Gran Sabana

The Gran Sabana is the open savanna region in the southeastern portion of Canaima National Park, in Bolívar state. It is a rolling expanse of grassland punctuated by rivers, waterfalls, and tepuis — the flat-topped sandstone mountains whose Precambrian rock is among the oldest exposed on the planet. This is not the fly-in, river-expedition territory of the Canaima lagoon: the Gran Sabana is a road trip, experienced from the ground, mile after mile.

La Troncal 10 is the single paved artery that runs north to south through the region, connecting Ciudad Bolívar to the border town of Santa Elena de Uairén near Brazil. The drive is long — typically eight to twelve hours depending on stops and road conditions — and the scenery rarely lets up: a new tepui at a different angle, a river crossing the road, a waterfall in the middle distance. A high-clearance or 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended, and fuel and services are scarce, so trips are planned around where you can refuel and sleep.

The Pemón communities along the road are the region's tourism infrastructure — they run the posadas, prepare the food, and guide the walks to waterfalls and viewpoints. Santa Elena de Uairén, at the southern end of the route, is also the staging point for the multi-day trek up Mount Roraima, the most famous tepui and one of the most extraordinary hikes in South America. The Gran Sabana pairs naturally with a Canaima visit, but it stands on its own as a slow, self-directed journey.