Santa Elena de Uairen Travel Guide

We arrived in Santa Elena from Ciudad Bolivar in the morning, had to catch a public bus to the border, and share a taxi to Boa Vista bus station. There is a bank of brazil walking distance from the border that accepts foreign cards- get rid of your bolivares in Venezuela- they are worth nothing outside it. From Boa Vista we caught the 2pm bus to Bonfim, where we did border formalities again, and crossed into Lethem, Guyana. (There is no border crossing between Venezuela and Guyana- you must go via Brazil if by land.) From Lethem it is possible to catch an overnight bus all the way to Georgetown. The friendly police officers who stamp you in will direct you.- you have to search for them though! Santa Elena seemed nice although we didn't get to see much of it. It seemed to have all the facilities a backpacker needs. Apparently it is best to book Roraima trips from Santa Elena, but Angel Falls/Canaima trips from Ciudad Bolivar (the cheapest flying out of La Paragua.) Good luck.

Stay in Hotel Michelle!

There are a few outfits that offer treking to Roraima but all trips are not the same. Check out number of porters per traveller, quality of tents, sleeping bags etc, and food... My recomendation is Backpacker Tours eficient, helpfull friendly people also have restaurant, hotel and difrent trips : Treck, bike etc.