Meet our travel assistant at the airport. He/she will welcome you to Venezuela, answer all your questions and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight at a hotel near the airport in preparation for your early-morning flight to Santo Domingo.

Transfer to the the national airport to take a flight to Santo Domingo in the State of Tachira. Upon arrival you will be transferred to La Tampa. Along the way, spend the day looking for butterflies such as the: Eurytides Columbus, Eurytides telesilaus, Pterourus cleotas, Archonias tereas, Pereute charops, Rhetus periander, Zeonia faunus, Lasaia agesilas, Theope irenea, Dione moneta, Philaetria dido, Heliconius hecale rosalesi, Morpho theseus, Morpho eleonor, among many others! Visit the Uribante-Caparo Hydroelectric Dam. Lunch will be provided on the way. Overnight at La Trampa residential complex.

DAYS 3 - 5. The Andean Region (La Trampa - Uribante Caparo) Spend the following 3 days exploring the best and most pristine forested areas. Look for butterfly species such as the Pterourus zagreus motilones (including other 14 species of Papilioniadae!); Agrias amydon, A. claudina, Memphis Chaeronea, Prepona sp., and several species including eugenes, Doxocopa cherubina, D. laure, D. lavinia, D. cyane and others; Marpesia petreus, Baeotus baeotus, Ballicore pitheas, Myscelia ethusa, Caligo atreus, C. memmon, Eryphanis polixena, Brassolinae, Morpho rethenor, etc. Nights 3 and 4 will be spent in tents in the jungle in a well organized campsite. The fifth night will be spent at La Trampa guest house. ( B / L / D ).

DAYS 3 - 5. The Andean Region (La Trampa - Uribante Caparo)

DAYS 3 - 5. The Andean Region (La Trampa - Uribante Caparo)

DAY 6. The Andean Region (La Trampa - Acequias) After breakfast, transfer to the Acequias River located in the East slopes of the Venezuelan Andes in Barinas State. Check-in at Arassari Trek Adventure Camp. After lunch, spend the day: swimming at the Paradise-like Acequias River; doing some white-water rafting Class 3 down the Acequias River; or visit to “Caño Los Monos” in search of more beautiful butterflies such as the Parides sesostris, Parides arcas, Battus velus, Battus lycidas, Eurytides tourquatus, E. protesilaus, (Pap.) including countless more. Overnight at the Arassari Trek Adventure Camp. ( B / L / D ).

DAY 7. The Andean Region (Acequias - Santo Domingo) After breakfast transfer to Santo Domingo Valley. Along the way, spend the day looking for some of the most spectacular species reported in the area surrounded by a magnificent scenery! These include: Prepona praeneste, Consul panariste, Marpesia zerinthia “coresia”, M. corinna, Doxocopa cyane, D. elis and cherubina, Memphis pasibula, M. nessus, philumena, glycerium, Agrias amydon & claudina, Noreppa chromus & priene, Perisama patara, P. humboldtii, Diaethria marchalii Heliconius cydno barinasensis, Dione glycera, etc. ( B / L / D ).

DAY 8 - 10. The Andean Region (Santo Domingo Valley) Spend three consecutive days in the Cloud Forest and Rainforest looking for butterflies and visit the best places along Santo Domingo Valley. Two or three nights in the jungle are included (depending on the group). Look for species such as the Memphis austrina, (Nyph.) Phoebis rurina, Lieinix nemesis, Dismorphia medora, Pereute charops & leucodrosine, Letptophobia penthica, Catasticta sisamus, (Pieridae), Pterourus cacicus, P. cleotas, Eurytides lacandones (Pap.), Evenus coronata, (Lyc.) Rhetus dyssonii, (Riod.) Laparus doris (Hel.) The amazing biodiversity of the area will give you a chance to see other wildlife including many different insects, orchids, bromeliads, reptiles and amphibians and countless species of birds (some of them spectacular). Overnight in tents. ( B / L / D ).

DAY 8 - 10. The Andean Region (Santo Domingo Valley)

DAY 8 - 10. The Andean Region (Santo Domingo Valley)

DAY 11. The Andean Region (Santo Domingo Valley) - Mérida After breakfast, transfer to Mérida City. See spectacular mountain scenery with waterfalls, lakes and the fascinating Páramo Ecosystem which is characteristic of the Northern High Andes. Spend the day in search of high mountain butterflies and other wildlife such as the Colias dimera, Tatochila xanthodice, (Pier.) Corades enyo, C. pax (endemic), C. cistene (Sat.) / Highly endemic fauna and flora / Some of the most interesting species are: Espeletia shultzii, Coespeletia timotensis, (Flora), Páramo Deer Odocoileus lasiotis(endemic), Bearded Helmetcrest Hummingbird (Oxypogon guerinii) (Fauna). Overnight at a hotel. ( B / L / D ).

DAY 12 & 13. Mérida - Maracaibo Lake - Mérida Leave Mérida early in the morning for Maracaibo Lake. Eat lunch on the way. Do a boat trip bordering the amazing flooded rainforest of the area. Bird and butterfly watching along the way. Return to Mérida City. Overnight in a Posada. ( B / L / - )

DAY 12 & 13. Mérida - Maracaibo Lake - Mérida

DAY 14. Mérida Take a trip on the Mérida cable car, soaring above spectacular mountain scenery with tropical forested foothills and snowcapped peaks. The cable car, which has five stations, is more than 12 km long, and is almost 5000 m above sea level, is the highest and longest in the world. Have breakfast at the second station, and at every stop take a short walk to see the unique flora and fauna (and birds) of the Cordillera de Mérida. Have lunch in town and spend the rest of the day relaxing, visiting the main market (where you can visit local artisans) or just packing. Overnight in a Posada.( B / - / - ).

DAY 15. Mérida - Caracas After breakfast, trasfer to the Airport to take your flight back to Caracas. ( B / - / - ). Total Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D) B = 14 / L = 14 / D = 14