How to Visit

Gran Sabana — How to Visit

Cool highland tropical: 18-26°C days, 12-18°C nights. Mornings often clear, afternoons cloudy. Rain expected daily May-November.

Cost (USD)

Transportation

Getting there

Fly to Puerto Ordaz (PZO) from Caracas — daily flights with Conviasa, Avior, Laser, 1 hour. From Puerto Ordaz, drive south on the Troncal 10 highway (paved) through Upata → El Callao → Tumeremo → El Dorado → Las Claritas → Kilometre 88 → Gran Sabana proper. Total driving time Puerto Ordaz to Santa Elena de Uairén: 10-12 hours.

Once on site

Once in the Gran Sabana corridor, all main sites (Salto Kamá, Salto Kawi, Quebrada de Jaspe, Salto Aponwao) are accessible from the Troncal 10 paved highway, with short dirt-road detours that any standard 4×4 or high-clearance vehicle can handle. Side excursions to remote tepuis (Auyán, Wei-tepui, Aprada-tepui) require chartered 4×4 + guide.

Parking

Free or nominal-fee parking at each waterfall/site. Bring small bills ($1-5) for the Pemón community attendants who watch vehicles. Do not leave anything visible in the car. Fuel up at Las Claritas, El Dorado, or Santa Elena de Uairén — long stretches with no gas.

Self-drive viable? Yes

DIY vs hiring a tour

Gran Sabana is the rare Venezuelan ecotourism destination genuinely suited to DIY road tripping — and many travelers say it's the only way to truly experience it. The Troncal 10 highway is paved through the entire 300km Gran Sabana corridor, the main waterfalls and viewpoints are signposted, posadas exist at regular intervals, and the experience is fundamentally about driving the landscape. Rent a 4×4 in Puerto Ordaz (Hertz, Avis available, ~$60-100/day), drive south, stop where you want, sleep where you like. The exception: if you don't speak Spanish and don't want logistical hassle, hire a driver-guide from Akanan, Cacao Travel, or a Puerto Ordaz operator — they bring local knowledge of which detours are worth it and which Pemón communities welcome visitors. For backpackers: bus from Puerto Ordaz to Santa Elena (~$25-40, overnight) and arrange day trips from there.

Tour companies we recommend

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