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Venezuela 2002

Andreas Mayer
2005-12-06 08:02:14

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organised, similar to Queenstown in NZ. Activities include horse riding, mountain biking, canyoning, hiking, as well as a number of tours to different parts of the country. Most cost about $40 -50 dollars a day, all inclusive. We were innterested in hiking, and most places offered a 5 day trip that went up the two highest peaks of Venezuela, MtHumbold and My Bolivar, both only 14 km away from Merida. We were looking for an operator called Guamanchi, recommended in the Lonely Planet, however by mistake went to an operator next door called Guaguanco Aventours, where, to cut a long stroy short, a lovely&beautiful local girl called Wendy talked us into doing their tour up the mountains leaving the next day.

Mt Humbold/ Bolivar trek ( 5days/4 nights, or that we the plan...)

Day 1

Met our guide at the tour operators the next morning, with our packs half empty, only to get them packed up with kilos of food, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent, helmets, crampons, ice ax and super cool sun goggles. At that stage I was getting slightly concerned about the true nature of what I thought was going to be a tough but non technical walk up some mountains.

Said good bye to Wendy, who resisted our numerous attempts to persuade her to join our little group, and set of for a 40 minute ride up into the mountains to the start of the walk at La Mucucy.

The first day was a tough 6 hour walk through the jungle to a lake at 3000m, called Laguna La Coromoto. It was heavy going with the full packs and altitude beginning to make itself felt. The first have of the walk was quiet monotonous, up through dense jungle with little views, but further up the jungle was opening up and giving some impressive views of the high cliffs that surround the valley of the lake. We got to the campsite at dusk, too late as it was quiet busy and we had to settle for ...