 661 | € 539 | € 919 | € 710 | |||
| GBP | £ 974 | £ 795 | £ 446 | £ 363 | £ 620 | £ 479 | |||
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