I recently read a “Travel Culture” article titled “8 Dream Destinations that have become too dangerous to visit”.
Over the last 40 years, I have visited 3 of them. Two of them are not particularly noteworthy: Acapulco, Mexico, and Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
But our visit to Angel Falls in the deep jungle of Venezuela will be forever memorable.
In 1986, Gail and I (and others) hosted some of my “company’s” largest Canadian dealers on a small cruise ship from Barbados, past the islands of the southern Caribbean, to the mouth of the Orinoco River in Venezuela.
This river is the second largest in South America, compared to the Amazon. Our small ship battled the rapidly dropping tides as we approached the entrance into Venezuela. The result of this was that only a handful of us were able to have dinner due to sea sickness and the turbulence we endured. Once we got past the giant river’s mouth, it was clear sailing for the 400 miles all the way to the large mining town of Ciudad Guyana. Wildlife sightings were numerous, and hundreds of alligators all along the shore were most memorable.
On our arrival in Ciudad Guyana, we went directly to the airport. We boarded a Boeing 727 for our 381 km trip into the jungle, including two fly pasts of the world’s highest continuous waterfall, Angel Falls on the Carrao River. The fall is 979 metres (3,212 feet). It was discovered in the 1930s by an American adventurer named James Angel. Yes, it was spectacular.
The show got even better when we landed on a remote runway and were met by local indigenous people who had only been found in the 1930s when Angel discovered the falls. We walked through their little village; saw into their thatched huts, and amazingly paddled with them in their dug-out canoes. No picture taking was allowed. We had to purchase pictures from them. Remember, this was before mobile phones.
For larger view, click on image
This area became a hiker’s paradise over time, but crime and bad government have put Venezuela and Angel Falls off the list of destinations for safe travel in recent years.
And this was a traveler’s GEM for Gail and I to visit.
For me, It is a memory that I cherish.
