Cidade Turismo
Venezuela
Gran Sabana and Roraima

Bolívar · Venezuela

Gran Sabana and Roraima

The plateau of savannas, tea-colored rivers and waterfalls in southeastern Venezuela, at the foot of the tepuis, with the ascent to Monte Roraima, near the border with Roraima.

Guayana

In the photo: Monte Roraima

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

It is a plateau of open savannas, at about one thousand meters altitude, cut by dark, tea-colored rivers that form waterfalls and slabs of rock every few kilometers. On the horizon the tepuis appear — flat-topped mountains with vertical walls.

Further west, by dirt road and canoe crossing, is Salto Aponwao, with over a hundred meters of drop.

The ascent is a multi‑day hike, guided by pemón guides, who live in the Gran Sabana and speak their own language in addition to Spanish.

Entry rules to Venezuela can change: check with the consulate before traveling.

This destination brings together 1 city: Santa Elena de Uairén.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Gran Sabana and Roraima is
Santa Elena de Uairén

Contornos: INE da Venezuela e OCHA, via geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Gran Sabana and Roraima

✈ Aeropuerto de Santa Elena de Uairén (SNV) · 6 km to Santa Elena de Uairén

✈ Aeroporto Internacional de Boa Vista (BVB), in Boa Vista (Brasil) · 230 km to Santa Elena de Uairén

Confirm before booking. By land, from Boa Vista take the BR-174 to Pacaraima and the border, which has immigration control on both sides; check the rules beforehand. From northern Venezuela, the Troncal 10 road descends from Ciudad Guayana to Santa Elena.

The local experience

Things to do in Gran Sabana and Roraima

Quebrada de Jaspe
Santa Elena de Uairén · Bolívar · Waterfall

Quebrada de Jaspe

Shallow stream that runs over a bed of red and orange rock, with small waterfalls, beside the Troncal 10 north of Santa Elena.

Quebrada Pacheco
Santa Elena de Uairén · Bolívar · Waterfall

Quebrada Pacheco

Tiered waterfalls and natural dark-water pools beside the Troncal 10, called Arapán-Merú by the pemón.

Salto Kamá
Santa Elena de Uairén · Bolívar · Waterfall

Salto Kamá

Waterfall of about 50 meters that falls from a rock edge in the middle of the savanna, beside the Troncal 10, with a viewpoint and a nearby pemón community.

Salto Aponwao
Santa Elena de Uairén · Bolívar · Waterfall

Salto Aponwao

Waterfall of about 108 meters on the Aponwao river, called Chinak-Merú by the pemón, reached by dirt road, canoe and a short trail.

See 1 more place in Gran Sabana and Roraima
Monte Roraima
Santa Elena de Uairén · Bolívar · Tepui

Monte Roraima

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From December to April, in the dry season, the sky is usually clearer and the trails drier — the most popular time to climb Roraima. From May to November, during the rains, the waterfalls tend to be more voluminous, but the trails and rivers rise. Days are mild and nights are cold year‑round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two or three days are enough for the waterfalls along Troncal 10 from Santa Elena. The ascent to Monte Roraima typically takes around six days round‑trip, departing from Paraitepui. With about a week and a half you can do both.

Which city to stay in

Santa Elena de Uairén is the base, with guesthouses, simple hotels and tour agencies in the town center. Along Troncal 10 there are campsites and rustic lodgings near the waterfalls, such as in Kamá and Yuruaní, run by pemón communities. On the ascent to Roraima you sleep in tents at the trail camps and, on the summit, in stone shelters.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Gran Sabana and Roraima

Do you need a guide to climb Roraima?

Yes. The ascent is done with pemón guides, departing from the community of Paraitepui, and is usually organized by agencies in Santa Elena. Confirm the park rules beforehand.

What is the best time to visit the Gran Sabana?

From December to April, in the dry season, for trails and clear skies; from May to November, in the rainy season, for fuller waterfalls.

Do I need a car?

For the waterfalls along Troncal 10, a car or an organized tour from Santa Elena. Public transport on the road is scarce.

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