Angel Falls, Venezuela

Angel Falls is located in the Guayana highlands, and it is just one of the five great adventure regions in Venezuela. The water comes in a free fall of 979 meters from the Churum river hovering of the edge of the "Auyantepuy" Table mountain, this the largest Tepuy (table mountain) in Canaima Venezuela. This height makes it the highest waterfall in the world.

Angel Falls is 15 times higher than Niagara Falls with its total of approximately 52 meters.

This fall is named for Jimmy Angel, an adventurous pilot from Missouri, United States, who flew to the air circus Lindberg. James Crawford Angel (Jimmy Angel) is a modern legend. He saw the waterfall for the first time in 1933 with his partner while searching for the legendary McCracken River of Gold, or the Golden City.

James returned again in 1937 with his wife and his friend Gustavo Henry Gardener where they had an emergency landing on top of the Auyantepuy. The aircraft was able to reach safely to the top of the Tepuy and stayed there for 33 years until it was taken down by a helicopter.

Jimmy Angel and his three companions managed to descend from Tepuy and return to the civilization walking through the jungle for 11 days. Angel's plane is currently in the Aviation Museum in Maracay, and nowadays on top of the Auyantepuy you will find a replica of Jimmys airplane.

The fascinating world of Canaima National Park is a perfect combination of magic and reality, shaped by breathtaking mountains called Tepuys, countless rivers, lakes, waterfalls, forests and savannahs spread like a green sea, this environment calls for a visit at least once in life.

In this gift of God to the nature you will find interesting plants and animals, sometimes endemic (unique in the world), also the Native Pemón, people with a culture, art, folklore and ancient cuisine.

This mosaic nature is a living testimony to the geographic history of our planet.

Canaima National Park is located in the south west of Venezuela, south of the Orinoco River in the municipality Gran Sabana of Bolivar State, was declared a national park on 12 June 1962 by the National Executive, in order to protect its attractions and conserve virgin for the rest of the world.

The park has 3 million hectares, making it the second largest protected area Venezuuela and sixth in the world. The real highest waterfall in the world is not permanent and is next to the Angel Falls it is called: La Catira..

The park is divided into two parts: West and East.

The western part is simply called Canaima and it can be reached by flights from Caracas, Margarita, Puerto Ordaz, Ciudad Bolivar and Santa Elena.

Enjoy this privileged place with the highest waterfall in the world, the amazing Angel Falls. See the spectacular scenery in the Laguna de Canaima, with beautiful waterfalls, inviting you to swim and provoking you with its beautiful white sandy beaches surrounding the lagoon.

In the east there is the Gran Sabana (La ran Sabana), which can be reached by air or land. By air you fly to Puerto Ordaz and Santa Elena de Uairen, the last village in southern Venezuela, only 20 minutes from the border with Brazil and then start the tour.

Let us take you where earth was born, the oldest corner of the planet and watch the wild, free and beautiful land that has two billion years (2 billion). The time and nature make this place feel like another world.

 

This unique place gives you the opportunity to integrate with nature in a direct and real way. Ecotourism is par excellence with a world to be discovered.

Join Auyantepuy - Tepuyes - Angel Fals and Canaima and the tours we can offer you, where the famous Angel Falls is launched from the sky at 975 meters to the base.

Here on this website (the first about Angel Falls) you will find the best tours and prices if you consider a visit to Angel Falls in Canaima, or elsewhere in Venezuela.

You can choose one of our tour packages or we can arrange a special excursion for you with a circuit that includes all the favorite attractions.

You can rely on us for special tours, day tours, accommodations or enjoy a true expedition by helicopter, by foot or canoe ...

It is worth mentioning that only since 1990 the first travelers could visit Angel Falls staying in the Boulton Camp (today called Campamento Canaima), making Angel Falls a true virgin destination in the world.

Source: http://www.salto-angel.com/en

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Skaftafell National Park, Iceland

Skaftafell National Park is one of the must see destinations in Iceland. Skaftafell is a beautiful mountainous region in the south of Iceland on the southern edge of the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier. The old Skaftafell National park is nearly 5.000 km² but is since 2008 the epicenter of the largest National Park in Europe, Vatnajökull National Park, covering 12.000 km².

The area is an amazing place to view the great contrasts between active volcanoes, mighty glaciers, powerful glacier rivers and endless flat sandy plains. The park is the birth place of Icelandic Mountain Guides. It is where we began running glacier tours in 1994, helping people enjoy the extreme nature of the park in a safe, environmentally friendly and enjoyable manner.

