Caroní can be understood through contrasts in its waters: Salto de Cachamay is about 800 meters wide, but relatively low. This creates a different impression from the higher, more water-rich falls of La Llovizna. Parks, lagoons and river colors add further, very different impressions to this picture.

Parkland and Lagoon

Parque Urbano Caroní in Puerto Ordaz is a recreational and nature reserve in Ciudad Guayana. It includes Parque Punta Vista, also in Puerto Ordaz. The latter covers 25 hectares and includes the lagoon of the same name. This brings together an urban parkland area and a specifically named park with a lagoon. Recreation and nature conservation define the character of Parque Urbano Caroní; Parque Punta Vista is also distinguished by its precisely described area and body of water.

This combination gives the landscape more than one scale: Parque Urbano Caroní refers to the recreational and nature reserve in Ciudad Guayana, while Parque Punta Vista, with its 25 hectares and lagoon of the same name, identifies a more narrowly defined part of this setting. For orientation, it is worth keeping the two park names distinct.

Waterfalls and Confluence

At Salto de Cachamay, it is above all the proportions that stand out: it is approximately 800 meters wide and relatively low. Salto de La Llovizna offers a clear contrast. It consists of several waterfalls that are higher and carry more water, but are less wide than Salto de Cachamay. The comparison brings out the waterfalls’ different forms without reducing them to a single ranking: at Cachamay, width is the defining feature; at La Llovizna, it is greater height and volume of water.

Another view of the water can be had from the Angosturita Bridge in San Félix. From there, you can see the confluence of the Orinoco and Caroní rivers. The Orinoco is described as ochre-colored, while the Caroní is dark; the appearance of the water can vary. This adds another contrast to the waterfalls’ different forms: two rivers, each described as having its own color, meet at a visible confluence.

San Félix: Names and Memorials

The named places in San Félix also offer insight into different aspects of local history. Cerro El Gallo bears the designation “National Historic Natural Monument.” The Paseo Malecón de San Félix is home to an iron monolith brought from Cerro el Pao. The two names point to different, specific references: a designated natural and historical landmark, and a structure with a stated place of origin. Together, they broaden the picture of Caroní beyond its waterscapes and parks.

Bolívar: A Broader Natural and Cultural Region

The wider travel destination of Bolívar is home to Canaima National Park. It was established by decree on June 12, 1962, and is located in Bolívar State. About 65 percent of its area is covered by tepuis, rock formations dating back to the Precambrian, billions of years ago. Roraima rises in the park’s eastern sector: at 2,810 meters above sea level, it is the highest tepui in the Pakaraima range and marks the tripoint between Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana.

Roraima’s summit has a landscape of its own: valleys with quartz crystals and natural pools lie across the barren, rocky plateau. The small black Roraima frog also lives there and, according to the description, is found nowhere else. The ascent takes several days and involves strenuous hikes. This is a different kind of trip from the waterfalls and parkland that shape the local image of Caroní.

Canaima’s history is closely linked to the Indigenous Pemón people, which includes the Arekuna, Taurepán and Kamarakoto. In sustainable tourism led by Pemón communities, visitors are to learn about the legends of the “Mawari” spirits and respect the fragile savanna. Casabe and the spicy Kachiri are part of the culinary context. These cultural connections add another perspective on Bolívar to the descriptions of its natural environment.

In 2025, the Ruta Turística Excursión Tepuy Roraima was validated with the aim of promoting sustainable tourism and the economic development of Gran Sabana and its Indigenous communities. The route is designed to explore Roraima in the heart of Canaima National Park.

Discover more destinations: Campo A-1, Ciudad Guayana, Sucre, Raúl Leoni.

For the broader travel overview: Bolívar.