Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HATOS AND MÓDULOS
Many of the vast cattle ranches of Los Llanos, called
hatos
, double as incredible wildlife
sanctuaries and rustic resorts. They offer activities such as truck rides, canoe trips and hikes
on their property, and trained guides usually speak good English. High-season rates are
around BsF600 per person with all meals and tours included; reservations are almost always
required. Call for details on prices and transport to the ranches. The country's three largest
hatos
(El Cedral, Frío and Piñero) are all state-owned, and two are open for tourism.
A cheaper alternative is to stay in
módulos
, smaller ranches with much more basic
accommodation, also home to abundant wildlife. Both options listed below offer various
activities including boat tours along the Rio Guaritico, night safaris, piranha fishing and
horseriding. To get to both
módulos
, catch a bus from San Fernando de Apure to the little town
of Mantecai (4hr) where the
módulo
owners will collect you. Make sure you call in advance to
organize pick-up, and take a mosquito net with you in the wet season. Prices include food.
HATOS
Hato El Cedral
T
0212 718 8995,
W
elcedral.com.
Home to abundant wildlife, this sprawling ranch has
more than 340 bird species and the country's highest
concentration of capybaras. Three hours from both San
Fernando de Apure and Barinas. Room only BsF400.
Hato El Piñero
T
0243 242 0966 or
T
0212 991 8935.
Stylish posada with ten rooms, all with a/c, offering
some excellent wildlife tours as well as conservation
projects in the area. Two nights with full board and all
tour activities BsF1350.
MÓDULOS
Rancho Grande
Vecindario El Palmar, Mantecal
T
0416 873 1192. Traditional-style cabins provide
temporary lodging by the river; tours are in Spanish.
Guamanchi Expeditions (see p.891) in Mérida come here
for their Los Llanos tours. 3-day/2-night tours BsF2000.
Yopito
Vía Los Módulos, Carretera Quintero, Mantecal
T
0416 573 8644, 0426 747 1745 or 0240 808 0284.
Across the river from Colombia, El Yopito has hammocks
and beds in twelve-person cabañas. There's also a pool.
3-day/2-night tours BsF1800.
11
serves up enormous “pimp-my-snack”-style
rueda
burgers
(BsF100) and
caiman
hotdogs (BsF90) for sharing. Take a
seat beside the preparation area and gawp. Daily 4pm-2am.
a tremendous wealth of natural resources
such as gold, iron ore, bauxite and
diamonds. It also supplies hydroelectricity
for the entire country and even exports it
to Venezuela's neighbours. Despite the
immensity of Guayana, there are only
two real cities,
Puerto Ordáz
and
Ciudad
Bolívar
, which are vastly outnumbered
by indigenous communities belonging
to the Yanomami, Pemón, Warao and
Piaroa, all of whom have retained many
of their customs.
The region is estimated to have been
above sea level for three billion years;
the resulting landscape is the area's
biggest tourist draw, although the
immensity of the landscape means the
individual sights are spread far apart.
Attractions include the
tropical
rainforests
of the Amazon, the mighty
Orinoco Delta
, the breathtaking
Angel
Falls
and the magnificent
tepuis
, or
flat-topped mountains.
Tepuis
means
“Houses of the Gods” in the indigenous
Pemón language, and of these,
Mount
Roraima
was the inspiration for Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle's
The Lost World
.
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange
Banco Coroní, by the fountain.
There are two Banco Mercantil ATMs in the bus terminal.
Internet
Full Internet, first floor, Paseo Libertador, by the
pharmacy. Mon-Sat 8am-6pm (BsF4/hr).
Pharmacy
FarmaLlano, Paseo Libertador, two blocks
south of
Hotel La Torraca
.
Phones
Movistar, Paseo Libertador, by the pharmacy.
Police
Paseo Libertador, behind the Monumento Páez.
Daily 8am-8pm.
Post
Ipostel, C 24 de Julio, at C Bolívar.
Guayana
Covering the southern and southeastern
half of Venezuela,
Guayana
(not to be
confused with the country Guyana) is
comprised of three of Venezuela's largest
states - Amazonas, Bolívar and Delta
Amacuro. The region is extremely
important economically, containing
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