Trip to Venezuela: Isolated Yanomami Territory

Discover the highlights of this trip to Venezuela

Encounter with the Pemón people and the landscapes of Canaima National Park

The trip to Venezuela begins, as we mentioned, in the southeast of the country, in the Gran Sabana. This is a magical region of endless plateaus, waterfalls, and tepuis. These are the oldest mountains on Earth. The Pemón people live here, guardians of this extraordinary territory. Their worldview is certainly deeply connected to these sacred geological formations. During our stay in the Pemón community, we will stay in basic camps surrounded by nature. We will then hike through the savanna to approach the tepuis. We will also listen to the elders' stories about the origin of the world. Also, we will learn traditional basketry techniques and learn to interpret the landscape from an indigenous perspective. This first leg of our trip to Venezuela introduces us, decisively, to an ancient universe. Here, nature and culture intertwine uniquely.

Sailing through the Orinoco Delta and living with the Warao people

Next, we continue our trip to Venezuela with a radical change of scenery. We fly to the eastern part of the country to enter the vast and labyrinthine Orinoco Delta, home to the Warao people. For several days, we will canoe through canals, jungles, and floating villages. We will be accompanied by Warao guides. They will help us understand the logic of this aquatic ecosystem. Also, they will show us the traditional way of life that is still preserved in many communities. We'll sleep on stilt houses built over the river and eat freshly caught fish. At night, we'll spend time around the fire, listening to the stories of one of South America's oldest cultures. This experience will undoubtedly allow us to experience one of the ways of life best adapted to an extreme natural environment.

Coexistence in the jungle with the Yanomami people

Finally, the final leg of our trip to Venezuela takes us to one of the most remote and protected territories on the continent: the Upper Orinoco. We will enter the heart of the Amazon rainforest. There, we will embark on an expedition with a clear and profound objective: to live with a Yanomami community and learn about their traditional way of life. After a journey by plane and boat along the Amazonian rivers, we will arrive at the community. We will stay in the shabono, the large circular collective dwelling that characterizes this community. For several days, we will share daily life with the Yanomami. We will learn about their hunting and fishing techniques, forest harvesting, and the preparation of foods such as fariña and beiju. Also, we will learn about their tobacco and yopo rituals. This coexistence, organized with absolute respect and in coordination with the community, will not only allow us to experience one of the most isolated cultures in the world. Also, it will invite us to reflect on other possible ways of being in the world. It is, in short, the spiritual and human heart of this trip to Venezuela.

© Photos by Babis Bizas
and
Henk Bothof.

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