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From Elizabeth Kline's
Book "Guide to Camps, Posadas and Cabins":
ORINOCO DELTA LODGE
 By
reservation only.
Continuing past Ubanoko (see above) on
Caño Manamo, this facility built by Tucupita Expeditions
is found on Caño Guamal, just some 300 m. off of
the Manamo, + 1,5 hours from Tucupita by fast boat.
Since its inauguration in 1993, this camp
has grown tremendously, expanding from an extremely rustic,
small facility with just one large churuata with open space
to hang hammocks, separate bathroom some distance away,
and a cozy dining-social area… to the largest and
most appealing in the delta.
There are currently 37 individual cabañas
(each with 2-3 single beds and private bath). The design
of the cabins is particularly handsome: exterior walls with
wooden base about 1 m high, then screening to the roof all
the way around to allow breeze, light, the enjoyment of
sounds of the jungle. However, privacy is created by the
shaggy palm roof with an extremely long overhang to block
the view of passersby into the cabin. Likewise, the bathroom
area is separated by a solid interior wall on two sides,
lined with ceramic tile on the inside. Good thick mattresses.
Pretty matching sheets. Large towels.
Always introducing creative changes, the
founder-director-architect of the camp, Anthony Tahbou,
is in the process of progressively replacing all of the
cabins with a new design with cantilevered (rather than
vertical) exterior walls (still with same combination of
solid bottom and screen above, but giving the spacious rooms
an even larger feel, and roof still of palm but with a more
typically of Warao design. Designs painted on the wood floors
add another appealing touch. He also replaced the former
main social building with a truly spectacular enormous new
palafito on the shore line with dining-social area, kitchen,
and bar under, palm roof reaching a height equivalent to
+ 3 stories. This also has cantilevered walls and the interior
spaces is subtly divided, by container with live banana
trees and other plants into different spaces to give visitors
many areas for seating, reading (there is a library with
magazines and books in various languages), talking, connected
to it is an extensive deck area with a built-in tables and
benches (great for watching the amazing every-six-hours
about face of the flow of the river-due to the ocean tides
and rapid movements of floating bora (water hyacinth with
showy purple flowers)… or by night, for star gazing.
All the structures are joined by a network of elevated plank
walkways and lined with kerosene torches to light the way
by night. There is electricity in the cabins provided by
generator from sunset to + 11 Pm Grounds have been beautifully
landscaped with jungle plants.
in SImoina Camp |
By far, the best food I have eaten at any camp in Venezuela-and
even among most restaurants. A great variety of menus that
are not in any way the routine received at the majority of
camps (which all seem to be stuck on a plain fried chicken
or fish, served with rice and grated cabbage and carrots salad
or spaghetti with some tasteless sauce devoid of spices).
Just as an idea, even at the "rustic camp" of Simoina,
a delectable "perico" (scrambled eggs with unions,
sweet peppers) made with fresh shrimp was the feature for
one breakfast (light years beyond expectations); in the main
camp, beef with a delicious wine sauce, sweet and sour chicken…always
with a different salad and vegetables, or perhaps sautéed
potatoes with unions… and addictive freshly-made hot
bread with every meal (even in the rustic camp), hats off
to them for realizing the importance of visually appealing,
varied, and tasty meals-even un a camp!! Fauna
abounds (where the songs of the birds and the unique sounds
of howler monkeys serve as the morning wake-up call) in
the surrounding area and they have acquired a number of
"pets" which were baby animals found orphaned
that they raised and which come and go as they please and
live a natural life in the jungle and caños (including
hunting for their own food now), but are tame around people
(and constantly roam freely through the social area) due
to their having been raised with love by humans. These include
3 nutria and a beautiful ocelot. There is also a cougar
in a huge caged natural environment (since he IS dangerous!)
and a giant anteater ("Oso" was roaming free when
I was there in 7/2000, but they were planning on building
a large corral for him-where he could live naturally and
visitors could observe him, but he would be contained-since
he was beginning to destroy the upholstered furniture with
his powerful claws which could present possible danger to
guests).
They have their own fleet of boats with
new powerful motors to be able to move up to 120 people
at a time (for this reason, coupled with the capacity/quality
of their lodging, along with regular tourists, they have
frequently served as the based companies making films in
the delta and the scientific expeditions).
Another interesting alternative is to combine
a stay at the main lodge with several days in their Simoina
Camp; a very rustic (but thoroughly charming and comfortable)
option beside a remote caño in the northern part
of the delta. A series of palafito modules (a large one
for the social/dining area, one for sleeping, the kitchen
and the bathroom-with just toilets and sink; bathing is
in the caño) joined by elevated boardwalks with;
cap. for 20 in hammocks (recommended for of 2-5 days to
enjoy a variety of excursions, min. 6 pax).
English, Arabic, Dutch, German, and Italian
spoken.
