Salto Angel tours offer access to the world’s tallest uninterrupted waterfall, standing at 979 meters (3,212 feet) in Canaima National Park, Venezuela. Tour packages depart from Caracas and are priced from $675 to $850 per person for 4 to 5-day expeditions, with a separate Canaima National Park entrance fee of $40. 95 percent of visitors to Venezuela list Angel Falls as their primary destination.
What Is Salto Angel?
Salto Angel, or Angel Falls, is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, located in Canaima National Park in the Gran Sabana region of Bolivar State, Venezuela. The waterfall drops over the edge of the Auyantepui mountain, with a height of 979 meters (3,212 feet) and a plunge of 807 meters (2,648 feet). For context, see our previous guide on Nakano and Shinjuku Tour, Tokyo: 1-Day Itinerary, 12 Attractions, and Travel Guide.
Canaima National Park covers 3 million hectares (7.4 million acres) in the Gran Sabana region of southeastern Venezuela and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 due to its extraordinary geological formations, diverse ecosystems, and cultural heritage.
The waterfall was named after Jimmy Angel, a U.S. aviator who was the first to fly over the falls in 1933. His expedition brought international attention to this natural landmark. Salto Angel is 16 times higher than Niagara Falls and was the main inspiration for the fictional Paradise Falls in Pixar’s 2009 animated film, Up.
What Are the 5 Types of Salto Angel Tours?
The 5 types of Salto Angel tours are 4-day river expeditions, 5-day extended expeditions, full-day tours, helicopter flyover tours, and combination tours with Roraima or the Orinoco Delta. Each type varies by duration, altitude access, and physical demand.
| Tour Type | Duration | Base Price per Person | Departure Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-Day River Expedition | 4 days / 3 nights | $675 to $775 | Caracas |
| 5-Day Extended Expedition | 5 days / 4 nights | $795 to $850 | Caracas |
| Full-Day Tour | 1 day | Variable | Canaima Camp |
| Helicopter Flyover | Half-day | $500 per passenger | Canaima |
| Salto Angel and Roraima Combo | 12 to 13 days | Variable | Caracas |
What Is the 4-Day Salto Angel River Tour?
The 4-day tour is the most booked Salto Angel expedition, covering Canaima Lagoon, a river journey to the falls, and a 4.1-kilometer jungle hike to the Laime viewpoint. The 4-day tour price ranges from $675 to $775 per person, with flights departing from Caracas and returning to Caracas. The Canaima National Park entrance fee of $40 is not included. Tours run with a minimum of 7 and maximum of 12 participants.
The most challenging part is the hike to the base of Salto Angel – 4 km each way, with a maximum incline of around 45 degrees. The hike is approximately 60 percent flat and 40 percent uphill. Expect over 90 percent humidity, with sandy, root-laden, rocky trails and numerous puddles. The tour is not recommended for children under 5.
What Is the 5-Day Salto Angel Expedition?
The 5-day expedition provides 3 nights near the falls and includes additional access to the Kuravaina Tepui hike and Pozo Azul waterfall. The 5-day tour includes 3 nights in hammocks plus 1 night in a basic camp with a private bathroom. Price ranges from $795 to $850 per person. Tours operate with a minimum of 8 and maximum of 12 participants.
After breakfast at camp, visitors travel back down the river to Mayupa Savannah and begin a 3-hour hike to the top of Kuravaina Tepui. A picnic lunch is served at Pozo Azul Falls, with views across 3 tepuis: Kuravaina, Kurun, and Kusari.
What Is the Helicopter Flyover Tour of Salto Angel?
The helicopter flyover is the fastest access option to Salto Angel, covering the falls from the air without a river journey or jungle hike. The helicopter tour over Angel Falls costs $500 per passenger. It provides aerial views of the craters and lava flows at close range, including panoramic views unattainable from ground level.
The helicopter option is used by travelers with limited time or physical restrictions. It provides clear views of the full 979-meter drop and the Auyantepui plateau edge during dry-season conditions.
How Do You Get to Salto Angel?
Getting to Salto Angel requires 3 transport stages: an international flight to Caracas, a domestic flight to Canaima National Park, and a river journey by curiara canoe to the falls base camp.
Canaima National Park is only accessible by air – there are no overland routes into the park. Visitors fly from Ciudad Bolivar or Caracas. Conviasa is the only airline flying from Caracas to Canaima, operating 2 weekly flights on Thursday and Sunday.
River trips generally take place from June to December, when the rivers are deep enough for use by the Pemon guides. During the dry season from December to March, the volume of water is less than in other months.
3 transport steps to reach Salto Angel:
- Fly to Caracas Simon Bolivar International Airport (CCS) from your origin city.
- Connect to a domestic flight from Caracas or Ciudad Bolivar to Canaima camp airstrip.
- Board a curiara – an indigenous motorized wooden canoe – for a 4 to 5-hour river journey to Isla Ratoncito camp, directly facing the falls.
What Happens During a Salto Angel River Tour?
