The Amazon - The Rough Guide to Brazil - page 385

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soil rapidly erodes amid lush greenery; it is nonetheless spectacularly rich in flora and
fauna, and it's not uncommon to spot anteaters, turtles, herons, macaws and hawks.

Parque Nacional do Viruá
he Parque Nacional do Viruá aims to preserve the natural ecosystems in the south
of Roraima state, and protects an area of 2270 square kilometres of dense forest and
savannah. The park possesses some of the richest fauna among Brazil's protected areas,
with over 110 mammals, 420 fish species and over 1150 vertebrates. The area is also
home to over 520 species of birds (almost half those known in the Amazon), making
the park a true paradise for birdwatchers and one of the country's prime destinations
for ecotourism. The best time to visit is during the dry season (Sept-April), with large
open tracts of vegetation facilitating animal spotting.

Santa Elena de Uairén (Venezuela)
The journey from Boa Vista to Venezuela , across a vast flat savannah that is dusty in
the dry season and boggy in the wet, offers very little in the way of scenery, but there is
a great deal of wildlife: white egrets, storks and all sorts of waders in the rainy season,
flycatchers, hawks and the occasional large animal, such as the giant anteater. As the
border approaches, the land begins to rise slightly; to the northeast, at the point where
Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela meet, lies Monte Roraima , the fourth-highest peak in
Brazil at 2875m.
The small town of SANTA ELENA DE UAIRÉN has the real feel of a border town in its
low, corrugated-roof houses and dusty streets, and serves as a base to explore Mount
Roraima. You can see the whole place in an hour's walk, but there's a handful of
agencies who run tours to local waterfalls and native communities. Various traders
will accept cash US dollars or Brazilian currency - ask around at one of the hotels.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE SANTA ELENA DE UAIRÉN VENEZUELA

B$250), stopping off at Puerto Ordaz (11hr; B$250).

TO VENEZUELA
By bus From Boa Vista's rodoviária there are buses to
Pacaraima at the Venezuelan border (daily 7am; 3hr;
R$20.50), from where you can catch a taxi to Santa Elena
(R$15; 30min/person). Shared taxis from Boa Vista's
Terminal de Integração João Firmino Neto, known as
Terminal do Caimbé, also ply the route (2hr 30min; R$30/
person), although you might as well take a shared taxi
directly (3hr; R$35). There are onward buses into Venezuela
from Santa Elena to Ciudad Bolívar (daily at 7pm; 12hr;

TO BRAZIL
By bus If you're heading into Brazil, you'll have to make
your way to the border and then catch a bus (3hr; R$20.50)
or shared taxi (2hr 30min; R$30/person) from Pacaraima,
just across the border in Brazil, to Boa Vista. Alternatively,
you can organize a shared taxi all the way from Santa Elena
to Boa Vista (3hr; R$35). There are no direct buses travelling
from Santa Elena into Brazil.

TOURS
Backpacker Tours Calle Urdaneta T [phone],
T [phone], W backpacker-tours.com. This
reliable German-run agency with high-quality equipment
(tents, bikes and trucks) offers multi-day treks to Mount
Roraima, Chirikayen and Auyan Tepui, as well as plenty of
tours around Venezuela including to Angel Falls, Los Llanos

and the Orinoco Delta. Also offers multi-day bike trips.
Ruta Salvaje Av Mariscal Sucre at Calle Akarabisis
T [phone], T [phone],
W rutasalvaje.com. This agency specializes in tours to the
Gran Sabana as well as thrilling paragliding, paramotoring
and whitewater rafting trips.

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Backpacker Tours & Pousada Calle Urdaneta s/n
T [phone], W backpacker-tours.com. This
German-owned pousada largely catering to backpackers
offers spacious, colourful rooms right in the centre of town.
There's a reliable a liated travel agency and the attached
Café Goldrausch with an outdoor patio is a great spot for a

meal and an eve ning beer. Mon-Sat 7am-11pm, Sun
5-11pm. B$400
Hotel Anaconda Calle Ikabaru T [phone],
W hotelanaconda.net. This is Santa Elena's most comfortable
hotel featuring a/c rooms with minibar, a welcomin g lounge
area and an inviting swimming pool with deckchairs. B$1990