Venezuela - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 894

ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
You can cross into Colombia (see box, p.886) or Brazil (see
box, p.907) from this region.
By plane Puerto Ayacucho Airport is 6km southeast of
town. Conviasa ( W conviasa.aero) operates flights to and
from Caracas (3 weekly; 1hr 30min). Buses from the airport
into town are rare; it's much easier to take a taxi (roughly
BsF50).
By bus The bus terminal is 4km east of the centre and has
nowhere to leave luggage. Taxis into town are hailed from
the road outside the main entrance and cost BsF15.
Destinations Caracas (daily at 6pm; 15hr); Ciudad Bolívar
(hourly with several night buses; 12hr); San Fernando de
Apure (several daily until 5pm; 6hr); Valencia (daily at
6.30pm; 13hr).
Tourist information The Secretaría de Turismo is based
at the airport T 0248 521 0033, Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

expensive. An attractive Amazon-themed reception is
decorated with wooden parrots, tribal masks and tropical
flowers, with spacious rooms set around the perimeter.
There's a big swimming pool at the back, which yo u can
pay BsF50 to use if you aren't staying there. BsF320
Ì Posada Manapiare Urb Alto Parima, Entrada No 2
T 0248 686 0062, W posadamanapiare.com.ve, E posada
[e-mail]. You'll have to remember your
animal rather than room number at this stylish posada
between the bus terminal and town. Nice rooms are set
around a terracotta-roofed courtyard and the restaurant is
popular even with non-gu ests. Boo k ahead, preferably via
email. Breakfast included. BsF250
Residencia Internacional Av Aguerrevere 18 T 0248 521
0242. A colourful and cheap option in a quiet part of town.
Some rooms have a/c and private bathrooms for BsF30 extra,
and there's a matriarchal atmosphere from the indulgent
grandmother who runs the place. A good pa nadería two
doors down is a prime breakfast option. BsF150
Residencias Michelangelli de Pozo C Evelio Roa 35
T 0248 521 3189. You may find yourself showering out of
a bucket, since the plumbing occasionally gives out at this
otherwise peaceful posada. Rooms (some with a/c) are
very basic and set aroun d a courtyard that's more concrete
than greenery. BsF140

11

GETTING AROUND
By taxi Although Puerto Ayacucho does have city buses,
you rarely see them and schedules are unpredictable.
Consequently, most locals take taxis (in and around town
BsF10); look for the “taxi” window-stickers rather than the
rooftop signs. Mototaxis are a good option for when tra c
clogs the city streets at peak hours.

ACCOMMODATION
Gran Hotel Amazonas Av Emilio Roa, at C Amazonas
T 0248 521 5633. The best hotel in town isn't that

EATING AND DRINKING
In addition to the range of inexpensive restaurants about
town, there is a string of food stalls along Av Aguerrevere,

AMAZON TOURS
Squeezing all of the Amazon's wonders into a three-day tour is impossible, but a few
companies in Ayacucho do their best. The classic tour is a three-day/two-night trip up the
Sipapo and Autana rivers to Cerro Autana , a 1200m-high tepui seen from an adjacent
vantage point. You'll spend the nights in hammocks with an indigenous community, explore
waterways in small boats and fish for exotic species which you can eat for dinner if successful.
More in-depth and expensive options include the ten- to twelve-day Ruta Humboldt ,
following in the footsteps of the famous explorer, and even longer journeys to meet the
Yanomami and other isolated tribes.
All-inclusive prices, for groups of four or more people, are US$60-80 per day per person for
three or four days, usually more for longer trips. Companies provide any necessary jungle
access permits and can often help you plan a journey into Brazil.
Finally, a disclaimer : many people expect to see amazing wildlife in the Amazon, but in
reality the density of the jungle and the reclusiveness of the animals makes this quite di cult.
If you're set on wildlife-watching, save your money for a trip to Los Llanos (see p.894).

if the weather isn't cooperating.
Eco-Destinos Ent. Urbanización Bolivariana, Quinta
Los Abuelos T 0416 448 6394 or 0248 521 3964,
W amazonasvenezuela.com. Lets customers fully
customize trips, for instance by suggesting they bring
and prepare their own food to mitigate expenses.

TOUR OPERATORS
Coyote Expediciones Av Aguerrevere 75 T 0414
486 2500, E [e-mail]. Rarely in
the o ce, Luis Coyote is better contacted by phone.
He arranges tours throughout the region as well as
trips along the narrow Río Casiquiare, on which the
indigenous Báquiro live, a good alternative to Autana