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Local Links |
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area code for Ciudad Guayana is
[0286] |
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In a traditional Amazon River
myth, at night a Boto becomes a handsome young man who seduces
girls, impregnates them, then returns to the river in the
morning to become a Boto again. This dolphin
shapeshifter is called an
encantado. It is said that there are hundreds of people
today whose birth certificates have the Boto listed as the
father. |
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While almost half of Venezuela's land area lies south of the
Orinoco River in the states of Bolivar and Amazonas, this region
contains only 5% of the population |
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Cerro Bolivar |
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hill of iron ore in north central
Bolívar state, southeastern Venezuela. Discovered in 1947 when
compasses went haywire on a prospecting plane. The hill is
3/4 mi (1.2 km) wide, 4 mi long and rises 1,650
ft (500 m) above the surrounding grasslands in the Guiana
Highlands. With San Isidro, to the south, it is one of the most
important mineral finds in the 20th century. Cerro Bolívar is
thought to contain more than 250,000,000 tons of high-grade ore.
Trains haul to ore to Puerto Ordaz. The Capuchin monks knw about
the ore in the 1750's but the knowledge was lost when patriot
armies appropriated their properties. |
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Puerto Ordaz Ciudad Guayana |
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Weather |
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Average
temperature is between 26º and 28ºC. Two seasons, the rainy
season from May through November and the dry season from
November through May.
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While maps refer
to the area as Ciudad Bolivar most people as well as airlines
and other transport services use Puerto Ordaz. |
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Caroní River |
| The river basin of the Caroní
is one of the most spectacular and beautiful regions of the
world, ideal for the adventure tourism: landscapes of forests
and savannahs, innumerable cataracts and jumps of water, deep
tubes and elevated plateaus, mighty extremely clean water rivers
(of dark, almost black color, when they are very deep), beaches
with pink sands, etc. Between attractive the more notables of
the river basin of the Caroní, from the tourist point of view,
are the jumps of the Aponguao, of the Kamá, Eutobarima (in the
own Caroní river, although difficult), the Lake and the
hydroelectric Power station of Guri, the Auyantepuy with Salto
Angel |
| The Caroní river meets with
the Orinoco river and merges into it for approximately 13km. The
two rivers meet where Ciudad Guayana (city of Guiana) now
exists. This city was created by the fusion of old cities of San
Felix and Puerto Ordaz, in either sides of the river. |
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Annual Events |
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Orinoco-Caroni Swim
Race |
| The Ciudad Guayana city
council (Alcaldia Mayor de Caroní, ALMACARONÍ) has since 1991 conducted a swim race of the rivers Orinoco and Caroní
where around 900 competitors meet. The "Paso a Nado
Internacional de los Rios Orinoco-Caroní" is celebrated
every year close to the 19th of April on a Sunday. This
competition has gained importance worldwide being one of the
swim-meets with the most competitors worldwide.
Swimmers challenge the two
powerful currents and pirañas to cross from the 3.1km from
Monagas to San Felix. The two rivers have different temperatures
and densities, (the Caroni is much more cold that the
Orinoco) and for that reason the line dividing them can be seen.
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Trip Reports |
| People from Pedernales go to
Tucupita often because Tucupita is a much bigger city. The boat
ride, 4 hours, was very rough, with the boat always moving, and
occasional rain. Once, it stormed and I was totally soaked,
despite of covering over the boat! ......As often happened to me
in Venezuela, I met lots of nice people in this city. One time,
I was walking by the river and a group of guys called me, and we
shared a bottle of rum. [more] |
This is a young industrial
city with beautiful waterfalls, parks and people. You cannot
miss the park 'La Llovizna' with its wonderful
waterfalls. .....Also Parque Cachamay, Plaza del Agua,
Ecomuseo.... Puerto Ordaz is the only city in the world to
have a huge dam inside the city, it is something
breathtaking.....If you have time dont forget to visit Guri
dam located 1 hour away from Puerto Ordaz.. This is the
second biggest dam in the world (it is a must).....
