Venezuela - Angel Falls
January 24, 2024
Angel Falls waterfall is located in the Guiana Highlands in Bolívar state, southeastern Venezuela, on the Churún River, a tributary of the Caroní, 160 miles (260 km) southeast of Ciudad Bolívar. The highest waterfall in the world, the cataract drops 3,212 feet (979 metres) and is 500 feet (150 metres) wide at the base. It leaps from a flat-topped plateau, Auyán-Tepuí (“Devils Mountain”), barely making contact with the sheer face. The falls are located in Canaima National Park, and, because of the dense jungle surrounding the falls, they are best seen from the air.
The falls, first sighted by outsiders in the 1930s, were named for James Angel, an American adventurer who crash-landed his plane on a nearby mesa in 1937. In late 2009 Venezuelan Pres. Hugo Chávez declared that the falls should be referred to as Kerepakupai Merú, an Indigenous name.
The trip to Venezuela is not complete without a visit to Angel Falls. It is the journey to reach the falls that is probably more interesting than the destination itself (although the falls is spectacular in every way). The journey involves a boat ride up the Caroni and then Churun Rivers. The ride is against the current so the narrow boat has to fight the rapids and the strong river. The falls is located deep in the beautiful forest among the Tepuis inside the Canaima National Park. The Pemon people operate all the trips up the river from the village of Canaima.
Thanks to Ben from Osprey Expeditions and our guide Carlos for the very enjoyable experience in one of the most amazing places on our beautiful planet.
The very large Auyan Tepui. It is 700 Square Kms in size and its walls have a vertical relief of almost 1000m!
The falls, which cascade from the top of Auyantepui in the remote Gran Sabana region of Venezuela, were not known to the outside world until Jimmie Angel flew over them on November 16, 1933 while searching for a valuable ore bed.
On October 9, 1937, he returned to the falls with the intention of landing. On board his Flamingo monoplane were his second wife Marie, Gustavo Heny, and Miguel Delgado, Heny's gardener. He attempted a landing, but despite a successful touchdown, his aircraft El Rio Caroní nose-dived when it hit soft ground at the end of its landing run. The wheels sank in the mud, making take-off impossible.
The passengers were unharmed but had to trek across difficult terrain and with low food supplies for 11 days to make their way off the tepui and down to the nearest settlement at Kamarata. When word of their exploits got out, international interest in the Gran Sabana region increased dramatically, leading to in-depth scientific exploration in the following years.
His aircraft remained atop Auyantepui until 1970, when it was disassembled and brought down by Venezuelan military helicopters. Today, an El Rio Caroní can be seen outside the airport terminal at Ciudad Bolívar. The airplane was re-assembled in the city of Maracay's aviation museum
The small air strip in El Manteco from where we traveled to the village of Canaima.
Canaima National Park
The views from our flight to Canaima.
Canaima airstrip
Canaima Village
Beautiful Canaima Lagoon
Canaima Village
Canaima Village
Caroni River near Canaima
The large Auyan Tepui can be seen in the distance. We had to portage sections of the river to avoid the rapids and to lighten the boat to get across.
Caroni River
The rapids on the Caroni River
Caroni River
The Auyan Tepui
The Auyan Tepui and the Caroni River
The smaller but more turbulent Churun River
Working the way up the Churun River
Final section of the river before Angel Falls
This is the first sighting of Angel Falls as you clear the last bend of the Churun river. Spectacular!
The spectacular Angel Falls from the distance
The mesmerizing Angel Falls
Hiking up the the falls foreshortens it. It is difficult to appreciate the height of the drop. It is best seen from the air.
Standing at the viewpoint for the Angel Falls.
Angel Falls right before sunrise
Sunrise on Angel Falls
The Auyan Tepui from the air. The flight from Canaima is 45 min and the scenery is very spectacular!
The top of Auyan Tepui
Auyan Tepui
Looking down the wall of the Auyan Tepui
Angel Falls
The Angel Falls is well hidden and not visible until the airplane is in front of it.
A 1000m drop!
The steep walls of the Auyan Tepui.
The river of Angel Falls
Churun River. The location of the jungle camp for hiking to the base of Angel Falls. The location of the camp is in the white squares among the trees by the river.
Churun River and the camp.
Angel Falls
Angel Falls
Churun River
Churun River
Churun River
Churun River
The Caroni and Churun Rivers
Caroni River
The tepuis near the village of Canaima
Join the discussion
Share thoughts, tips, or questions about this trip.
