I did both Roraima and Angel Falls with Hike Venezuela, costing a total of $660. I've included the itinerary at the bottom of this post.
When taking overnight buses, make sure you bring a fleece and sleeping bag. The air conditioning on long distance buses is very powerful and it gets really cold. Keep all your valuables with you.
Also bring enough food and water, the bus does not stop for dinner or snacks. There is a toilet on board but it's quite disgusting. The lights go out pretty much as soon as you set off, and the reading lights don't work, so there's not a lot to do for 12 hours.
Not far into the trail you will be attacked by puri-puri, small flies that bite and leave a red round mark / dot. They are much itchier than mosquitoes and they are not afraid of DEET! I had another bug repellent (Care Plus from Decathlon, active ingredient Citriodiaol 19.2%) which did work. Having a head net also helped (but I got lots of funny looks from other people).
Pack warm and waterproof gear (jacket, gloves, hat, poncho). The weather changes more regularly and abruptly the closer you get to Roraima. Temperatures drop as well as you go higher up, especially when the sun is gone. The persistent mist/fog at the top also makes it feel colder. You'll also have to walk under a waterfall on summit day, so bring a poncho (I had an umbrella but that meant I couldn't use one hand, which could have been disastrous on a slippery climb). Have a rain cover for your rucksacks.
Bring a couple of pairs of spare socks. You'll need to cross two rivers and the rocks are very slippery, but having socks on helps.
Your agent will tell you this before you set off - put an extra plastic bag liner inside your rucksack, in case the rucksack falls into the water from the river crossing. If you have dry bags that's even better.
There was no electricity at all for 6 days so bring extra batteries for your phones and cameras. It gets pitch dark by 6pm (in November) so we just went to bed after dinner. The upside was I woke up naturally quite early everyday, around 5am, which was perfect for seeing sunrises.
You can wash (yourself and your clothes) almost everyday, in River Tök, at the base camp and also at the top if using natural organic biodegradable products. Be warned, the water is cold though.
Always pee away from water sources. For no.2, your porters will dig a hole in the ground at the camp sites below the mountain. At the top you should be using a plastic bag provided by the porters, who will also give you white powder to line the bag (I couldn't work out what the powder did but I didn't spend too long investigating either). Tie the bags up and the porters are supposed to take them down the tepui to be disposed of. Never leave your waste in at the top or in the open, and insist on your porters follow the rules (sadly I saw lots of human waste left behind).
There are lots of quartz crystals at the top. They are beautiful but don't take any away. Sadly lots of people do this. Not only is it illegal it is also immoral.
When trekking especially coming down try not to use trees for support too much - quite a few young ones are already loose and on the verge of being pulled out by tourists holding onto them for balance or support. It's bad for the trees' health but also dangerous for the trekker.
If you see any litter on your way up, mark them outso you can pick them up on your way down.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Caracas and overnight hotel - US$35pp
Day 2
Internal flight to Puerto Ordaz (8am) - US$25
Transfer to Cuidad Bolivar (9.30am, 60 minutes) - US$15
Night bus to Santa Elena (5pm, 12-16 hours) - US$10
Day 3
Arrive in Santa Elena (7-10am), overnight in posada - US$10
Day 4-9
Roraima Trek 6D/5N (5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners) - US$245
Day 9
Afternoon back from trek (3-4pm)
Nightbus to Puerto Ordaz (5-6pm, 12-16hours) - US$10
Day 10
Arrive in Puerto Ordaz (7-8am), overnight in Posada - US$10
Day 11-13
Angel Falls 3D/2N - US$245
Day 13
Flight back to Puerto Ordaz (9-10am)
Flight to Caracas (5pm, 1 hour) - US$20
Overnight hotel - US$35
Day 14
Transfer to international airport
I am grateful to my parents, for everything they have done for me throughout my life; for all the cold long dark days they had to endure at the takeaway; for dealing head on fearlessly, or sometimes fearfully, with the uncertainties that moving to a new country brought; for painstakingly learning pretty much all my primary school curriculum with me while running the shop (except that time when my Dragon Ball Z comic book got ripped up). Forever indebted, no words can describe it.
I am grateful to my sisters and family, for all the support they've given me, especially behind the scenes; for the fun we had when we were much younger (and for using me unsparingly to run errands for them); for their trust; for their wise advice when most needed; for the amazing meals you've cooked for me; for being there no matter what. Thank you.
I am grateful to all my friends - past and present; the critical ones (you know who you are) for keeping me on my toes; the wise and reflective ones for asking me the important questions and making me think; the fun ones for bringing more colour into my life; the similar ones for making me see my flaws; the ones with completely different personalities for making me less monotonous and a bit more interesting. Even those who have walked in and out of my life have contributed to making me who I am today. Thank you for being there when I most needed you, thank you for being there even when I didn't need you, thank you for your inspirations, and thank you for not judging.
I am grateful to my Kempo teachers and training partners - you are all both my teachers and my friends. You have kept me from getting fat (hard to believe eh?), taught me a lot about the martial way and Zen philosophy, and played a big part in my twenties. Without Kempo and without you, I would probably be a completely different person today.
I am grateful to all the people I have worked with - colleagues, clients and friends; for all the opportunities you've given me to learn and develop; for all the fun we had together that made work more bearable; for all the free teas and coffees and biscuits and beers and champagnes; for the trust you placed in me even if sometimes I didn't know what I was doing!
I am grateful to the people I have met on my travels, fellow travellers and locals alike; for enriching all these unique experiences; for giving me directions when I'm lost; for going the extra mile to help me fix my bag zip or looking after my phone when I left it behind and so much more; for your recommendations and travel tips; for putting up with my snoring.
I am grateful for being alive! Can you imagine being otherwise? It'd be pretty boring I think.
I am grateful for the air, every breath so refreshing and revitalising.
I am grateful for my eyes, for allowing me to see so many beautiful things. And I am grateful for all the beauties in this world - the sunsets, the sunrises, the blue skies, the turquoise and deep blue waters, the snowcapped mountains, the lush green forests, the magnificent rainbows, the brilliant starry skies, the light and the darkness.
I am grateful to my food - you taste great (most of the time) and you keep me going. And I am grateful for my taste buds and my stomach, for all the wonderful sensations I experience everyday!
I am grateful for my body, for allowing me to travel and do all the things that I want.
I am grateful for my mind, for letting me think and wonder and imagine and ponder and appreciate.
I am grateful for the world - mother nature - the mountains, the seas, the lakes, the trees, the wildlife, the cities, the people - for giving me opportunities time and time again to let me experience and learn about you.
Thank you all.
