VENEZUELAN AMAZONIA

Dates: October 20 – November 2, 2024

Duration: 14 days / 13 nights

Number of participants: 8 – 10

Cost per person:
- 5 790 USD subject to 10 participants,
- 6 290 USD subject to 9 participants,
- 6 690 USD subject to 8 participants.

10% early booking discount (in case you book before May 20, 2024)

Everything is included except for:
– international flight to Bogota roundtrip,
– medical insurance,
– lunches and dinners in Bogota and Puerto Inirida (about 100 USD)
– visa of Venezuela and Colombia (not required for Russian citizen)

Estimated flight cost Moscow – Bogota – Moscow: about 1600 – 2000 USD.
Estimated flight cost Istanbul – Bogota – Istanbul: about 1300 – 1600 USD.
Estimated flight cost Paris – Bogota – Paris: about 800 – 1000 USD.
Estimated flight cost Madrid – Bogota – Madrid: about 800 – 1000 USD.

Single supplement in hotels: 240 USD (provided throughout the entire itinerary).



TRAVEL PROGRAM: TOUR TO VENEZUELAN AMAZONIA


Day 1. October 20, 2024. ARRIVAL IN BOGOTA (COLOMBIA)

Early arrival by plane in Bogota. Transfer to the Hotel Casa Deco 3* or similar. After short rest, today we go for city tour, by minibus to the historical center of Bogota. After lunch we head to the Gold Museum Then visit to the cable car station to go up to the Montserrat mountain and have a nice overview over the whole city of Bogota.
In the late afternoon we drive back to our hotel and at night we have some time to go out to a nice restaurant in the neighborhood. Overnight in Hotel Casa Deco or similar.

* Recommended flight:
- flight AM-717 from Mexico City (MEX) with AeroMexico, departure at 1:15 am, arrival in Bogota (BOG) at 6:50 am on October 20, or
- TK-800 from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, departure at 9:55 on October 19, arrival in Bogota (BOG) at 15:40 on October 19 (extra night in Bogota needed, to be extra paid), or
- flight AF-422 from Paris with Air France, departure at 17:15 on October 19, arrival in Bogota (BOG) at 22:05 on October 19 (extra night in Bogota needed, to be extra paid), or
- flight LH-542 from Frankfurt with Lufthansa, departure at 13:10 on October 19, arrival in Bogota (BOG) at 19:30 on October 19 (extra night in Bogota needed, to be extra paid), or
- another flight from any city with arrival in Bogota (BOG) before 8 am on October 20.

Meals included: no
Accommodation included: Hotel Casa Deco 3* or similar


Day 2. October 21, 2024. BOGOTA – PUERTO INIRIDA

Early morning we arrange PCR COVID test. Breakfast and short walk in Candelaria district near our hotel, where many souvenir shops can be found. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Puerto Inirida with Satena Airlines at 13:25.
Arrival in Puerto Inirida, Colombian Orinocia at 14:55. Transfer and check-in at the Hotel La Cabanha Guainiana. Rest and dinner.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel La Cabanha Guainiana or similar


Day 3. October 22, 2024. PUERTO INIRIDA – SAN FELIPE

After breakfast transfer to the airport and flight by cargo plane Douglas DC-3 to the south to San Felipe, the big village situated on the Rio Negro River, in the Colombian Amazonia.
Upon arrival in San Felipe, installation at the local house of the station manager. Today we have chance to buy some presents for the Indians, such as tobacco. Walk around to see the local life in the outskirts of Amazonia.
Dinner and overnight in local guest house.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: local guest house in San Felipe


Day 4. October 23, 2024. SAN FELIPE – SAN CARLOS DE RIO NEGRO (VENEZUELA) – CASIQUIARE RIVER CAMP

After breakfast we go down to the port and cross the river to San Carlos De Rio Negro on the territory of Venezuela. We speak to the Venezuelan National Guard and then we continue to the junction of Guainia River (Rio Negro River) and Casiquiare River.
Casiquiare is a typical example of bifurcation – it connects two great rivers - the Amazon (through Rio Negro River) and Orinoco. This place is called the beginning of Rio Negro. From here we go on the Casiquiare River, trespassing some rapids, until we reach the small community before the rapids. This afternoon we have time to take a refreshing bath in the Casiquiare River.
Overnight in tents or hammoks under a big palm roof or on the bank of the river.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: camping in tents or hammoks


Day 5. October 24, 2024. CASIQUIARE RIVER – NINHAL – RIVER BANK

After breakfast the journey continues into the Casiquiare River. Stop to observe petroglyphs on the rocks in the middle of the river. From here we continue and pass the big rock called Culimacare rock. After one hour (depends on the water level in the river) we arrive at the little Indian town of Niñal. Here we stop and make a little walk around to get an acquaintance with this settlement of Curipaco Indians.
Afterwards the journey continues to the "Destination River". We set our camping at a beautiful white sandy beach. This is a fantastic place to enjoy nature at the nice black water river and have also a bath at the white sandy beach. Black water river is cleaner, contains no parasites and hosts much less mosquitos and other insects.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: camping in tents or hammoks