Please keep it kind and relevant.
All Trips and Adventures by Year
A chronological archive of trip reports, photo essays, and route notes across decades.
2026
2025
2024
- Mon - Bhutan
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 1
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 2
- Bhutan - Snowman Trek Part 3
- North of 60º - Polar Adventures
- East Greenland 66º North
- On the Trail of Teutonic Order Castles in Northern Poland
- Wolfsschanze Hitler's HQ, Ketrzyn Poland and Peenemunde WW2 V1/V2 Research Centre in North Germany
- Central Mexico - Mexico City, Puebla and Teotihuacan
- Venezuela - Orinoco River Delta
- Venezuela - Mount Roraima Trek 2810m
- Venezuela - Angel Falls
2023
2022
- Nepal Solukhumbu - Sumna Pass and Lobuche East trip summary
- Nepal Khumbu and Kangchendzonga from the Air
- Nepal Solukhumbu Sundar Peak 5000m and Sumna Pass 5400m
- Nepal Solukhumbu Chola Pass 5450m Lobuche East Ridge 6090m
- Renjola La 5360m Gokyo Ri 5450m, and Cho Oyu BC Photos
- Iceland - Hellismannaleid, Laugavegur and Fimmvorduhals Trails
- The Yukon and the Alaska Highway
- Mount Robson
- Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks
2021
- The Rockies of Alberta, Western BC and the Yukon
- Columbia Icefield from the Air
- Waterton Lakes National Park
- Colombia
- Los Nevados National Park Colombia
- Colombia Tayrona National Park
- Colombia Teyuna - Ciudad Perdida Trek (The Lost City)
- Mexico Pico de Orizaba 5,630m
- Mexico - Sierra Negra 4,650m and Izaccihuatl 5,350m
- Chitwan National Park Nepal
2020
2019
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 1: Chame to Kagbeni via Thorong La Pass
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 2: Kagbeni to Lo Mantang
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 3: Lo Mantang to TeriLa Pass
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 4: Terila Pass to Chame via Naar and Kangla Pass
- Kamchatka Trip Report
- Камча́тка, Russia - The Mutnowski and Gorely Volcanoes
- Камча́тка, Russia - The Tolbachik Volcano Circuit and Volcano Bezimienny
- Russia Far East - Sakhalin, Vladivostok, Petropawlowsk-Kamchatsky
- Taiwan
- Ancohuma 6,427M Bolivia
- Huayna Potosi 6,088m Bolivia
- Ausangate Trek Peru
- Yellowstone National Park in Winter 2019
2018
- Calgary Mountain Film Festival
- Langtang, Tilman Pass and Ganjala Trip Report
- Langtang Trek - Tilman Pass
- Langtang Trek - Ganjala Pass
- Paria River Wilderness - USA, Utah
- Slot Canyons - USA, Arizona
- Bryce National Park - USA, Utah
- Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks - USA, Utah
- Norway
- Poland - The Slav and Viking Festival in Wolin
- Iceland
- Bolivia Cordillera Real and Sajama National Park
- Bolivia - Tiwanaku and La Paz
- Togo and Benin
- Benin - Egungun Masquerade
- Benin - Voodoo Festival
- Ghana - The Gold Coast and the Land of the Ashanti
2017
- Annapurna Basecamp and Annapurna Sanctuary Photos
- Annapurna Sanctuary Trip Summary
- Dhaulagiri Basecamp Trek, Dhampus Pass - Trip Summary
- Dhaulagiri Circuit Photos - Nepal
- Peru Central - Huaraz, Cordillera Blanca and Chavin de Hauntar
- Peru South, Sacred Valley - the Land of the Incas, Rainbow Mountain and Lima
- Mt. Brazeau and Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada
- China Shanghai Beijing Wuhan
- Papua New Guinea
2016
- China Far West - Kashgar and Shiphton Arch
- China Far West - Pamir and The Tajik Games
- K2 Basecamp North, Shaksgam Valley Trip Summary
- Chinese K2 (BC North), Shaksgam Valley - Chinese Karakoram
- North Peru Chachapoyas Trip Report
- Peru North - Kuelap, Chachapoyas and Royal Tombs of Sipan
- Wapta Icefiled Area, Alberta, Canada
- The Caribbean and the Panama Canal
- China Far West - Ancient Silk Road Trip Summary
- China Far West - Ancient Silk Road
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2004
2002
2001
1996
Get new trip reports when they land
One email when a new story is published. No noise. Just the trail.