Canaima & Guayana
How do you visit Angel Falls in Canaima, and what does it cost?
Official stated by a public body on its page, in a statement or in the Gazette. Reported from operators, press or travel media, with their date. Unconfirmed no reliable source: confirm before you go.
Angel Falls drops 979 metres in total, including an uninterrupted 807-metre plunge, according to a 1949 survey, from the edge of Auyán-tepui in Canaima National Park. You fly into Canaima and reach the falls by dugout canoe. A guide updated in September 2026 says only Conviasa flies there, from Caracas on Thursdays and Sundays, and 4-to-5-day packages run from about 480 to about 1,600 US dollars before flights.
Angel Falls by the numbers
- Total height: 979 m, with an uninterrupted drop of 807 m Reported.
- The measurement comes from a 1949 expedition organised and paid for by journalist Ruth Robertson. It has never been re-validated, and it is still debated whether the falls are taller than South Africa’s Tugela Reported.
- The water pours off Auyán-tepui Reported. The Pemón name appears as Kerepakupai Merú or Körepakupai Vená Reported.
Canaima National Park
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, reference 701, under criteria (vii), (viii), (ix) and (x) Official. It is not on the List in Danger Official.
- About 3 million hectares, per UNESCO Official. Other databases give 28,160 or 28,645 km².
- About 65% of the park is tepuis (table-top mountains), per UNESCO’s description Official.
- A national park since 1962, per Protected Planet Official.
- It is home to the Pemón people, for whom the tepuis are the dwelling of spirits Reported.
Best time to go: water or clear skies
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| June to November (rainy) | Peak flow; clouds can hide the falls Reported |
| December to May (dry) | Less water; late in the dry season boats may not get through Reported |
Wikipedia says boat trips to the falls generally run from June to December Reported. If you want to see the falls at full power, go between June and November.
Flights to Canaima
No road reaches Canaima. You fly in.
- Caracas–Canaima on Conviasa. Against the Compass (updated September 15, 2026) says it is the only airline on the route, with two flights a week, Thursday and Sunday. The author paid about 150 US dollars return Reported.
- No online booking. You pay cash at Conviasa’s airport office or go through an agency Reported.
- A lodge booking may be required. Depending on the season, Conviasa may refuse to sell you a seat without a lodge reservation Reported.
- From Puerto Ordaz. In August 2025 Conviasa announced a twice-weekly “promotional” route Puerto Ordaz–Canaima–Santa Elena de Uairén–Margarita Reported. We could not confirm it is still flying in 2026 Unconfirmed. Older sources also mention Ciudad Bolívar, Avior and Rutaca Unconfirmed.
Caracas flights leave from Maiquetía, which has been running from a temporary terminal since September 1, 2026 (Maiquetía status and flights).
What it costs
All figures below come from Against the Compass, updated September 15, 2026 Reported. We found no official INPARQUES fee schedule.
| Item | Price (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|
| Caracas–Canaima return flight | about US$150 |
| Park entry fee | US$40 |
| Budget package (Campamento Wey TuPu), no flight or fee | US$480 |
| Mid-range package (Morichal Lodge, Parakaupa) | about US$1,000 |
| Luxury lodge package (Waku Lodge, Tapuy, Campamento Canaima, Ara Merú, Waka Wená) | about US$1,500–1,600 |
| Helicopter flight over the falls | US$500 per passenger |
The same guide gives both 1,500 and 1,600 dollars for luxury lodges in different sections. The 40-dollar park fee is what the author paid, not a published rate Unconfirmed.
Packages usually include pickup, lodging, all meals, the trip to the falls (as a day trip or with an overnight) and a half-day canoe tour of Canaima lagoon Reported. Run it through the trip budget calculator and add the flight, the fee and tips. If you are comparing operators, see the Angel Falls tour: prices, what is included and what to ask before you pay.
What the trip looks like: 4 or 5 days
Because flights only run on Thursdays and Sundays, trips go Thursday to Sunday or Sunday to Thursday Reported. A typical package:
Day 1: arrive in Canaima
Flight and pickup. Many packages include a half-day canoe tour of the lagoon.
Day 2: up the river
About 5 hours upriver by dugout canoe to the falls Reported.
Day 3: the viewpoint
A hike of about 2.5 hours round trip to the falls viewpoint Reported.
Last day: fly out
Back to Canaima for the return flight.
Camping is officially banned, according to the same guide Reported, so you stay in a camp or lodge. Canaima has no mobile data, but lodges have Wi-Fi Reported.
Safety: check the map
Canaima lies in Bolívar state, south of the Orinoco.
- The UK advises against all travel to the Orinoco Mining Arc, in Bolívar south of the river Official. Check its map to see whether your route falls inside.
- The US puts rural Bolívar at Level 4, “Do Not Travel”, for crime and kidnapping risk (advisory of June 27, 2026) Official. Check the live page.
More in our guide is Venezuela safe to visit?. Before you pay, ask the operator how transfers work and confirm your insurance covers the area.
Health: malaria and yellow fever
- Malaria. High year-round risk below 1,700 m, especially in Amazonas, Bolívar, Delta Amacuro and Sucre, per a travel clinic citing the CDC Yellow Book Reported. Norway’s public health institute advises mosquito protection and prophylaxis in the region that includes Bolívar Official.
- Yellow fever. The CDC advises vaccination at least 10 days before visiting areas where it is recommended Official.
Pack repellent and long sleeves for dusk, and see a travel doctor.
Before you book
- Check the Venezuela entry requirements.
- Book the lodge first, then the flight.
- Bring cash for the flight, the park fee and tips.
- Rather hike than look? Mount Roraima is in the same national park.
Questions people ask
How tall is Angel Falls?
979 metres in total, with an uninterrupted drop of 807 metres, according to a 1949 expedition's survey. The figure has never been re-validated.
When is the best time to visit Angel Falls?
June to November, the rainy season, when the falls carry the most water, though clouds can hide them. From December to May the flow drops and, late in the dry season, boats may not be able to reach the falls.
How do you get to Canaima?
Only by air: no road reaches it. According to a guide updated in September 2026, only Conviasa flies, from Caracas on Thursdays and Sundays, for about 150 US dollars return, paid in cash at the airport office or through an agency.
How much does an Angel Falls tour cost?
According to the same September 2026 guide, from about 480 US dollars at a budget camp to about 1,600 at a luxury lodge, flights not included. The park fee is about 40 dollars and a helicopter flight over the falls is 500 per passenger.
Sources checked on November 8, 2026
- UNESCO, official whc001 dataset, Canaima National Park, ref. 701 (modified 8 Nov 2026)
- Protected Planet (UNEP-WCMC), Canaima, WDPA 313 (2026)
- Against the Compass, Canaima guide, updated 15 Sep 2026
- Wikipedia, Angel Falls (read 8 Nov 2026)
- Banca y Negocios, Conviasa Puerto Ordaz–Canaima–Santa Elena route, 2 Aug 2025
- UK FCDO, Venezuela travel advice, updated 14 Oct 2026
- CDC, yellow fever travel notice for Venezuela (read 8 Nov 2026)
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