Day 6. October 25, 2024. RIVER BANK – YANOMAMI COMMUNITY

After breakfast we travel upstream the river to the place where we meet the Yanomami Indians in the shabono.
Yanomami traditionally lived in villages, with an average of 40 to 300 people. All residents occupied the one huge oval dwelling called "shabono" with an open center. Under the roof of the shabono, the dwellings are divided by supporting pillars. Due to the fact that all building materials are of plant origin, such a house is being gradually deteriorated due to heavy rains, wind and insects; every 4-6 years, Yanomami were divided into groups and founded new villages. The construction culture of the Shabono has undergone a significant transformation: since the 90s of the previous century, Yanomami massively stopped building shabono and began to settle in separate traditional huts. Such huts are often built around the village square, thereby imitating the concept of the shabono.
The Yanomamis we visit are living widely in this Shabono or in the jungle, when they are collecting fruits and go for hunting. Some 15-20 families live here, amongst whom there are children, elders and a number of shamans.
Today we learn about the traditions and their way of living in the jungle. We go from family to family to observe what they are doing and cooking on the fire. Also we introduce ourselves and talk with them about what we want to see and experience in coming days. After lunch we go with Yanomami to the place of their pride – a plantation cultivated by the method of slash-and-burn agriculture, and study the plants that the Indians usually grow not far from the village: above all, cooking plantain and manioc plant, banana and papaya plants.
Our camp will be settled right in the shabono. Overnight in tents or hammocks.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: shabono (Yanomami traditional dwelling) in tents or hammoks


Day 7. October 26, 2024. YANOMAMI COMMUNITY

After breakfast we accompany the Indians in the nearby lagoon for fishing. For that we have to go back to the main river and travel with our boat a little bit up river to get into the lagoon.
We will observe how they are doing it. It depends on the water level how Indians will fish the different fishes like Piranhas or Peacock Bass. If the river level is very low, they will fish with baskets in the river.
The Yanomami know the fishing techniques using the Barbasco root, when the Indians "poison" the water downstream the river. Some endemic plants have a nerve-paralytic effect on fish when they get into the water. However, this method is used rarely in order to save nature and is always subject to the decision of community and depends on the season.
On the way the Yanomami will look for this typical palm from which they get the "Palmito". This is the soft part in the middle of the palm which you can eat. After their work to put out this stuff, we can try this tasty soft palm-heart.
After lunch we observe the makeup and the preparation of the whole village for the dances. It is women specially to paint the whole body with a natural color called "Rojo de Onoto" (made of bixa Orellana).
Dinner and overnight at the Shabono in tents or hammocks.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: shabono (Yanomami traditional dwelling) in tents or hammoks


Day 8. October 27, 2024. YANOMAMI COMMUNITY

After breakfast first thing we go with the women to see how they are preparing the typical Indian bread made of manioc root. We will see how they prepare the mass of milled manioc and then they bake this on the fire. This work is reserved for women.
Then we will accompany the Indians into the jungle to learn about the medical plants. We will observe how Yanomami climb up Ceje palm tree to collect the fruits they use for alimentation! They have a very special method to climb up the palm with two wooden sticks to get the fruits without cutting the tree!
Yanomami are known as people who constantly live in a state of war between settlements (warfare culture) and have a very quick temper. We will observe the material and spiritual life of these people. In their rituals, Yanomami men use the hallucinogenic Yopo powder extracted from the seeds of the Anadenanthera peregrina plant which is blown into through the nose. Yanomami do not traditionally smoke tobacco, they roll fresh tobacco leaves in a tube, put it behind the lower lip and gradually sip its juice.
After lunch we experience the most important ceremony. The men blow themselves Yopo powder into their noses. This is very spectacular because the shamans then get into trance and get in contact with their Hecuras from whom they get that ability to cure ill people! The Hecura are types of small ghosts, which the Indians see during their trance. The ghosts have the shape of animals or dwarfs and they help the shamans to cure the invalids. There is the possibility to try the yopo powder for the participants of expedition. However it is really tough and can be harmful for the body, - we do not recommend to do it.
Overnight at the shabono in tents or hammocks.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: shabono (Yanomami traditional dwelling) in tents or hammoks