A standard Salto Angel river tour follows a 4-stage daily structure: arrival and Canaima Lagoon exploration on Day 1, river journey and camp setup on Day 2, falls viewpoint hike on Day 3, and return journey on Day 4.
On arrival at Canaima, the afternoon includes a tour by curiara boats around the lagoons and falls of Canaima Lagoon. Waterfalls including Ucaima, Golondrina, Wadaima, and El Salto Hacha are observed before continuing to Isla Anatoliy for a 20-minute hike to Sapo and Sapito Falls.
The curiara departs early on Day 2, traveling up the Rio Carrao for 4 to 5 hours to Isla Ratoncito – the island directly opposite Angel Falls – with the marvellous scenery and rock formations of Auyantepui visible throughout the journey.
After leaving baggage at the campsite, a 1-hour hike through the rainforest leads to Mirador Laime – the spot with the most photogenic views below Angel Falls. The highest falls on Earth drop vertically for 807 meters from the top of the mountain to the canyon, with an additional 400-meter drop in cascades and rapids below. Visitors sleep in hammocks at the forest camp.
What Are the Campsites Near Salto Angel?
Salto Angel tours use 3 primary campsite locations: Orchid Island Camp, Ratoncito Island Camp, and Canaima Village Posada. Each campsite serves a different stage of the expedition.
Tours navigate to Orchid Island Camp, where breakfast is served on the river journey. The route then continues toward Ratoncito Island Camp, located directly across from Angel Falls, where visitors begin the 1-hour steep hike to El Mirador viewpoint. If conditions allow, a short walk to bathe in the natural pool beneath the waterfall is included.
Accommodation types across the 3 nights include:
- Night 1: Posada in Canaima Village with beds and private bathrooms
- Nights 2 and 3: Hammocks with mosquito nets at jungle campsites facing the falls
- Night 4 (5-day tours): Return to Canaima Lagoon posada with private bathroom
Camping is forbidden in Canaima National Park. All accommodation options are operated by licensed tour operators and lodge owners approved by the park authority.
When Is the Best Time to Take a Salto Angel Tour?
The best time to take a Salto Angel tour is from June to November, during the rainy season when water levels allow curiara access to the falls base. Angel Falls is ideal to visit from June to December. During the dry season, it is still possible to reach Salto Angel with more effort, but access cannot be guaranteed as water levels on the Churun River may be too low for safe navigation.
| Season | Months | River Access | Falls Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainy Season | June – November | Guaranteed | Maximum – mist visible at 1 km |
| Late Dry Season | December – January | Likely | Moderate |
| Dry Season | February – May | Not guaranteed | Reduced |
| Peak Booking Period | December – Carnival | Full | Varies |
If extreme drought makes river access to Angel Falls impossible, operators issue a $100 refund. Weather at Angel Falls is unpredictable, with heat, sun, and rain potentially occurring all in one day, sometimes within minutes.
What Does a Salto Angel Tour Include?
A standard Salto Angel tour package includes 6 components: domestic flights, curiara river transport, meals, accommodation, English-speaking guide, and round-trip transfers.
Standard tour inclusions cover the flight from Ciudad Bolivar to Canaima and back, excursions to Canaima Lagoon and Salto Sapo, indigenous curiara transport, 1 night in a posada in Canaima, 1 night in hammocks with mosquito nets facing Angel Falls, an English-speaking guide, and 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners.
Items not included in most packages:
- Canaima National Park entrance fee: $40
- Local airport taxes: approximately 3 euros
- Helicopter flyover upgrade: $500 per person
- Personal expenses and gratuities
What Should You Pack for a Salto Angel Tour?
Visitors to Salto Angel should pack 8 essential items suited to 90 percent humidity, jungle terrain, and river travel.
Recommended items include a passport, travel backpack, insect repellent, sun protection, a hat or cap with neck protection, light clothing, a rain jacket or poncho, swimwear, trekking boots or good walking shoes, water sandals or sneakers, and a small water bottle.
Hard-shell suitcases are not recommended. Luggage must not exceed 15 kg. Extra weight may incur additional charges, and airlines cannot guarantee transporting additional weight on the same day.
How Do You Book a Salto Angel Tour?
Salto Angel tours are bookable through 3 channels: licensed Venezuelan tour operators, international adventure travel agencies, and direct contact with lodges including Waku Lodge and Osprey Expeditions.
The most cost-effective Salto Angel tours are booked from Ciudad Bolivar, where prices include the domestic flight to Canaima. Tour guides typically speak Spanish and English across all licensed operators.
3 booking steps for first-time visitors:
- Select tour duration – 4-day tours start at $675 per person; 5-day tours start at $795 per person.
- Confirm departure date based on river season. Tours from June to November guarantee water access.
- Budget an additional $40 for the Canaima National Park entrance fee, paid on arrival at Canaima camp.
Salto Angel tours connect 979 meters of vertical waterfall, 3 million hectares of UNESCO-protected jungle, and 5 distinct tour formats into one of South America’s most measurable natural expeditions – accessible exclusively by air and river from Caracas, Venezuela.
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