Mountain Climbing in Skaftafell

The glacier walks suit those who want to experience glaciers without too much effort. But for those who want a real challenge and climb a proper mountain, we have plenty of possibilities. Our most popular mountain climb is the summit of Hvannadalshnjúkur (2.111m), the highest peak in Iceland. This is a beautiful hike that starts at just above sea level and ends up on the top of Hvannadalshnjúkur, the highest peak of the Öræfajökull Glacier, one of the most powerful volcanoes in the world. A mountain climb of a similar level is the summit of Hrútsfjallstindar Peaks (1.875m). This is one of the most majestic mountains in Iceland, slightly lower than Hvannadalshnjúkur but recquiring similar skill levels and stamina while rewarding with spectacular views over the whole Skaftafell National Park.

Non-guided hikes from the Skaftafell Campsite

Skaftafell National Park is a paradise for hikers. Apart from our glacier tours there are plenty of trails around the park for people of any skill level. The most popular walk is up to the Svartifoss waterfall, less than an hour from the campsite and service center. The basalt columns around Svartifoss, although small, make it one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Another short easy hike that anybody can complete is the path to The Skaftafellsjökull Glacier a mere half hour away from the campsite and service center. This is the glacier Icelandic Mountain Guides used to do glacier walks on, but as Iceland is constantly changing and the glaciers slowly melting. A large lagoon in front of the glacier blocks hikers access to walk onto the ice. It is still quite a sight to see though. For longer day hikes, many people choose the Kristínartindar Peaks (1.126m). It is possible to walk a very interesting circle around the Skaftafellsheiði Plateau, linking the beautiful Svartifoss waterfall, amazing views from the Kristínartindar Peaks and strolling above the cliffs that Skaftafellsjökull Glacier has carved. This circle takes between 4 and 6 hours and should be within the capabilities of most. Many longer hikes are also possible, long day hikes into the Morsárdalur Valley or overnight trips in the Skaftafellsfjöll Mountains. All hikers intending to venture off the beaten track in the park are encouraged to report in the visitors center and submit their plan. If planning on camping outside the designated campsite, reporting to the visitors center is both advised and mandatory. The park has published a map of its most popular hiking routes, available online.

How to get there and where to stay

How to get to Skaftafell

Skaftafell is situated in South Eastern Iceland. It is on the Ring Road, highway number 1, about 330km east of Reykjavik and 130km west of Höfn. You can drive from Reykjavik on any car without trouble but public buses are also available daily throughout the summer months and a few times a week in the winter.

Where to stay in Skaftafell

The most popular place to stay in Skaftafell is the campsite, but hotels, sleeping bag accommodation and guesthouses are also available in the near area.  Skaftafell camping is available within an easy walk of the Visitor Center and our summer office and has bathrooms, showers, dish-washing and laundry facilities. This is the starting point for most hikes and tours in the park. The only accommodation inside the park other than the camp site is the small Bölti Guesthouse with sleeping bag accommodation, however just on the outskirt of the park is Hotel Skaftafell and various farm guesthouses. Knowing you'll have a great time in Skaftafell,

Source: http://www.mountainguides.is/iceland-attractions/skaftafell/

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Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

The Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia’s most popular tourist attraction, was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979. Located roughly halfway between capital city Zagreb and Zadar on the coast, the lakes are a definite must-see in Croatia. (As confirmed by the many emails we’ve received!)

The beauty of the National Park lies in its sixteen lakes, inter-connected by a series of waterfalls, and set in deep woodland populated by deer, bears, wolves, boars and rare bird species.  The National Park covers a total area of 300 square kilometres, whilst the lakes join together over a distance of eight kilometres.

There’s also quite an altitude difference – the highest point is at 1,280m, the lowest at 380m – although the total height difference between the lakes themselves is only 135m. (Veliki Slap, the largest waterfall, is 70m tall.)

If you’re undecided about whether or not to visit Plitvice Lakes, take a look at any photo album of the Park and that will surely sway you! The official Plitvice Lakes website has a fantastic virtual tour that features some truly stunning scenes.

Visiting The Plitvice Lakes National Park

The Park is open daily all year round, with longer opening hours during summer (usually 7am to 8pm). There’s an entrance fee which acts as a contribution to the Park’s upkeep and protection: for adults it’s 55 Kunas (£7.75/$10/€7.25) January to March and November and December; 110 Kunas (£12/€14.50/$19.50) during April to June and September and October; and 180 Kunas (£20/€24/$32) in July and August. Children aged 7 to 18 have cheaper tickets, whilst children under the age of seven go free. Groups of 15 or more people can get discounted tickets, as can university students. 4-hour guided tours in English, German French, Spanish, Italian or Croatian can also be pre-booked for a minimum of 15 people.

2-day tickets for the Park can also be purchased, which provide you with some cost savings.

There are two entrances to the Park – excitingly titled Entrance 1 and Entrance 2. Entrance 2 may sometimes be closed in winter.