Day 9. October 28, 2024. YANOMAMI COMMUNITY

After breakfast we can do a jungle walk. We will try to look for little crabs in the creeks and try to catch them together with the Indians. Also the Yanomamis will show us a lot of fruits they gather in the jungle. It's amazing how many fruits they have to eat.
We will talk with Yanomamis about hunting in the jungle. During the day or in the night we can go into the jungle with the Indians to hunt. It's not so easy because Indians are moving very quickly in the jungle, so we try to stay with them. A lot of animals are very active at night and so – with a little bit of luck – we will find some animal to bring back to our shabono.
Yanomami traditionally hunt peccary boar, tapirs, monkeys and other animals using the tight bows and very long arrows made of reed. Depending on the season, Yanomami also hunt caimans at night with a help of flashlight and a machete, and often grabbing small crocodiles with bare hands.
Upon arrival, after lunch, we will see all women painting their bodies with a typical red color, putting also with black color some signs on their bodies. They prepare themselves for the dance in order to show the traditions of Yanomami dancing.
In terms of material culture, men and women practice face and body painting, and women in some places still insert sticks into their nose and lower lip. For rituals and festivals, the Yanomami make the traditional face painting applying red paint (made of onoto plant) and black paint (made of wood charcoal), and they also wear bright feather decoration.
Yanomami traditionally practiced endocannibalism, that is eating the ashes of cremated relatives. The body is wrapped in leaves and placed in the forest some distance from the shabono; then after insects have consumed the soft tissue (usually about 30 to 45 days), the bones are collected and cremated. Bone fragments from the cooled ashes, which are ground into flour after a week, and then they are mixed with plantain soup and everybody in the village eats it.
Overnight at the shabono in tents or hammocks.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: shabono (Yanomami traditional dwelling) in tents or hammoks


Day 10. October 29, 2024. YANOMAMI COMMUNITY – LOCAL COMMUNITY ON CASIQUIARE RIVER BANK

After breakfast, early in the morning, we pack all our stuff. We go back to the river where we left our boat. From here we will travel back the whole day downstream the river and further along the Casiquiare River till the local community beyond the rapids of Casiquiare.
Overnight in tents or hammoks under a big palm roof in the local community in the village of Ninhal.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: camping in tents or hammoks


Day 11. October 30, 2024. LOCAL COMMUNITY ON CASIQUIARE RIVER BANK – RIO NEGRO RIVER ISLAND

After breakfast the journey continues to the junction of Casiquiare River and Guainia River and then along the Rio Negro to San Carlos de Rio Negro. We stop at the beautiful white sandy beach island on the Rio Negro before San Carlos, where we have lunch and set the last camp. After lunch we will have time to take a bath in the nice black water of the river of Rio Negro.
Overnight in tents or hammoks or, if the team prefers, proceed to San Felipe for overnight stay at the local guest house.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: camping in tents or hammoks on the river bank or at local guest house


Day 12. October 31, 2024. RIO NEGRO RIVER ISLAND – SAN CARLOS – SAN FELIPE (COLOMBIA) – PUERTO INIRIDA

After breakfast we will reach by boat San Carlos de Rio Negro and we will make the check-out procedure with the Venezuelan National Guard. Then we will cross again to San Felipe (Colombia). Flight by cargo plane Douglas DC-3 to Puerto Inirida situated to the north, coming back from the Colombian Amazonia to Orinocia.
Arrival in Puerto Inirida and transfer to the hotel La Cabanha Guainiana. In Pto Inirida we will go to see the port and the most interesting places in the city/surroundings. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel La Cabanha Guainiana or similar


Day 13. November 1, 2024. PUERTO INIRIDA – BOGOTA

After early breakfast transfer to Puerto Inirida airport and check-in for our scheduled flight with Satena Airlines. Departure for Bogotá at 8:40 am. Arrival in Bogota at 10:10 am. Upon arrival transfer to the Hotel 109 Suites 4* or similar. Free time. Rest in the hotel.
We will have time to arrange the PCR Covid test in the hotel, that we will need to get back to Europe or other destination.
An excursion to Zipaquira, where we can visit very impressive underground church in the big salt mine.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel 109 Suites 4* or similar


Day 14. November 2, 2024. BOGOTA – RETURN FLIGHT

After breakfast we can take a walk and see another center of Bogota, as our hotel is located in different part of the city. In the afternoon transfer to the airport to take evening flight back home.

* Recommended flight:
- flight TK-801 to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, departure at 17:05, arrival in Istanbul at 16:40 on November 3, or
- flight AF-423 to Paris with Air France, departure from Bogota at 23:55 pm, arrival in Paris at 16:15 on November 3, or
- flight LH-543 to Frankfurt with Lufthansa, departure from Bogota at 21:20 pm, arrival in Frankfurt at 14:35 on November 3, or
- any other flight from Bogota (BOG) to any city departing at any time on November 2.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation included: no


* The itinerary can be changed in the course of expedition by the decision of the team leader for the sake of the interests of the participants, due to weather conditions, flight conditions, flight schedules or due to safety reasons.
Activities schedule for days 6 – 9 may be changed or performed in completely different order depending on the activities of Yanomami community and their will.

** The participant of expedition to Yanomami must be motivated to be respectful to Yanomami culture, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on weather conditions and any other reasons, be in a good shape and able to adapt to the new environment and culture.

** The participant of expedition to Yanomami must be motivated to be respectful to Yanomami culture, be aware of the objectives of the trip and possible program changes depending on weather conditions and any other reasons, be in a good shape and able to adapt to the new environment and culture.