It's very warm. Best time of year is either when the carnival
is coming up or around Christmas and New Years Eve Venezuelan
people are very happy and friendly individuals.
The hotel Intercontinental Guayana it is a 5 star hotel
it is the best in Puerto Ordaz, Hotel Rasil which is very
nice too, Hotel Embajador and now they have the Best
Western hotel which is in front of the airport. Puerto Ordaz
has two beautiful rivers the Orinoco and the Caroni......
I loved the restaurants in Venezuela, Puerto Ordaz, for
example: The Grill House, El Portal Grill, Ercules, Jai-lay, La
Posada Del Chiquito, Marcelo, The Key Club which is a disco and
a fancy restaurant, El Bigote Del Abuelo, Las Querencias Del
Abuelo which is in Upata CityLots of reviews at yahoo travel |
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Ciudad Guayana was founded in 1961 by
merging two towns on both of the riversides of the Orinoco, San Félix
and Puerto Ordaz as a single city. The (BR-174) which connects the Orinoco
towns of Ciudad Bolivar and Ciudad Guayana (or Puerto Ordaz) to Brazil.
Buses run this route regularly. Puerto Ordaz is Venezuela's fastest
growing town and is known for some spectacular waterfall parks within
the city itself. The visitor infrastructure is still young but the
university has long provided a good audience for interesting restaurants
and nightspots.
San Felix is the colonial town but has no historic buildings of note and
contains the poorer sections of the sprawling urban area. Puerto Ordaz
was founded in 1952 as an iron ore port.
Many industries
have settled in it, since its geographical position gives it many
advantages, but the mining and particulary iron being its main industry.The
iron ore is transformed into high grade iron ore pellets in local
factories. The bulk of the areas production is exported. The state of
Bolivar is also rich in bauxite, gold, diamonds and varios kinds of
clays for brick production.
Since its foundation it has grown from two fledgling towns into the
Guayana region's most important industrial center, and a hub of growth
in a typically under populated region of Venezuela. The city stretches
40 kilometers along the south bank of the Orinoco. With approximately
1,300,000 people, it is a large city by Venezuelan standards. It is also
the country's fastest-growing city, due to its important iron industry.
It is also one of Venezuela's five most important ports, since most
goods produced in Bolívar are shipped through it into the Atlantic
Ocean, via the Orinoco river.
The Caroní River is
a major river of the Orinoco basin in South America,
having its source in South Eastern Venezuela, in the
Guiana Highlands. It is a blackwater river, with the
dark color of the water due to leaching from decomposed
plant sediments, not from the amount of iron around the
riverbed as is often suggested. The Caroní river meets
with the Orinoco river and merges into it for
approximately 13km. The two rivers meet where Ciudad
Guayana (city of Guiana) now exists. This city was
created by the fusion of old cities of San Felix and
Puerto Ordaz, in either sides of the river.
The river has been dammed
for the production of energy. The power of the water has
been used by man to produce hydroelectric energy. Today
it has 5 different dams. They are, in order following
the flow of the river: The "Raúl
Leoni" Hydroelectric Complex (official name of
the Guri dam), Caruachi, Macagua I, Macagua II and
Macagua III. A new dam, Tocoma, is currently under
construction between Guri and Caruachi.
There is a City Tourism
desk at the Airport.
Places to Stay
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Hotel "Embajador",
www.embajadorhotel.com , 3 stars hotel in the
best part of Puerto Ordaz, english spoken. 42$ US - single
room, breakfast and pick-up included.
