When contemplating Venezuela's Lost World, one envisions impenetrable forests, sparkling waterfalls and unusual wildlife. These thoughts are no doubt inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's early twentieth-century novel which is loosely based on explorers’ accounts of the region that sparked his imagination. True to its exotic image, the Gran Sabana is spectacular! Multicolored rivers plunge thousands of feet off mountain tops and churn over sandstone platforms. Pink and orange-hued beaches glow in the sunset, and lush tropical forests shelter inland savannahs. This remote section of Venezuela was brought to the world's attention following Jimmy Angel's well-publicized adventure on the mesa called Auyán-tepui, or mountain of the god of evil. In search of gold, Angel and his party were unable to take off after their small plane bogged down in the soggy marshes on top of the tepui. They were forced to descend more than 2,000 feet through dense, rugged jungle. Ever since, the world's highest falls have born the name of this adventurous gold-digger and are one of the best known destinations in South America.

This exciting journey takes us into the heart of this fascinating wilderness, traveling by boat to the foot of Angel Falls. We begin with an overnight stay in Caracas, then fly to Puerto Bolívar to catch a smaller plane to the Indian community of Kavac. Here, we begin our adventure with a day hike/swim into Kavac canyon with its own secluded falls. The next morning we head out on the river in our motorized canoe. Our journey follows the Carrao River, then the Churún, into the impressive Devil's Canyon. From Ratoncito Island, we continue by foot to a lookout point with the best views of the world-renowned falls, whose name Kerepa-kupai-meru means “falls from the deepest place” in the native Pemón Indian language. After admiring and photographing this spectacular sight, we navigate downstream to the exotic tourist destination, Canaima. We spend the night in a comfortable lodge overlooking a gorgeous lagoon with a series of cascades, and overfly Angel Falls the next day, before returning to Caracas.