How to Visit

Monte Roraima — How to Visit

Base camp area (1,000m): 22-28°C days. Summit (2,810m): 4-12°C days, often below freezing at night. Rain possible any month. Summit is windswept and wet even in 'dry' season.

Cost (USD)

Transportation

Getting there

Fly to Santa Elena de Uairén (SNV) from Caracas via Conviasa — limited schedule. Most trekkers fly Caracas → Puerto Ordaz, then 12-hour overnight bus (Línea Orinoco, ~$30-50) along the Troncal 10 highway to Santa Elena. From Santa Elena, road transfer (~2 hours, included in most tours) to Paraitepuy de Roraima — the Pemón trailhead village.

Once on site

Trek only. From Paraitepuy, ~6-day round trip on foot covering ~80 km total. Two river crossings (Río Tëk and Río Kukenán) can be impassable in heavy rain. Summit ascent uses 'La Rampa' — the only non-technical natural ramp up Roraima's cliffs.

Parking

Drive yourself to Santa Elena de Uairén possible (Troncal 10 from Puerto Ordaz, ~12 hours). From Santa Elena to Paraitepuy: rough dirt road, 4×4 recommended. Park your vehicle in Paraitepuy under guide's care (~$5-10/day). Most people just hire a transfer rather than driving.

Self-drive viable? No

DIY vs hiring a tour

By Venezuelan law and Pemón community rule, you cannot climb Roraima without a registered Pemón guide. This is non-negotiable — guards at Paraitepuy will turn back independent trekkers. However: 'with a guide' does not mean a full luxury package. The most authentic and affordable option is to bus to Santa Elena yourself, arrange a guide directly through one of the Paraitepuy operators (Backpacker Tours or Mystic Tours have desks in Santa Elena), and split costs with other independent trekkers who show up. This usually runs $300-500 vs $700+ for prepackaged options. You carry your own pack, your own tent, and your own food on the trail unless you hire porters separately.

Tour companies we recommend

← Back to overview