Canaima & Guayana
How do you trek Mount Roraima, 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.
The Mount Roraima trek starts in Santa Elena de Uairén, continues about 2 hours by vehicle to the Pemón village of Paraitepuy, and takes 6 to 8 days. One operator charges 650 to 850 US dollars per person, plus a park fee of about 10 dollars and 30 dollars a day if you hire a porter. In practice you hike with Pemón guides from Paraitepuy, and the driest months are October to March.
What Roraima is
A tepui (table-top mountain) in the eastern sector of Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 Official. Its highest point is the Maverick Rock at 2,810 m, according to one operator Reported. Tepuis are “very sacred” to the Pemón, according to an NGO quoted by Voice of America Reported.
Getting to Santa Elena de Uairén
- By air. In August 2025 Conviasa announced a twice-weekly “promotional” route Puerto Ordaz–Canaima–Santa Elena de Uairén Reported. We could not confirm it still operates in 2026 Unconfirmed.
- By road. We found no reliable 2026 source on travel times or road conditions on Highway 10 between Puerto Ordaz and Santa Elena Unconfirmed. Ask your operator.
- Santa Elena to Paraitepuy. About 2 hours by vehicle Reported. You need a 4×4, according to a source citing El Universal in 2020 Reported.
Do you need a Pemón guide?
We found no published INPARQUES regulation on guides Unconfirmed. But every recent source says the same thing:
- “The national park rules require every group to hike with certified local guides” and “independent trekking is not allowed”; the guides are Pemón from Paraitepuy. That comes from an operator that sells the trek, in August 2026 Reported.
- A 2025 travel guide agrees: a tour with authorised Pemón guides, no going solo Reported.
- You must sign the INPARQUES logbook in Paraitepuy, and the community sets its own rules and fees Reported.
- The same operator says groups are capped at 8 hikers in high season and 16 in regular season, always with at least 2 guides Reported. It cites no regulation Unconfirmed.
- As far back as 2001, access was restricted to hikers with Pemón guides Reported.
Bottom line: in practice a Pemón guide and INPARQUES registration are mandatory, even though we have not read the rule itself.
What it costs
Per-person prices from Osprey Expeditions, on its 2026 page with no publication date Reported:
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 6-day trek | US$650 |
| 7-day trek | US$750 |
| 8-day trek | US$850 |
| Park entry, Roraima sector, cash only, not included | US$10 |
| Porter, cash, not included | US$30 per day |
Other ranges circulate, from 350 to 550 dollars “all inclusive” to 800–1,800+, but they come from weak sources Unconfirmed. Add the trip to Santa Elena and tips in the trip budget calculator.
The 8-day itinerary
As Osprey describes it Reported:
Day 1: Santa Elena – Paraitepuy – Tek river
Leave at 8 am, about 2 hours to Paraitepuy, register with the park rangers, then about 4 hours on foot to the Tek or Kukenán river camp.
Day 2: base camp
Hike to the base camp below the wall.
Day 3: the Ramp
Climb the Ramp to the summit and visit the Maverick Rock.
Days 4 and 5: the plateau
Hotel Coatí, the Triple Point, Lake Gladys and La Proa.
Days 6 and 7: descent
Two days down.
Day 8: back to town
Arrive in Santa Elena around 3 pm.
The same page gives two different total distances, 106 km and about 80 km Unconfirmed. Six days is possible, but you get far less time on top: 8 days is the comfortable choice.
Best time to go
- October to March, the drier months: easier trails, busier camps Reported.
- Roughly April to September, the rains: mud and more water in rivers and waterfalls Reported.
The trek runs all year Reported.
What to pack
Per the operator Reported: a 40–60 L backpack, a sleeping bag rated 0–10 °C and a sleeping mat, waterproofs, boots and sandals, trekking poles, warm layers, sun and insect protection, a headlamp, a water purifier and capacity for 1–2 L of water. Keep your pack under 15 kg.
Safety and health
- The UK advises against all travel within 40 km of the Brazilian border and to the Mining Arc in Bolívar south of the Orinoco Official. Check its map to see whether Santa Elena and Paraitepuy fall inside those zones, and whether your insurance covers you. The US puts rural Bolívar at Level 4 Reported. See is Venezuela safe to visit?.
- Malaria. Bolívar has a high risk below 1,700 m, per a travel clinic citing the CDC Yellow Book Reported. See a travel doctor.
- Respect. Irresponsible activities on the tepuis are banned and leave lasting damage Reported.
A nearby stop: Quebrada de Jaspe
The Gran Sabana is also home to Quebrada de Jaspe, a stream that runs over a bed of red jasper. We have no verified data on its distance, access or cost Unconfirmed: ask your operator whether the transfer to or from Santa Elena includes it.
Before you book
- Check the Venezuela entry requirements.
- Pick an operator and get in writing what’s included: guide, food, tents, the transfer to Paraitepuy.
- Bring cash for the park fee, porters and tips.
- Got extra days? Angel Falls is in the same national park.
Questions people ask
How many days does the Roraima trek take?
Six to eight days from Santa Elena de Uairén. Eight days gives you two full days to explore the summit plateau.
How much does the Mount Roraima trek cost?
One operator lists 650 US dollars for 6 days, 750 for 7 and 850 for 8, per person. On top of that you pay the park entry fee, about 10 dollars in cash, and porters at 30 dollars a day. These are the operator's prices, with no publication date.
Can you climb Roraima without a guide?
In practice, no. Operators and guides from 2025 and 2026 say you must hike with certified Pemón guides from Paraitepuy and sign the INPARQUES logbook. We could not find the official rule in writing, but nobody reports being allowed to go independently.
When is the best time to trek Roraima?
You can trek year-round. The driest months are October to March, with easier trails and busier camps. The rains run roughly April to September, bringing mud and higher rivers.
Sources checked on November 8, 2026
- Osprey Expeditions, Roraima trek (© 2026, undated, read 8 Nov 2026)
- PlanetaEXO, is Mount Roraima dangerous?, 19 Aug 2026
- adondeviajar.es, Monte Roraima, 2025
- feel-planet.com, Mont Roraima, 2026
- Banca y Negocios, Conviasa Puerto Ordaz–Canaima–Santa Elena route, 2 Aug 2025
- UNESCO, official whc001 dataset, Canaima National Park, ref. 701 (modified 8 Nov 2026)
- UK FCDO, Venezuela travel advice, updated 14 Oct 2026
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