What is there to see and do in the Plitvice Lakes National Park?

There really is nothing better than to walk (or hike) through the Park, taking in the beautiful surroundings and admiring the lakes, waterfalls, nature and wildlife. The Park prints out maps for a number of different walks, of varying lengths, that can be undertaken starting from either entrance – who’s tough enough for the 8 hour sightseeing walk?!

There is also an electric boat that takes you from one side of the largest lake to the other. This boat runs all year round, more frequently during summer.

A “panoramic train” (i.e. a shuttle bus) also runs within a particular route in the park. You can walk part of the way through the park and then hop on the shuttle bus to take you back to one of the entrances.

Best of all, Plitvice Lakes isn’t just for summer. It’s a stunning place to visit any time of year as the different seasons see the Park take on different hues. Even in winter – Plitvice is also amazing to see in the snow.

A restaurant – Licka kuca (Lika House) – is located near Entrance 1. It serves traditional food from the Lika region of Croatia, in which Plitvice Lakes National Park is situated.

And in answer to a question we sometimes receive – no, swimming  (or any other kind of water activity) is not allowed anywhere in the Park. The Park’s wonderfully clear waters need to be kept that way!

Accommodation in the Plitvice Lakes

It is possible to stay within the Park at one of its three hotels (which are all clustered quite closely together by Entrance 2) or at its campsite, Camp Korana (which contains bungalows or space for 500 camping units), which is located about 7km from entrance 1. Another campsite, Camp Borje, is 15km away from Entrance 2. There is another hotel, the Hotel Grabovac, that is also located 12km north of the Park.

There is also a very wide selection of private accommodation (rooms, apartments in guesthouses and similar) in a number of the towns and villages (such as Slunj) on the way to the Park.

Source: http://www.visit-croatia.co.uk/index.php/croatia-destinations/plitvice-lakes/

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Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, Palawan, Philippines

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park

This park features a spectacular limestone karst landscape with an underground river. One of the river's distinguishing features is that it emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area also represents a significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. The site contains a full 'mountain-to-sea' ecosystem and has some of the most important forests in Asia.

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park encompasses one of the world’s most impressive cave systems, featuring spectacular limestone karst landscapes, pristine natural beauty, and intact old-growth forests and distinctive wildlife. It is located in the south-western part of the Philippine Archipelago on the mid western coast of Palawan, approximately 76 km northwest of Puerto Princesa and 360 km southwest of Manila.

The property, comprising an area of approximately 22,202 ha, contains an 8.2km long underground river. The highlight of this subterranean river system is that it flows directly into the sea, with its brackish lower half subjected to tidal influence, distinguishing it as a significant natural global phenomenon. The river’s cavern presents remarkable, eye catching rock formations. The property contains a full mountain-to-sea ecosystem which provides significant habitat for biodiversity conservation and protects the most intact and noteworthy forests within the Palawan biogeographic province. Holding the distinction of being the first national park devolved and successfully managed by a local government unit, the park’s effective management system is a symbol of commitment by the Filipino people to the protection and conservation of their natural heritage.

Criterion (vii): The Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park features a spectacular limestone or karst landscape. It contains an underground river that flows directly to the sea. The lower half of the river is brackish and subject to ocean tide. The associated tidal influence on the river makes this a significant natural phenomenon. The river’s cavern exhibits dramatic speleothems and several large chambers of as much as 120m wide and 60m high. Its accessibility and navigability up to 4.5km inland allows it to be experienced by the general public, who can view the magnificent rock formations on a river cruise unequalled by any other similar experience elsewhere in the world.

Criterion (x): The property contains globally significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. It includes a full mountain-to-sea ecosystem, protecting the most significant forest area within the Palawan Biogeographic Province. There are eight intact forest formations: forest on ultramafic soil, forest on limestone soil, montane forest, freshwater swamp forest, lowland evergreen tropical rainforest, riverine forest, beach forest, and mangrove forest, included in the property. It contains outstanding biodiversity with the Palawan Moist Forest recognized by the WWF’s Global Report as containing the richest tree flora, with high levels of regional and local endemism and as being the largest and most valuable limestone forest in Asia.

Integrity

The property, including the karst mountain landscapes and the underground river, is in excellent condition. Integrity of the property is also expressed in the complete "mountain-to-the-sea" ecosystem that protects one of the most significant forests in Asia. The uniqueness of the mangrove forests in the Bay along with the flora and fauna they harbour, and the bioecological connection with the caves and surrounding forest is protected within the core area of the property ensuring the local key inter-related and inter-dependant elements of their natural relationships are protected.

The Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, comprising 22,202 ha and covering three barangays, encompasses the natural values of the property and is of adequate size to protect all the various landforms and the estuarine ecosystem that conveys the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. The boundaries of the property cover the entire watershed of the underground river, thus protecting water quality and quantity and ensuring the long-term viability of the outstanding natural values contained within the property. The biodiversity values of the property are highlighted in Barangay Marufinas which is included in the property along with the adjacent barangays which also contain significant biodiversity values and habitats important to their integrity. Management guidelines are needed to address threats to the property including pollutants impacting on water quality in the underground river. Threats to the property are mainly from adverse activities in adjacent catchment areas, primarily forest clearing and agricultural activities. Tourism activities require careful planning and management to ensure the natural values are not impacted.

Protection and management requirements

Effective site protection is provided at a local rather than a national level through agreements that place legal ownership with the City Government of Puerto Princesa. This arrangement for local ownership ensures the property’s national values are maintained even after changes in local management perspectives. The property is also covered by the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 which ensures legal protection and conservation of protected areas in the Philippines. It decrees that all management decisions for the property are made in consultation with the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB). Multilateral agreement provisions between national government agencies and local stakeholders have been considered throughout the planning and management of the site to ensure protection and conservation of its natural values.

Management of the park is conducted within the boundary as two zones: a core comprising the Park and a surrounding buffer. The Management Plan for the park sets out relevant objectives and programs and provides zoning within the park’s boundaries wherein different management regimes apply. Management of the property is very effective, reflecting strong local political support and enabling the provision of reasonable funding and staffing. Its key directive is to conserve the underground river and the forest ecosystem in their most natural state possible.

Management of the buffer is covered by guidelines that seek to regulate activities that may impact on the property. They also provide for the establishment of sustainable protective measures for agricultural lands within the buffer. Thus, not only conserving the natural resources of the area, but also improving the quality of life of its residents. However, more resources are required for the full implementation of the management plan and guidelines.

Tourism, identified as a potential threat, adversely impacting the natural values of the property, is being addressed through tourism management objectives set out in the Management Plan. But as tourist visits are increasing, more staff training in park planning and management is required to ensure effective management of tourism activities. The property’s tourism program aims to enhance visitor’s experience with nature while protecting the natural values. The threats posed by uncontrolled access from outside developments are being addressed through the implementation of a limit of 600 visitors per day. Wildlife population surveys are conducted annually to monitor the effects of tourism on wildlife. 

Threats from activities such as forest clearing and agriculture also need to be addressed in the Management Plan. Water quality in the underground river, invariably affected by upstream activities in the catchment area, as well as concerns about pollution inputs to the river, need to be addressed in the management guidelines. Regular awareness campaigns at the level of the barangays are needed to ensure natural values of the property are conserved within their jurisdictions and the establishment of an integrated land use plan is required to ensure long term conservation of the natural values of the property.

Long Description

The site of the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range. It is north-west of Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan Province. The topography varies from flat plains to rolling hinterlands and hills to mountain peaks. Over 90% of the park comprises sharp, karst limestone ridges around Mount St Paul, which is itself part of a series of rounded, limestone peaks aligned on a north-south axis, along the western coast of Palawan.

The focus of the area is a spectacular karst landscape which features both surface karst features (pinnacles, shafts, dolines and limestone cliffs), as well as an extensive underground river system. The subterranean river is 8.2 km long, one of the most unique of its type in the world and includes many speleotherms, several large chambers exist, up to 120 m wide and 60 m high. A distinguishing feature of the river is the fact that it emerges directly into the sea, and that the lower portion of the river is brackish and subject to tidal influences.

The underground river (the Cabayugan River) arises approximately 2 km south-west of Mount Saint Paul at an altitude of 100 m, and flows underground for almost its entire length to an outflow into St Paul's Bay. All rivers and associated tributaries are within the park, which is important in relation to catchments impacts on the water quality of the Cabayugan River.

Approximately two-thirds of the site is forested, dominated by hardwood species. Three forest formations are present: lowland, karst and limestone. The karst forest is restricted to small pockets where soils have developed. In the coastal area, mangroves, mossy forest, seagrass beds and coral reefs are also found.

The faunal diversity in the park is moderate, especially with respect to invertebrates. Endemic mammals include the Palawan tree shrew, Palawan porcupine and Palawan stink badger. Dugong has been recorded in the marine component of the park. Monitor lizard and marine turtles are also present. The Palawan Peacock Pheasant has also been recorded in this site (recognized as an internationally threatened species). The subterranean fauna has not been studied in detail, but comprises fish, prawns, snakes and insects. The tunnel and chambers of the subterranean river are home to abundant populations of swiftlets and bats. Eight species of bat are also found in the cave, and cave swiftlets nest on some of the underground boulder piles. Further studies are required to determine the extent and diversity of the underground fauna.

Source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/652

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