Route to the Waterfalls of El Ávila National Park

Much is known about the trails of El Ávila National Park, but little about its waterfalls; one could say that very little documentation is available, in photographs and videos, compared with other sectors of El Ávila. There is a series of waterfalls that we can find along a trail setting out from the city of Guatire, in the vicinity of the Valle Arriba sector. The path is quite uneven and one must be careful because of the great number of rocks along the way; on some stretches it can be rather steep, so you have to climb with the aid of ropes. Along the way you will come across several pools of water and small waterfalls which, as you advance, will keep growing in size. The tallest waterfall documented in this article is approximately 40 meters, but surely, with a little more trail, one could have witnessed even taller ones. Reaching this 40-meter waterfall takes about 3 hours, taking breaks and stopping at all the waterfalls along the way; a round trip can take up to 5 hours. How to get there? You can set out from the city of Caracas or from the city of Guatire. In the case of the former, you must take a metrobús route or a private route that usually departs from the Parque Miranda metro station; this route should drop you off near or at the Guatire passenger terminal, and once there you must ask for the stop to reach the Valle Arriba residential development. You should tell the driver that you wish to go all the way to the last stop, which is the one practically a few meters from the start of the route. At the beginning of the route you will see a park-ranger station (probably abandoned) and will begin the journey along a flat trail up to a water tank; from there, rocks along the path will be the norm. This route has several detours, but most of them end up throwing you back onto the main path, so they do not pose much of a problem. Cost? Undertaking this route has an approximate cost of USD $4. This includes transportation and food for the excursion. Transportation, depending on whether you take the metrobús or private routes, will be cheaper or more expensive; bear in mind that the supply of private transport is broader and departs more regularly. What to bring? You must bring 2 liters of water. Bring a basic first-aid kit, since the route on some stretches can be tricky and there are risks. A hat, a swimsuit, a camera, and enough food for the way. Recommendations It is not advisable to count on the river water for drinking or for topping up your drinking water. It is recommended to start the route in the early hours of the day, at around 7 a.m., in order to have enough time to enjoy it and return at your leisure. © Alejandro Guipe | All Rights Reserved.