Angel Falls - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

Angel Falls

travel wonder in Venezuela

Why Angel Falls

is special

It is the highest waterfall in the world. The water drops 979 meters (3212 feet) - over 80% of that distance is free fall.

How to

see Angel Falls

The falls are located in the remote southeastern area of Venezuela. Travelers typically launch their Angel Falls journey in the village of Canaima, which is situated about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the falls. Once in Canaima, you have two basic sightseeing alternatives: boating and flightseeing:

Boating - Most boat tours last 2 to 4 days, with overnights in hammock camps. The shortest trip consists of a 3 to 5 hour ride in a motorized dugout canoe up the river followed by a somewhat strenuous hour trek through the rain forest to the base of the falls.

Flightseeing - Small commercial aircrafts fly you above and in front of the falls. Although this type of tour is less adventurous than the boating one, the majority of travelers who have done both believe that a flight gives you the best perspective and the most spectacular views of Angel Falls.

When to visit

Angel Falls

I recommend coming during the heart of the rainy season (June to October) when Angel Falls is in its full strength and glory.

During the core months of the dry season (January to April), the falls can shrivel to a skinny practical nothing. What water goes over the mountaintop brink usually vaporizes into mist before reaching the ground. Moreover, the low level of the river can make a river trip slow and difficult, if not impossible. On the other hand, there are fewer tourists, prices are lower, and there is less likelihood that the tops of the falls will be hidden by clouds.

Interesting insights

on Angel Falls

Angel Falls plummets off a large table mountain (flat top, tall sheer sides). It is just one of many tabletop mountains with striking water falls in the Gran Sabana region.

During the rainy season, Angel Falls can split into two or more falls, each with its own distinct plume.

The falls are named after a man, not an angel. His name was Jimmie Angel, an American barnstorming, fortune seeking pilot. He "discovered" the falls in his airplane in the 1930s while looking for gold. Local Indians, of course, have known about the falls for millenniums.

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