Special discount for backpackers.
Price includes: transfer Tucupita-Camp-Tucupita, all meals,
local tours.
NOT included, but available separately: alcoholic beverages,
softdrinks.
Definitely the most attractive camp in
the delta! Day tours to the main camp and Simoina are also
available from Margarita.
Note: I fully expected to be swarmed with
mosquitoes, especially with my visit in the rainy season.
But, this was not the case! Even on a jungle trek and a
night excursion by curiara in one of the tiny caños,
there were virtually no nasty biting insects. Nevertheless,
using repellent is still wise. Recommended cash or confirmable
checks only.
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From Valentina Quintero
Amigos: Anthony, Maria Victoria, Yakara, Amazona y Simoina.
Cabins on the river |
La primera visión del Orinoco Delta Lodge después
de tantos años fue verdaderamente una alucinación.
Esa churuata gigante como primer impacto es demasiado. Cuando
la ves y entras y la recorres, sabes que todo lo demás
que puede ocurrir ahí será perfecto, mágico,
exótico y exhuberante. Los
animales salvajes corriendo libremente entre los muebles.
Los bancos y las mesas colocados sin orden formal. Las butacas
cómodas en combinación con los muebles de
animales. Los techos altísimos para que la selva
no se pierda. Los palafitos para las habitaciones para que
jamás olvides la sensación del río
por abajo. Los puentes entre un lugar y otro para que camines
sobre el agua. La vegetación metida por donde voltees.
El amanecer entrando en el cuarto desde la serenidad del
río. Se la comieron con ese campamento. Todo el que
llega debe sentirse una especie de explorador de lo desconocido.
Un Tarzán tropical. Un aventurero en serio.
Y así me sentí en Orinoco
Delta Lodge, ni hablar de la travesía y estadía
en Simoina. Se ve que ambos entienden a la perfección
lo que aspiramos encontrar en un viaje de esa naturaleza.
Ese ambiente de río, curiaras, animales y mangle
se te tiene que meter en el alma. Es verdad que dormí
horrible por la humedad, pero nunca olvidaré ese
baño de noche y ese amanecer de Orinoco y esa pesca
fallida pero emocionante. Fueron generosos y especiales
con nosotros y se les agradecemos por siempre. De verdad
gozamos cada minuto y desde que llegamos hemos contado fascinados
la travesía. Las imágenes son insuperables
y estamos todos orgullosos. Se que haremos los honores al
Delta. Reciban un beso grande todos y de nuevo gracias por
cada segundo vivido a lado de ustedes. Valentina Quintero
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Caracas, domingo 11 de abril, 1999
Alternativas distintas a las tradicionales
en todo el país
| Hospedarse
en Venezuela bajo la guía de Elizabeth Kline
Esta norteamericana recorre el país en busca de
alojamientos que recopila en su guía que este año
llegó a su cuarta edición y que reseña más de mil
opciones de campamentos, posadas, cabañas y otras
alternativas
Ileana Matos |
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Elizabeth Kline recorre el país en
busca de
opciones de alojamiento (Foto Luis Vallenilla)
|
La cuarta edición de la
Guía de Campamentos, Posadas y Cabañas en
Venezuela, de Elizabeth Kline, ya está a la venta.
Con un total de 1.126 sitios que proponen alojamiento en
todo el país ofrece al interesado en el turismo por
Venezuela opciones para todos los bolsillos, con datos específicos
acerca de la calidad y la atención que se ofrece
al viajero en cada uno de ellos.
Basta una consulta para averiguar todo
acerca de las condiciones físicas de los lugares,
así como la atención que se presta a los huéspedes,
para que éstos opten por aquellos en donde la estadía
será inovidable, sin ser necesariamente los más
lujosos o costosos.
'Muchos de estos sitios tienen un elevado
nivel de atención por parte de los dueños,
muchos de ellos profesionales que decidieron entrar en el
negocio del turismo', dice Kline, quien destaca además
la labor realizada en Falcón y Mérida, donde
se ofrece excelente información a los viajeros y
la página web de Think-Venezuela http://think-venezuela.net
responsabilidad de Delta Orinoco Lodge.
Todos los textos están en español
e inglés y la información, así como
las observaciones, son de Kline, que viaja por su cuenta
y sin avisar, en la medida de lo posible. Los datos incluyen
cómo llegar, cómo hacer los contactos, con
qué se va a encontrar el interesado, los precios
y la forma de pago, las restricciones y los requisitos exigidos.
La guía está a la venta en
más de 100 librerías de Caracas, las más
importantes de las capitales del interior y en muchas de
las posadas. El precio es de Bs. 6.500 y puede adquirirse
además llamando a Kline a través del (02)
945.1543 o el e-mail ekline@cantv.net. Hay descuentos para
pedidos al mayor.
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