Contact
hembajador at hotmail.com Tel. 0058-286-9226641
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hotelrasilpzo.com/
[Rooms: 305] Vía Venezuela -
Centro Cívico - Puerto Ordaz - Telfs.: +58-0286-9201600
Reservaciones: +58-0286-9201611- Fax: +58-0286-9227703
| "Most of
the staff are slow, and pretty much oblivious to
customers, they will happily carry on a
conversation with each other and totally ignore
you, so be prepared! Just relax
and be patient! |
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Best Western Mara
Inn Hotel [80 rooms]
Zona Industrial Unare Ii. Calle Neveri Ud. 286, Ciudad
Guayana, Venezuela
Located on the industrial heart of Ciudad Guayana |
Hotel "Dos Rios", in the
center of Puerto Ordaz, English & Italian spoken, 26$ US –
single room.
Contact and booking:
hoteldosrios@telcel.net.ve, Tel. 0058-286-9229188, Fax
0058-286-9233092 |
Hotel Inter-Continental Guayana
ichotelsgroup.com
- 5-star[190 rooms]
Av. Guayana, Parque Punta Vista. Puerto Ordaz.
Teléfonos: (58) (086) 23.0722 / 23.0011 /
800-22442
Fax: (58) (086) 23.1914
1
888 IC HOTELS (888 424 6835)
Hotel Front Desk:
58-286-7131000
aire acondicionado, restaurantes, bares, servicios de habitación las 24 horas y
servicios de tintorería, agencia de viajes, piscina, canchas
deportivas, línea de taxis, etc.
"The only
reason that this hotel remains in business is
due to the casino, which is packed every day
from about 5:00 p.m.
I assumed that with the Intercontinental name I
would be staying in a classy hotel:
how wrong I was! |
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Lake Guri
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sarandaresort.com/
 five-star
Fishing Resort for World Class Peacock Bass and Payara
fishing on Guri Lake. (Puerto Ordaz/Saranda/Puerto Ordaz-Approx.
2 Hour Drive)
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Getting There
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| Airport: Puerto
Ordaz (PZO) Venezuela
5km west of the centre on Av
Guayana 9road to Ciudad Bolivar] Por puestos [jitneys]
saying Castillito go between the airport and the hotel
district.
Airlines include Aeropostal, Aserca and
Laser from Caracas. Rutaca the main airline for
the Gran Sabana is here. Servivensa flies to Canaima
Also connect to Barcelona, Barquisimeto, Margarita,
Maracaibo, Maturin and San Antonio
Be sure upon your arrival to exchange some money. If you are
taking the charter flight, U.S. dollars are accepted as well
as Venezuelan bolivars. You will need a few dollars in local
currency to pay for domestic airport taxes for the flights
between Caracas and Puerto Ordaz and for anything you may
wish to purchase, eat or drink in the local airports |
Bus: Puerto Ordaz Bus
Station: On Av Guayana at Av Norte-Sur 20 minute walk from
the airport. This handles some buses that travel from the
bigger station in San Felix. Linea Caribe-Uniao Cascavel has
a nightly coach to Boa Vist and Santa Elena de Uairen
Terminal de Pasajeros in San Felix on Av Gumilla 1.5km from
the old centre. |
Ferry: Car and
passenger ferries cross the Orinoco from San Felix to Los
Barrancos every half hour or so.
Trucks and buses to Maturin and Tucupita also go via the
ferry which can make for a long cue in the am.
Terminal is at end of Av Manuel Piarat, east of downtown San Felix |
GETTING
AROUND: Three bridges connect the two
towns but there are no bridges here which span the Orinoco. The
ferry which runs across the Orinoco connects with the
highway running north towards Maturin.
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Attractions
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The main attractions in Ciudad
Guayana are the city parks - Parque Cachamay, Parque Loefling,
and Parque La Llovizna. From Cachamay there are excellent views
of the Río Caroní and a series of rapids and waterfalls. From
Cachamay it is possible to walk to the connecting Parque
Loefling which features a variety of caged and free roaming
native animals. |
·Casa San Isidro
· Cachamay Park see the Saltos Cachamay where the Caroni
river spashes towards the Orinoco
· La Llovizna Park to see La Lovizna Falls go over the
causways linking Macagua Dams ! & !!. the park has pathways over
many little island and lookouts which the many waterfalls
· Del Caroni Ecological Museum good source of visitor
information as well
· Municipal Market
· Guri Hydroelectrical Central - tours available
· Guri Lake one of the world's largest
· Zoologicico Loefling zoo with anteaters, tapirs, capybara |
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Orinoco River
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| Orinoco River is the
world's third largest in terms of water volume after the Amazon
and the Congo although it is just the third longest in South
America at 2,410 km, (1,497.5 miles).
