Perhaps the most remarkable landmark of Canaima is the Angel Falls, the tallest in the world at 979m. The American pilot Jimmy Angel first discovered these as he flew over the area in search of gold. His claims were basically ignored until his crash landing into a swamp at the top of the tepui in 1937. A 1949 over-land expedition confirmed Angel’s assertion.

The falls themselves start from narrow gashes on top of Auyan Tepui, only to fall past the ancient tepuis face into a scene of green forest below. It is best to see these falls from the air between 10:30 am and 1 pm. They are at their best between June and November, and particularly so in August in September. During the dry season (December and May), the falls are only a narrow stream that evaporates into a burst of clouds before ever reaching the forest floor.

The nearby tourist villages of Canaima and Kavac provide excellent views of Auyan Tepui and the surrounding areas. In Canaima, a nearby lagoon provides a restful retreat while Kavac offers charming Indian-style tourist huts and hiking tours to Auyan. If you plan to come during high season (July-October) be sure to book accommodations in advance as they can completely fill up.