Huachamacari Adventure

Heliamphora macdonaldae and H. tatei are both among the least known of all carnivorous plants. Only a handful of photos exist of either species, both having only every been seen on a few occasions. These two enigmatic pitcher plants are known from Cerro Huachamacari, along with a wealth of other wildlife. Cerro Huachamacari is a dramatic sandstone outcrop that few people have ever visited. An ascent route up the mountain’s cliffs provides relatively easy access to the plateau top. No special skills or technical climbing are required - just determination to trek to this “lost world”. This expedition aims to increase understanding both of Heliamphora macdonaldae and H. tatei, and the diversity of wildlife on Huachamacari. This trip will comprise a group of twelve people; two expedition leaders, one expedition paramedic and nine participants. We will charter four light aircraft to transfer the group to / from the start point for climbing Cerro Huachamacari. Due to the aircrafts’ strict passenger limits and the complicated logistics of this trip, ONLY NINE PLACES are available for this expedition. COST: £3,500 per person for 15 days/14 nights (all inclusive from start point to end point). START POINT: Maiquetía “Simón Bolívar” International Airport, Caracas, Venezuela. END POINT: Maiquetía “Simón Bolívar” International Airport, Caracas, Venezuela. DATES: To be agreed as a group - please email to discuss and to find a mutually convenient time. GROUP SIZE: 9 plus staff Email [email protected] for more information and to make bookings. Optional pre- or post-expedition extensions: We can organise charter flights in light aircraft for aerial photographic flyover trips above Mount and . Trekking or helicopter expeditions to . We also run a 4*4 trip through the to see the Jasper Creek (a waterfall that flows over bright red jasper gemstone), several other spectacular waterfalls, visits to Indian villages, and view points to sight the Eastern ). We can also organise add on trips from Manaus to explore the Amazon rainforest (see Amazon Adventure Expedition for possibilities). Please contact us for details. Getting there: Regular flights are available to Maiquetía “Simón Bolívar” International Airport from destinations across the world. This airport is one hour outside of Caracas city and can be visited safely. All participants will be met at the airport at the start the expedition, and likewise will be escorted back to Caracas at the end of the trip. ITINERARY

NOTE: This trip is logistically very complex and very expensive to organise primarily because Adventure for we need four light aircraft. Each aircraft will carry 3 people, plus cargo, and must fly two hours from Caracas to Puerto Ayacucho, then two hours from Puerto Ayacucho to Culebra (the Venezuela start point for Huachamacari). Then each aircraft must fly the same journey (4 hours) back to Caracas, then repeat the flight (another 4 hours each way) to pick us up and return to Caracas at the end of the trip. So to complete this trip for 12 people, we need four aircraft, each aircraft flying at least sixteen hours (each aircraft flight hour is US $450), and we need to fly in supplies, undertake an advance trip to organise guides and porters, and finalise all other logistics!So this is an exceptionally complex trekking expedition to organise! Day 1: Expedition leaders meet participants from flights in Caracas Airport (1 hour from Caracas city) and transfer to Hotel Eurobuilding Express (a nice, safe hotel a few minutes drive from the airport). Overnight and dinner in hotel. Day 2: Expedition leaders transfer group to Caracas Airport. We fly to Puerto Ayacucho (2 hours flying time), then on to Culebra (another 2 hours flying time). Overnight in Culebra. Tonight (and all evenings until Day 11) we sleep in tents and dine on food cooked in camp. Days 3 and 4: We ascend Cerro Huachamacari (the climb takes two days and does not require special skills of technical climbing). Days 5, 6, 7 and 8: We explore the summit of Cerro Huachamacari with the goal of photographing Heliamphora macdonaldae and H. tatei. Days 9 and 10: We descend Cerro Huachamacari, and return to Culebra. Day 11: We fly back to Puerto Ayachucho (2 hours flying time), and then on to Caracas (another 2 hours). We arrive around 2 pm in time for departing flights in the evening. END OF EXPEDITION. If you prefer to stay overnight in Caracas, we recommend Hotel Eurobuilding Express. The expedition leaders will escort you to the hotel from Caracas Airport, and escort you back to the airport in the morning (so you return safely for your departing flights). MAP USED WITH PERMISSION AND PROVIDED BY

Caracas

Puerto Ayacucho SIMPLIFIED ITINERARY

Vehicle Transfer

Cerro Huachamacari Flight Transfer Culebra Visit: www.redfernadventures.com for further information or email [email protected] to register your interest.