Ocean-going vessel through
dredging navigate as far as Ciudad Guyanana but today the
largest ore carrying ships are loaded closer closer to the
Atlantic from ore freighters limited to 45-70,000 tons depending
on water levels. Here at the confluence of the Caroní River, 435
km upstream is Puerto Ordaz which, together with San Felix
Puerto form Ciudad Guyana. Ordaz River steamers carry cargo as
far as Puerto Ayacucho and the Atures Rapids.
Although the mouth of the
Orinoco in the Atlantic Ocean was discovered by Columbus on his
third voyage (1498-08-01), its source at the Cerro Delgado-Chalbaud,
in the Parima range, on the Venezuelan-Brazilian border, at
1,047 m of elevation (02°19′05″N, 63°21′42″W ), was only
explored in 1951, 453 years later, by a joint Venezuelan-French
team. The great
Alexander von Humboldt explored the basin in 1800, reporting
on the pink river dolphins, and publishing extensively on the
flora and fauna.
Most of the important
Venezuelan rivers are tributaries of the Orinoco, the largest
being the Caroní, which joins it at Puerto Ordaz, close to the
Llovizna Falls. A peculiarity of the Orinoco river system is the
Casiquiare canal, which starts as an arm of the Orinoco, and
finds its way to the Rio Negro, a tributary of the Amazon, thus
forming a 'natural canal' between Orinoco and Amazon.
The Orinoco river deposits also
contains extensive tar sands in the orinoco oil belt, which may
be a source of future oil production.
Only the second railway and
road bridge 3.1 km long is opening soon between Ciudad Bolivar
and Ciudad Guayana. [The first is Puente Angostura near Ciudad
Bolivar] TBrazilians are building and financing the bridge as
part of its plan to gain an outlet to the Atlantic for its
northern states. This |
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Tours
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piranatours.com/english/?mod=fluviales
Lobby del Hotel Inter-Continental Guayana. Tlf.: 286 9236447 -
9227748 - 0416 6860284 . Aeropuerto Internacional Manuel Piar.
Tlf.: 286 7173911 Agencia de viajes. Tlf.: 286 9233650 / 6178
Guided trip to the confluence of the Caroní and Orinoco rivers.
Take a chance to pass by the Caroní rapids, national park
Cachamay and reach near to the Llovizna fall so you can feel the
energy that the mists produces in your skin and spirit. |
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roysfishingoutfitters.com/trips.html
The majority of
our clients choose to fly directly into the camp to maximize
their fishing time. Others choose to be transported in a 14
passenger van with A/C from Puerto Ordaz to the boat transfer
station located in "El Manteco", then a 1 1/2 hour boat trip
from the east side of the lake to our final destination at the
camp. We will be happy to help you decide which method would be
best for you.
We have
associations with local pilots if you choose to fly directly to
the camp from Puerto Ordaz. |
ecocanaima.com/en/about-us.htm
we have exciting tours of adventure and extreme sports like
flights in Parapent, Diving, jump in Bengy, Canoying, Rafting,
Kayaking, Barranquismo (rapel down of mountains, waterfalls and
hills), Cycling, puenting, special Expeditions to Bolivar,
Jumbold and others extremely high mountains, Observation of
birds and much more, the vehicles that we used for these are
Toyotas 4x4 with a/ac. and buses bus/bed or normal with a/ac.,
the airplanes that we used for the flights are Cessna Caraban,
206 Cessna and Cessna 182 of 12, 6 and 4 sit |
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