Route to the Puertas de Miraflores

The Puertas de Miraflores is an incredible place located near a town called San Antonio de Capayacuar, in the state of Monagas, Venezuela. The appeal of this tourist spot lies in the rock walls that flank the Guarapiche River, which reach a great height like a kind of canyon and which are also ideal for the practice of traditional climbing—though not recommended for climbers with little experience, since they are highly difficult. For some years now the area has been prepared to be easily traversed by hikers; 80% of the trail is cobbled and well marked, so the route is quite pleasant, and with rest stops you can reach the end of the trail in about 1 hour, while at a fast pace it could take less than half an hour. Curiously, at the start of the route to this place we can find what has so far been christened the shortest river in the world: the Mapurite River, which is born from a small waterfall and flows into the Guarapiche River in just 13 meters. During the hike, hikers will have to cross the river several times, at least about 7 times, until reaching the blue pool, which would mark the end of the tourist route; beyond that the path is more demanding and requires the support of a guide or a hiker who has done the route at that level. For those who wish to spend the night in the area, campsites managed by local residents are available at the park entrance; they basically consist of a floor and a small roof, and depending on the one you choose you can have access to bathrooms and a kitchen area, which makes things easier or adds comforts for some tourists. How to Get There? You can set out from the capital of the state of Monagas, Maturín, or from the capital of the state of Sucre, Cumaná. If you set out from the former, you must go to the ground transportation terminal—if you are not traveling in a private vehicle—and find the route that takes you to the town of San Antonio de Capayacuar. On the other hand, if you set out from Cumaná, you must first go to the city of Cumanacoa and then set out from the latter's ground transportation terminal to the town of San Antonio. The Puertas de Miraflores lies a few minutes before entering the town, taking a detour, so you have to make this clear with the driver in order to avoid mishaps and reach the park entrance, since that is the only thing left when taking that road. Cost? The budget for this excursion basically goes toward transportation and food; the site is quite far away, so it is necessary to take several buses or cars if you do not have a private vehicle. Using public transport you can spend up to 5$ USD per person round trip regardless of where you set out from; that amount includes the food you must prepare for the day. What to Bring? Comfortable sportswear, a swimsuit, 2 liters of drinking water, fruit and snacks for the road, a small backpack, a basic first-aid kit, a camera, a trekking pole for those who have one, boots, and water shoes if you have them. Recommendations Avoid going during the rainy season; this river in particular can be quite dangerous when its flow increases, given that it is bounded by two rock walls—once you enter the canyon, you cannot escape the river as you can in other places, which also makes camping near the river inadvisable. Although the campsites at the park entrance are also next to the river, at least they are not inside the canyon. It should be noted that in this area mobile signal reception is poor, if not nonexistent, so it is advisable to make your itinerary very clear to your family, friends, or to those who provide your transportation to the site if you do not have a vehicle. It is quite enjoyable just to spend a few hours at the site; if you set out from some of the nearest capitals, the trip takes about 3 hours on the road, so the round trip may even take you the whole day, from 6 or 7 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m., depending on the speed of the journey or the setbacks on the road. © Alejandro Guipe | All Rights Reserved.