Only I am 20 years old and know that I have a lot of experiences for living. Nevertheless, I can define the following one as one of more striking and wonderful than I could narrate: in September 2011, I traveled with my family across the Gran Sabana, spectacular natural reservation located in the flank East of the National Park Canaima, in the Bolivar State.
It's true that the trips by land from Valencia up to Puerto Ordaz and from there up to the population known as Kilómetro 88 (approximately 373 miles the latter), seemed to be endless. But, on having come to the gigantic Stone of the Virgin, the perception changes totally. The Troncal 10 (the road about which we have rolled from Port Ordaz) begins to ascend for the Serranía de Lema, a tropical and rainy forest, until it reaches 4,700 feet over the level of the sea, where officially this fascinating place begins. Here we begin to appreciate the big extensions of plains that justify the name of Gran Sabana. During the route, the viewing-point of the tepuyes is an obliged stop. From there, if the sky is cleared, we can admire, in the distance, the sacred mountains of the aborigines, including the Kukenán and the great Roraima.
Stone of the Virgin
During the second day of tour the contracted operator led us to knowing the Aponwao Fall. Being at the foot of this impressive fall of water, with approximately 328 feet of height, produces a strange sensation: on the one hand you absorb, somehow, all its energy and, at the same time, you feel overwhelmed by his strength (at least it was what I experienced). But it is not quite: a few steps from this wonder, there's the Pozo Escondido, a place very similar to our vision of the Biblical Eden, with a small and magical water fall where we didn′t hesitate to take a bath.
Aponwao Fall
The Pozo Escondido
When we took again the Troncal 10, we stopped to contemplate, between others, the Kama and Kawi Falls. Also we took refreshing baths in the gullies Pacheco and Jaspe (the latter formed with red stones with the same name). At San Francisco de Yuruaní, we stopped to buy handcrafts elaborated by the aborigens pemones and the famous cumache, a delicious hot sauce prepared with bachacos (big and red ants).
Santa Elena de Uairén, frontier city with Brazil, marked the end of the tour. It is an active city with excellent posadas (small hotels managed by families) and tasty food. About all these places I′ll tell you more in my following posts.
If you want to go for the first time to the Gran Sabana, I recommend you to contract a guided tour. Almost all of them start in Puerto Ordaz and you can search more information about prices and included benefits in Internet. I am sure that you will be charmed with this place!