Highlights of Northern Trail

Caracas

The capital of Venezuela is a dynamic and bustling city which has developed into a vast concrete sprawl with the aid of the petro-dollars that power the Venezuelan economy. Its attractions include the birthplace of Simon Bolivar who helped to liberate half the South American continent from the Spanish, the colonial district of El Hatillo and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the City University of Caracas. The university was built between 1940 and 1960 to the design of the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and is an outstanding example of the Modern Movement in architecture. The campus includes masterpieces of modern architecture and visual arts, such as the Aula Magna with the Clouds of Alexander Calder, the Olympic Stadium, and the Covered Plaza which have been integrated into a clearly articulated ensemble.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas

The city of Merida is located in the west of Venezuela, situated in a lush valley surrounded by snow-capped Andean peaks known as the 'Five White Eagles'. Merida is a fast-growing city with a number of attractions in the town including the cathedral, colourful market and the Government Palace on the Plaza Bolívar. Its main attraction however is as a base to explore its beautiful surroundings. The mountains around Merida can be explored by trekking, horse riding and mountain biking and for more adventure you can try paragliding and canyoning.

Los Llanos, or The Plains, occupy about one-third of Venezuela's territory between the Andes and the Orinoco Delta. This is Venezuela's Wild West, a land of cowboys, huge cattle ranches and a diversity of wildlife that is amongst the best in the world. Staying at cattle ranches or camping out under the stars, the region can be explored by jeep or canoe (depending on water levels). Some of the species to look out for are alligator, Orinoco crocodile, giant anteater, anaconda, capabari, turtle, freshwater dolphin, armadillo, jaguar, ocelots and honey bears. The hundreds of bird species include scarlet ibis, hoatzin, screamer, soldier stork and spoonbill.

Angel Falls

Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfalls at 980 metres, are located in Canaima National Park in south-eastern Venezuela. The Falls are a spectacular sight as the water plummets downwards off the cliff of the table mountain Auyantepui and vaporises in mid-air before settling in the pool below. Only discovered by outsiders for the first time in 1937 by American aviator Jimmie Angel, the Falls' remoteness adds to their appeal. They can only be reached by a two or three day trip on motorised canoe from the Indian settlements of Canaima or Kamarata, both of which are only accessible by air, with the journey only possible in the wet season. After sailing around Auyantepui and into the Devil's Canyon, a short hike through rainforest takes you to the base of the Falls to view the stunning scale of the cataract and, if water levels aren't too high, to bathe in its pool. On the way back to Canaima lie the broad Sapo Falls where it's possible to walk on a path behind the curtain of water and experience the stunning power of the cataract. A quicker way to see Angel Falls is to take a flight from Ciudad Bolivar for a panoramic view of them and their surroundings, though frequent cloud cover can make sightings difficult.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Canaima National Park

Mount Roraima

The table mountains, known as tepuis, in the Gran Sabana of south-eastern Venezuela are a remarkable natural phenomenon that provide one of the great trekking challenges in South America. Mount Roraima is the highest of the tepuis at 2,835 metres, located close to the triple frontier with Brazil and Guyana. It was first climbed by British explorers Everard Thum and Harry Perkins in 1884, whose description of the mountain inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write his classic novel 'The Lost World'. Most of the plant life here is endemic to the region, evolving in complete isolation for millennia, though no dinosaurs have yet been found. The standard Roraima trek takes 6 days from Santa Elena, starting with a 2 day hike to the base camp from the Pemon Indian settlement of Peraitepui where porters and guides can be hired. The hike to base camp involves fording two rivers but is rewarded with beautiful views of Roraima and Kukenan Tepui, the adjacent table mountain, from which falls the world's second highest waterfall in the rainy season. The strenuous ascent though rainforest to the cliff edge and then up along a natural ramp, takes 3-5 hours. The summit is a bizarre world of black moss-covered pillars, strange rock formations, ravines, quartz crystals and the unique flora, a truly memorable experience. Most groups spend two nights camping on top of Roraima and when the clouds clear, there are stunning views of the Gran Sabana, Kukenan and the northern section of Roraima.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Canaima National Park

Manaus is located deep in the rainforest where the two great rivers Solimoes and Negro merge to form the Amazon River. The city grew rich on the rubber boom and the legacy of this time is seen in the Teatro Amazonas opera house which still hosts opera and ballet, Palacio Rio Negro and the old British customs house. Today the capital of the region is expanding as a free trade zone and it is the launching point for trips into the Amazon rainforest or boat rides along the Amazon River and its tributaries. Close to Manaus you can see the 'Meeting of the Waters' phenomenon, where after merging the black waters of the Negro and the muddy brown waters of the Solimoes do not mix and run side by side with a clearly defined colour contrast.

The Amazon Rainforest is one of the most extraordinary and important ecosystems on earth, vital for the maintenance of life on the planet as well as for its own hugely diverse animal and plant populations. Staying in lodges in the jungle allows you to explore the pristine natural environment, learn about the variety of plant life and their uses by indigenous people and spot the myriad animal and bird life present. Fishing for piranhas, spotting caiman by torchlight, visiting indigenous communities and searching for pink dolphins on boat trips are some of the fascinating activities available. A boat journey along the Amazon or one of its many tributaries will also allow you to experience life on the waterways which are often the main means of communication and transportation in the region. Visiting riverside settlements, watching the jungle as you glide past and sleeping in a hammock underneath the stars makes for an unforgettable experience. The journey is best taken on a small, traditional two-decked riverboat for a more authentic experience and to allow you to get closer to the rainforest.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Central Amazon Conservation Complex