Roraima is located in southern Venezuela, in the state of Bolívar, covering an area of 31 square kilometers. Only 80% of it is in Venezuelan territory, 15% in Guyana, and 5% in Brazil. A Tepuy is a plateau with vertical walls and typically features a flat summit surface.
Getting to Roraima from anywhere in Venezuela involves a long drive that will leave you eager to explore more of this beautiful country, or a direct flight to Santa Elena de Uairén (a town on the border with Brazil).
🛣️THE ROUTE
To begin our adventure to Roraima Tepuy, we took a 4x4 vehicle for about an hour and a half from Santa Elena de Uairén to Paraitepuy, a Pemón settlement where the trail to Roraima Tepuy begins.
In Paraitepuy, we encountered a checkpoint managed by INPARQUES, the agency regulating natural parks in Venezuela. It is mandatory to have a local guide from the Pemón ethnicity for your trip. These guides are deeply aware of their surroundings and protect their lands with great care, yet they are among the most patient people I have ever met.
The route to the base of the Tepuy is a gentle trek through the relentless sun of the savannah. I recommend wearing light clothing that fully covers your body to protect against attacks from tiny mosquitoes called Puri-puri. At one point, you must cross the Tek and Kukenan rivers.
On the final day of the journey to the summit, you must traverse "La Rampa," the name given to the natural staircase leading to the top of Roraima. Here, you’ll witness a complete ecosystem shift to a semi-rainforest environment, where the technical difficulty increases slightly.
During this trek, we came face-to-face with the rock that forms this gigantic plateau. It is customary to thank the mountain for allowing you to be there, to climb it, and to return safely. This is a personal prayer to a place that captivates your consciousness and a sign of respect for a destination that leaves a mark on you.
Reaching the summit is magical, as Arthur Conan Doyle described in his novel inspired by accounts of ascents to Roraima—it is "The Lost World." It feels like an unreal dimension of black rocks that play with your subconscious, dark valleys covered in dense clouds, and paths made of quartz crystal remnants. Simply being there makes you understand how special this place is.
There are two moments when you decide to travel to a new place you’ve just learned about. The first is when you discover its existence—the instant you read a description, see a photograph, or hear a friend’s story, and in your mind, you decide you must go.
The second moment is when you make the decision to go—you research tours, ask friends for advice, and look up routes and photos daily, just to remind yourself that going is a decision you’ve made.
What sets mountaineers, naturalists, or climbers apart from others is how quickly we move from the first moment to the second.
When I learned about Venezuela’s highest Tepuy, the vast landscapes of the Gran Sabana, and saw photos of its summit, I knew I would be there—at 2,810 meters above sea level, on one of the oldest formations on Earth, Roraima Tepuy.
An extremely humid place, filled with carnivorous plants and endemic fauna like the Roraima frog (Oreophrynella quelchii), among other unique species of this lost world.
Roraima Frog (Oreophrynella quelchii) - An endemic species found only on Roraima Tepuy:
There are many places to explore on the summit. "El Abismo" is one of the edges of the Tepuy where you can feel above the clouds. "Maverick" is another highlight, marking the highest point of the Tepuy at 2,810 meters above sea level. "Los Jacuzzis" are beautiful natural pools of crystal-clear water where you can take a dip—but be aware, the water is very cold, around 5°C or less, not accounting for wind chill.
This is one of those life experiences you cannot miss. These places elevate you while revealing depths within yourself. I won’t tell you it’s easy—only that it’s worth it.
PARKING/ENTRY PASS.
An INPARQUES permit is required. You can arrange this through your tourism agency or local guide in Santa Elena de Uairén.
☀️CURRENT WEATHER
⛰️MY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Don’t carry unnecessary items—trust me, the less weight, the better the experience.
- A water filter is essential for treating river water along the route. I highly recommend the Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System it weighs only 2 oz (57 grams), is easy to use, fits in the palm of your hand, and removes 99.99999% of all bacteria.
- If you’re looking for a water bottle that keeps you hydrated, withstands impacts and drops, and doesn’t leak a single drop, the iconic Nalgene 32OZ WIDE MOUTH, is your best option.
- Local mosquitoes, also called Puri-puri, can be an unbearable nightmare. I highly recommend carrying Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent, which remains effective for up to 14 hours after application.
- With spacious vestibules, the NEMO Hornet 2 Tent is perfect for this trip. It’s super lightweight, and you can split the weight between two adventure partners, making it very convenient for reducing load.