Jungle to Andes Expedition - Venezuela
Crossing the Andes on Horseback from the rainforest to the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada
Day by day:
* Description below is an example of the program. The itinerary can be different during your travel week.We will do everything possible to follow the indicated itinerary, although spot changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Rides are subject to change depending on weather, location, accommodation and difficulty of terrain In the unlikely event that this happens on your trip, we ask you flexibility and understanding. This is a sporty and adventurous vacation!
Day 1 : Caracas
Arrival at the International Airport Simon Bolivar.
Transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel Eurobuilding Express in Caracas.
Day 2 : Caracas - Barinas – Santa María de Canagua
Transfer Hotel - National Airport Simon Bolivar. Flight Caracas – Barinas (1 hour).
Arrival in Barinas and transfer in a local (rustic) vehicle to the Santa María de Canaguá community to stay in the Mucuposada Los Samanes. A walk to the Curbatí River to enjoy a refreshing bath in the crystal turquoise waters in the middle of the luxuriant forests is recommended. A thatch roof hut with hammocks invites you to relax. Lodging in the Mucuposada Los Samanes.
Day 3 : Santa María de Canagua – San José.
Climbing through Coffee fields (600m to 1.400m). At dawn, you will enjoy the impressive concert by tropical birds. You may photograph and observe them from very close. Ascend from Santa María de Canaguá, to the foot of the Merida mountain range, riding through crops, grasslands and jungle to San José (1400 m) a traditional coffee region surrounded by Andean cloud forests. Lodging in the Mucuposada San José. You may prepare your own sugar cane juice using a primitive family sugar mill powerd by a donkey. Overnight in the Mucuposada San José.
Day 4 : San José - El Carrizal.
Riding in pristine jungle (1.400m to 1.500m) You pass through a long and impressive hanging bridge above a turbulent river. Arrive at the El Carrizal de Misiquias village, a little village where time has stood still. We are in the territory of legends of ancient indigenous inhabitants, the Misiquias tribe. Lodging in the Mucuposada El Carrizal, where the owner Don Mario will delight you with his incredible anecdotes. Overnight at the Mucuposada El Carrizal.
Day 5 : El Carrizal - Los Morritos (camping)
From pristine jungle to brilliant páramos (1.500m to 3.300m) In the morning, continue the ascent through the Sierra Nevada National Park. We ride through exuberant cloud forests and bamboo bushes, crossing exciting Indiana Jones style hanging bridges all the way till reaching Los Colorado páramo. Here at 2.700 meters above sea level, we are surprised by the first frailejones. (typical high altitude plants) Camping at Los Morritos in the middle of pre-páramo bushes, surrounded by the song of the ciotes.
Day 6 : Los Morritos - Gavidia
Traveling through the fog of páramo in the midst of bushes and strange frailejones, plants with thick rosettes leaves often two meters in height. Before arriving at Gavidia, you reach the highest point of this journey, The Alto de Micarache (3.640 m) where we appreciate the beautiful landscape of Llano del Trigo. Lodgings in the Mucuposada Michicabá.
We will do everything possible to follow the indicated itinerary, although spot changes can occur due to unforeseen circumstances. Rides are subject to change depending on weather, location and difficulty of terrain In the unlikely event that this happens on your trip, we ask you flexibility and understanding. This is a sporty and adventurous vacation!
Day 7 : Gavidia – El Banco
Wake up the in the small agricultural community, Gavidia, dedicated to potato and carrots cultivation and trout nursery. Unique Andean high altitude landscapes. Short transfer by vehicle to El Banco, 3.750mts in full páramo. Characteristic rural Andean landscapes, molded by human intervention of small wheat plantations, stone walls and mud homes. Lodging in Refugio Ecologico Mesita Redonda.
Day 8 : El Banco – Los Romeros (camping)
Ridng from the cultivated areas to the radiant páramos. The local farmers of this area will receive you to travel with them to the Valle El Banco, a rural areas up to 3.700m. The páramo shows itself in its entire splendor with valleys of glacial origin covered with marsh and grass, as well as hillsides decorated with frailejones and beautiful yellow flowers. Climbing to 4.100 meters high the páramo is dotted with of giant frailejones. Climb to Alto de Piedras Blancas at 4.350m o toast to the fact that you are without doubt the highest riders of the country and one of the highest in the continent. After a short break at the summit descent to the mysterious “coloradito” forests (Polylepis serisea), a tree, seen at the highest altitude of the Andes and the marsh lands at the mouth of the Chama River. Camping at Los Romeros.
Day 9 : Los Romeros – Mucumpis
Succession of down hill and up hill trailing to the Los Bordones Farm. The ride enters again into the cloud forest, beauty and mystery all the way till arriving at the Mucuposada Los Bordones, near the typical Andean village of Mucumpis at 1.600 mts. Overnight in the Mucuposada Los Bordones.
Day 10 : Mucumpis – El Vigia – Caracas
After breakfast, return by vehicle to the city of El Vigia. Flight El Vigia – Caracas. Transfer to the Hotel Maiquetia. Overnight in Hotel Maiquetia.
Day 11 : Caracas
Transfer Hotel - International Airport Simon Bolivar. End of the adventure.
