Beanie65, i have sent in my report on the Dunes Hotel & beach resort, i think its under `other destinations `though, the beach at the Dunes is just a few yards form the hotel and its long and empty and gets better as you walk away from the hotel.

Hi everyone

My boyfriend and I are travelling to Hesperia Isla Margarita for 2 weeks on 23rd June and we can't wait. I've heard a mixture of positive and negative reports but at the end of the day the holiday is what you make of it! I'm doing all my shopping this week and I soooo can't wait!!

Sarah
x

wenchess2k, save your money and shop at the Sambil Mall its a shopaholics paradise,as my wife will testify

Hi greyman

Yeah I've heard that. Is that in Porlamar? I've heard that they have Gucci and Versace shops, is that right? Are the prices quite cheap or just tax free? When did you go and where did you stay?

Wenchess2k

We got back just over 2 weeks ago now , the Dunes was our hotel ,as for the 2 shops you mention i could not tell you any prices in them as i just walked on when my wife wanted a look in , the other shops though were cheaper than over here as my son will testify as he spent quite a bit of dosh buying `designer` jeans /t.shitrs/ shirts. and yes its in Porlamar just across from the `Diverland ` centre where you can swim with the dolphins.

Oh cool, I so can't wait! Has anyone been on the waterfalls trip and where you fish for Pirhana's. My boyfriend really wants to do it but I'm a bit scared as people have said they have seen Bears and Caymen and also Pirhana's are very dangerous!!

Also, where did you get your best rate for the currency? Is it best to use US dollars or Venezuelan Bolivar. Is there anywhere in Porlamar where we could get money and are the people who sell it on the street safe (I gather they aren't)!!!

If anyone has any recommendations or comments, they will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks loads

Sarah xxx

Wenchess2k check your Private Messages.

Fabulous photos greyman thanks, can I ask what camera you were using please.
Thanks
Lynn

my camera is a KODAK Digital 4.Mega Pixel CX7430

wenchess2k - we did the trip with the Delta/canaima trip in Nov 2003 and it was the best thing I've done in my whole life!!

Imagine floating down the Orinoco river in the pitch black with fire flies flying around you and looking up to see a sky full of stars! I've never seen a sky like it in my whole life.

staceylc, that sounds amazing. You have got me sooo excited now I can hardly contain myself!!! lol!

Is that the trip where you see the waterfalls and stay over night or is it a seperate trip? Is that in mainland Venezuela?

Did u go shopping on the island, what did you think about it? We are thinking of going on the Coche Island trip as we did a similar trip last year in the Dom Rep.

Sarah (Wenchess2k)

Yes, you fly from Porlamar on a 12 seater plane (which is an experience in itself) for about 45 minutes to the mainland where you transfer onto a coach for a couple of hours. then you get on a motorised canoe for a 3 hour trip to the riverside camp. Once there you have something to eat and then you get back on the canoe and go piranha fishing. After about an hour you travel further down the river into a lagoon and then you go and visit a native family.

Then you get bac kon the canoe and travel back through the lagoon back to the camp. Look out for the fish jumping out of the water.

The camp is VERY basic but exciting. There were creatures running across the roof at night. The next morning you have an early breakfast and back on the canoe for 3 hours back to the coach. Back to the airport and back on the plane for a 2 hour journey towards the Angel Falls.

After a fly past the falls you land at Canaima camp and get on a nother boat and sail across to the waterfalls. They look at the type of people in your group before deciding what to do next. As we were all quite young (no OAP's) we walked behind the waterfall and climbed up the side.

Then you make your way back down and back through the waterfall, onto the boat and then you have a rest on the small beach (watch out for the ants). Then you walk back around to the camp for a late lunch.

At this point you are supposed to be collected by plane and flown back to the Island but in our case our pilots were late so we ended up staying an extra night on the mainland but at Arakuna Camp (the Hilton in the jungle).

As I said before, we're going back in September and I'm hoping to do this trip again.
A word of advice take as much insect repellent with you as possible. I didn't use enough and got bitten to bits.

