Venezuela - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 898

GUAYANA TOURS
Most of the Ciudad Bolívar agencies listed here also sell tours of the Orinoco Delta (see p.909)
and Gran Sabana (see p.908), although for the latter you'll find better tour prices in Santa
Elena. All agencies offer pretty much the same packages so make sure you shop around for
the best deal.
ANGEL FALLS
While it's possible to cobble together a trip to Angel Falls (see p.904) on your own, the
small amount of money you save hardly warrants the effort of arranging all the various
components (flights, boats, accommodation, food, etc). Local tourism operates on the basis
of package tours arranged elsewhere (usually Ciudad Bolívar), and the needs of maverick
travellers are generally an afterthought. The standard three-day/two-night budget tour, with
flights in and out of Canaima, should cost around BsF2500. Prices are all-inclusive except for
the BsF150 national park fee payable when you land in Canaima, and the Ciudad Bolívar
airport tax (BsF30).
TOUR OPERATORS
Amor Patrio In Posada Amor Patrio (see below)
T 0414 854 4925, W posadaamorpatrioaventura.com.
Specializes in Río Caura trips, rugged camping and
visits to indigenous villages.
Eco-Adventures In the bus terminal T 0285 651
9546, W adventurevenezuela.com. Often mistaken for
a pirate outfit due to its location, it's actually a great
option for travellers who are keen to get things sorted
once they've hopped off the bus.
Energy Tours At the airport T 0285 617 4530,
W energytour.com. Italian-owned company that offers
Angel Falls trips combined with other destinations,
usually the Gran Sabana, Orinoco Delta, Isla Margarita
and Los Roques. O ce hours are not strictly kept and
they are best contacted through the website.
Excursiones Don Carlos In Posada Don Carlos (see
below) T 0285 632 6017, W posada-doncarlos.com.

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Organizes tours throughout the country with
reputable operators, as well as offering bank transfers
at mercado paralelo rates if you're running short on
cash.
Excursiones Salto Ángel C Libertad 31 T 0412
190 5084, W saltoangel.com.ve. English-speaking
Rodman covers the whole state with a range of activi-
ties, although, as the name suggests, he specializes
in the waterfalls. Tailor-made packages range from
luxury to basic.
Sapito Tours At the airport T 0285 632 7989,
W sapitotours.com. The tour agency arm of Campa-
mento Bernal in Canaima, specializing in tourism
around the village.
Turi Express Dorado At the airport T 0285 634
1243. Long-established company that has been opera-
ting for over two decades, offering the usual packages
as well as tours of Ciudad Bolívar itself.

Destinations Caracas (daily; 1hr); Maturín (daily; 1hr).
For Canaima, numerous companies fly daily for BsF1300
return; tickets can be bought in advance at the airport
or organized by your hotel.
By bus The terminal lies southwest of the centre on
Av República, at Av Sucre. Taxis to or from the centre cost
BsF30, while buses heading to the terminal can be hailed
from the river side of Paseo Orinoco. Tickets can only be
bought on the day of departure, so for less-served desti-
nations (particularly Santa Elena and Barinas) you should
buy your night bus ticket in the morning.
Destinations Caracas (several daily; 9hr); Puerto Ayacucho
(several daily; 14hr); Puerto La Cruz (4 daily; 5hr); Puerto
Ordáz (half-hourly; 1hr); Valencia (several daily; 10hr);
Santa Elena de Uairén (6 daily, mostly night buses; 12hr);
Barinas (2 daily; 15hr).
Tourist information The Secretaría de Turismo and
its extremely enthusiastic staff are in the main
entrance of the Jardín Botánico ( T 0800 674 6626,

E [e-mail]); there's
also a Venetur desk at the airport ( T 0800 462 8871).
Both daily 8am-5pm.

ACCOMMODATION
Ciudad Bolívar is rivalled only by Mérida in its selection of
great, cheap accommodation.
Posada Amor Patrio C Amor Patrio, at the Plaza Bolívar
T 0414 854 4925, W posadamorpatrioaventura.com. In
a building that's nearly 300 years old, this German-owned
posada rocks a chilled vibe throughout. Rooms are named
after exotic locations across the globe and the atmospheric
salón del ritmo brims with Caribbean personality. There's
a kitchen, laundry servic e and in ternet (but no wi-fi). Also
has its own tour agency. BsF130
Ì Posada Don Carlos C Boyacá, at C Amor Patrio
T 0285 632 6017, W posada-doncarlos.com. You can just
picture Venezuelan gentry sipping on some dark rum at
the bar of this characterful posada. Rooms are off the large