Mount Roraima - Expedition to the top of the "Lost World"

 Currently Mount Roraima is a destination for hikers. Almost everyone who climbs the mountain does so on the Venezuelan side. Most of the expedition members hire a native Pemón guide in the village of Paraitepuy, which is reached through a rustic road from the main highway of the Gran Sabana, between kilometer 88 and Santa Elena de Uairén .. Although the trail to get to the plateau is well marked and popularly traveled, it's easy to get lost on the top of the mountain, as there are very similar paths, as well as a nearly constant layer of clouds overhead and the odd rock formations, all which makes visual references difficult. Paraitepuy can be easily reached by 4-wheel drive (4-WD) vehicle, with greater difficulty traveling by car (if country road conditions are unusually good), or on foot (it would take a day).

From Paraitepuy, most hikers take one day to reach the base of the mountain, and then another day to continue to “La Rampa”, a spiral staircase-like natural path that leads to the top. Another 2 days are typically required to complete the return, and many people stay 1 day and 1 night at the top of the mountain, totaling 5 days. In longer trips you can reach the northern part of the Tepui, mainly in Guyana, which offers less explored and more intriguing places, such as Gladys Lake, despite the fact that this is more risky than the popular southern part and should only be be undertaken by well-equipped groups. The less adventurous can also reach the mountain, weather permitting with helicopter tours available from the neighboring Venezuelan city of Santa Elena de Uairén.