6 of us did the 1 day Cainama Trip and that too was Tremendous , we missed seeing Angels Falls though due to only being 6 of us on the way out and as we took off on the way back it chucked it down so we did a detour to view a smaller `falls` but it was still the best day trip we had .

staceylc
Thanks for your comments re the Angel Falls trip it as wet my appetite even more we are off in Nov and hope to do this trip ythere are 6 of us in a group but some may not be up to it can you please clarify the following:

1, Is there much walking involved?

2 What is the accomadation like at the "Hilton of the Jungle?

nick

Hi Nickmacuk

There isn't much walking involved at all. The only thing that was a bit uncomfortable was sitting on a wooden bench on a canoe for 3 hours. Sore bottoms all around!!
Apart from walking across a meadow to visit the native family and climbing up the waterfall (which not every group does anyway) there is no other walking.

Arakuna (Hilton of the jungle) was amazing. The restaurant/reception was situated on the top of a hill overlooking the jungle and river. The rooms are quite basic but a lot more comfortable than the riverside camp. There are 2 single beds (made of concrete, but very comfortable) a hammock and the bathroom has a shower, a sink & toilet. Lights go out at 10pm so you can borrow a torch to walk down to your rooms.

The sight at night is amazing. There are no windows in your room but thick mess type mosquito blinds. when it's dark the fireflies buzz around outside and it's all you can see. We also saw a lightning storm in the distant which lit up the sky.

I'll get some photo's posted over the next few days of our trip and I'll let you know when they're up.

Stacey

Hi Staceylc

Your trip sounds amazing!!! I'm definitely gonna do that trip. I will be scared coz i don't like small boats but how can i go all that way and not do it, I would regret it for life if i didn't do it!!

Do the fish actually jump in the boat, obv not the pirhanas but someone did say once that there were fish jumping in the boat.

I've only got 6 days til i go now. It's weird to think that in about 10days or so i will be near the waterfalls!!

Are there huge spiders out there, i don't wanna wake up in the camp and find a huge hairy thing at the end of my bed, pls say there aren't. lol!!!

I know it sounds like a stupid question but what shoes would u recommend for th trip as I was gonna wear just flip flops, would this be ok to walk by the waterfalls in? I wasn't planning on taking trainers or anything.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did u pay for the trip to angel falls? Did u go through your tour operator's rep or did u do it through a local tour operator.

Is the 12 seater plane safe?? I'm a bit of scaredy cat and a worrier and little things like that scare the pants off me!!

I'm sure I will be fine though!!

Thanks for everyone's info, it has been a huge help and it's made me and my bf even more excited about going there!!!!

Sarah =) xXx

Hi sarah

we didn't have any fish jumping in the boat and becaue you're on a river youdon't really realise how small the boat is.

I also have a fear of spiders and on our whole 2 week holiday we didn't see 1, although we you do the trip they do recommend that you check your shoes and bed before you get in them.

With regards to shoes, I think you might need something a bit more substantial than flip flops. I wore nike sandals that are made of wet suit material. They're about £12 from Sport Soccer. Also be carefull walking through the meadow with flip flops. I got covered in mosquito bites and it was horrible. I had to sleep in my other halfs wet socks so I wouldn't scratch them in my sleep!!

I can't remember how much we paid but it worked out A LOT cheaper booking with the first choice rep and paying by credit card. If you pay in dollars they have quite a high exchange rate, with the credit card they convert the price into Venezuelan Bolivars and then the credit card company charge you. we saved over £100 booking all of our trips on the credit card.

And when it comes to the 12 seater plane... Well.. I used to hate flying. I had the biggest phobia until I went on this trip. I did have a bit of a cry once we landed at Arakuna but after that it was a breeze.

I have got some pics of the plane. I'm at work at the mo, so I'll post them either later today or tomorrow morning.

Stacey

If anyone wants to see some of my photo's from Margarita, please sennd me a private message with your email address so I can email you a link to my AOL photo album.

Stacey