Angel Falls – The Place I Wanted To Visit The Most In South America
The world’s highest waterfall is Venezuela’s loved spot and a place which no adventurous traveller should miss exploring. Angel Falls in the heart of the Canaima National Park.
© Letloose78 | Dreamstime.com
Angel Falls is also called Salto Ángel or Kerepakupai-merú.
It definitely has nothing to do with the nuance that fall’s water fell from the heavens. The original story is something like this: The falls is named after the name of aviator Jimmy Angel who landed his plane above Auyantepui near the falls during an effort to prove to the world of the existence of the falls - or some say in the search of gold
The falls can be experienced in multiple ways. There is a helicopter/charter tour for 20 - 30 minutes, there will give the view from above the whole piece of land. One was through trekking down the hill and trail and explore the scenic and exotic place on the foot. I was so impressed with this beautiful place that I could not miss a single view or experience of it. I decided to reach there on foot and then taking a helicopter ride.
We had to reach one place from a small water boat. We took a ride and reached a point where we had to start taking the trek. After reaching that point we were told to cross the stream, we were instructed for the hiking/gumboots, so we were all set for it.
The uphill hike was a little scary. It involved stepping on exposed roots of giant trees which was very slippery and the humid atmosphere was making it even more difficult. In a short time, I was able to witness Angel Falls. It took many forms in some time - from thick multi-segmented horsetail plumes to a thinner horsetail, then it disappeared into mist on its way down and reappeared on the lower part for the remainder of every drop.
As soon as we reached the base we realized the journey made the destination even beautiful! There was limited space and more people. Our arrival was in the latter half of the day so we didn't hike towards the pool by the base of the main falls.
© Michael Shake | Dreamstime.com
We were very fortunate to have good weather to fly by the falls covering Ciudad Bolivar from Canaima on the way back. The lush green space, the mist, and beautiful clouds made our day. We were completely blended in the grandeur of the falls from an aerial perspective.
If I am given a chance, I can go on and write 10 more articles about the beauty and experience. But I would like to give some important tips which can help you plan your amazing visit.
Some tips:
Since mountain waterfalls are fed by rain, travel time needs to be planned carefully. During the dry season, Angel is just a trickle of water. In the rainy season, it is a full-fledged waterfall.
Take hiking boots and wear hiking suit. We did not face any difficulties, but we were told to be careful about snakes and other creatures.
Don’t Overdo it. Hiking is a great experience. But if your body is healthy enough then only try. You can just take a helicopter ride and enjoy the base pool. As it is a tourist destination, they're not a lot of amenities available.