DAY 1: Arrival at Puerto Ayacucho, the capital of Amazonas State. Transfer from the airport to Orinoquia Camp, some 18 kms. distant. The camp is located on the banks of the Orinoco River between the Maipures and Atures Rapids. In the afternoon we will have an excursion to the city and visit the excellent Ethnological Museum. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
DAY 2: After breakfast we will travel by road to the Port of Samariapo (about 60 minuts of road), where we will pick up our boat for the river trip. The boat is a “Bongo”, a large and wide dugout with a roof. We will be navigating on three different rivers – the Orinoco, the Sipapo and the Cuao. Our first stop will be at the Isla Raton on the Orinoco. We will then continue up river, leaving the Orinoco to enter the Sipapo, and then stop at a beautiful spot for lunch and a swim in the river. We will then continue up the Cuao River for some two hours until we reach the Camp called the Raudal de Danto or the Danto’s Rapids where we will visit a community of the Piaroa. From here it is possible to go out on the river in a much smaller dug-out or “Curiara”, or we can fish, swim, observe birds or simply contemplate the enormity of the Amazonian forest.
DAY 3: After breakfast we will hike to the upper part of Danto Falls and then travel by boat for approxiamtely 40 minutes before commencing a two and a half hour hike through the forest. We will be accompanied by native guides who will help carry all the equipment, food, etc. They will also show you their medicinal plants as well as explain other bits of interesting information about the forest they know so well. Our goal is the refuge at the foot of the Cuao mountain range where we will have lunch followed by a walk to the outlook of the mountain and a most refreshing bath in the natural Togogán or slide of Caño Paraíso (Paradise stream) as well as the many natural swimming holes. Dinner and overnight in hammocks with mosquito nets.
DAY 4: After breakfast we will walk back to Danto Falls to have lunch. Then we will go back down the river to the Port of Samariapo, stopping at an indigenous community to observe the preparation of maniac or mañoco and visit the community. Upon arriving at Samariapo we will be taken by jeep to Orinoquia Camp for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5: Breakfast and transfer to the airport at Puerto Ayacucho to catch the plane for Caracas.