Footprint South American Handbook 2002: (Ben Box)

Tour Operators:   Arassari Trek, (beside the teleferico) Run by Tom and Raquel Evenou, English, french and German spoken, good tours with great guides at fair prices, very helpful and hospitable, highly recommended for trekking and climbing in the Sierra Nevada, horse riding, mountain biking, canyoning, caving, parapenting, rafting and canoeing. They also have a book exchange and cybercafe with excellent food. Angel Barreto can arrange domestic flights. Their Llanos tour is excellent with many different activities. English-speaking guide Alan Highton is highly recommended  for the tours of the Llanos and the Rio Catatumbo. 
Paragliding: A recommended instrutor is Raul Penso (contact through Arassari Trek)

To buy South American Handbook 2002

Venezuela 2002 / Lonely Planet (Krzysztof Dydynski ):

Rafting & Canyoning: River rafting was introduced in 1996 by Arassari.... It is done on some of the rivers at the southern foothills of the Andes..... The newest craze, also introduced by Arassari, is canyoning. Described by travelers as "awesome, terrifyng, beautiful, insane but amazing" or possibly the maddest thing you can do without getting killed", canyoning is run as a full-day all-inclusive.....

Paragliding: One of the most experienced local gliding pilots and instructors is Raul Penso, who runs tandem flights and conducts courses. He can be contactes through Arassari.

Hiking & Mountaineering: Possibilities are almost unlimited..... Arassari  provide information about tours and other do-it-yourself hikes....

To buy Lonely Planet Venezuela

Reise Know How Venezuela / 2002:

Sport: Mountain Biking / Paragliding / Reiten / Trekking.
Arassari Trek, am Ende der calle 24, no8-301, direkt gegenueber der Seilbahn,  Buero von Raquel und Tom Evenou, den Leitern von Arassari Trek, ausserdem Restaurant, Cybercafe, Traveller-Treffpunkt. Das vielfaltige und reichhaltige Angebot des sehr erfahrenen Veranstalters umfasst: Trekking-touren und Bergsteigen von 2-14 Tagen, Exkursionen zu Pferd, Mountain Biking, Paragliding, River Rafting, Kanufahrten, Birdwatching (Einzelheiten und Routenbeschreibungen auf der sehr gut gemachten Website). Ein Campamento in den Llanos bei Barinas ist im Bau. Preise fuer die Touren in die Anden und die Llanos: ca.40 $ pro Tag und Person.

Alan Highton, aus Barbados stammend und einer der erfahrensten Guides in dieser Region, unternimmt Trekking-Touren und Exkursionen mit dem Wagen ins Gebirge sowie auch die Llanos.

River Rafting: Seit kurzem ( 7 Jahre !) bietet der Schweizer Tom Evenou in Merida Rafting- Exkursionen an: auf Fluessen, die sich ihren Weg von den Anden hinunter zu den Flachebenen der llanos suchen.(Arassari Trek)

To buy Reise Know How Venezuela

South America on a shoestring 2002 / Lonely Planet:

To buy Lonely Planet South America on a shoestring

Venezuela Handbook 2001 / Footprint Handbooks:

Tours operators: Arassari Trek ( Bum Bum Tours), Run by Tom and Raquel Evenou, English, French and German spoken, good tours with great guides atfair prices, very helpful and hospitable, highly recommended forTrekking and climbing in the Sierra Nevada, horse riding, mountain biking, parapenting, rafting and canoeing; they also have a book exchange and cybercafë with excellent food; Angel Barreto can arrange domestic flights. Their Llanos tour is excellent wiht many different activities. English-speaking guide Alan Highton is highly recommended for the tours of the Llanos and the Rio Catatumbo.

Rafting & Kayaking:  Arassari Trek offers 1 - 5 day rafting trips on different rivers of grades 2, 3 and 4 plus. You can even combine rafting or kayaking with their Llanos tour and some treks. They provide all necessary gear according to European safety standards (lifesavers, helmets, ropes etc.) and charge around US$ 50 per day all inclusive (or US$20-30 extra on their Llanos tour). During the dry season the boats are used for wildlife and fishing tours in the lower Llanos; floating down little side rivers and camping out in the bush. It costs around US$40 per person per day all inclusive; 4-10 days. 

Paragliding & Hangliding:  A recommended instructor and one of the best and safest pilots is Raul Penso (twice vice champion of Venezuela); you can contact him through Arassari Trek. 

Horse riding:   For those looking for more serious horseriding with healthy Quartermixed horses there is Hacienda El Vaho close to Santo Domingo and Finca Yegua Blanca close to Tabay. At both places they keep about 30 horses, ofer year of experience and treks of 1-10 to the cloudforest, páramo, lakes and the mountains. Expect to pay around US$40 per person per day, all inclusive (contact through Arassari Trek)

To buy Venezuela Handbook

Petit Fute, country guide Venezuela 2001:

Sports - 
Rafting:
Le Venezuela est l'un des endroits les plus beaux au monde pour pratiquer cette activité riche en émotions et sportive. Le rafting se pratique durant la saison des pluies (juin a septembre sont les meilleurs mois) et se destine aussi aux amateurs. Le fait que l'eau des rivières n'est pas gelée est vraiment agréable.
Les meilleures rivières commercialement exploitées se situent à l'est des Andes et se précipitant dans les Llanos. Parmi celles-ci, la palme revient au río Siniguis (classe 4.5 , 4 heures de descente). 
Plus tranquilles, la partie basse du Siniguis appelée río Acequias (classe 2.5 - 3, environ une heure), l'autoproclamé río Bum Bum (classe 2-3) et la partie basse du Canagua (classe 2-2.5). Partie haute du Canagua (classe 4) 

Quelques recommandations....
Pour l'instant, rares sont les opérateurs qui proposent du véritable rafting. A Merida, le pionnier Arassari Trek propose le plus d'options - et surtout les plus excitantes - s'appuyant sur la haute expérience de ses pilotes néo-zélandais et ses quatre rafts.

Kayak:
 Ce qui est valable pour le Rafting l'est aussi pour le kayak. Vous pouvez prendre des cours auprès d?Arassari Trek, qui se fera un plaisir de vous envoyer affronter des rapides du rio Bum BUm (clase 2-3) et la partie basse du Canagua (classe 2- 2,5) à bord de l'un de leurs cinq kayaks individuels.

Trekking et andinisme:
A Merida, allez visiter Arassari Trek, qui possèdent un très bon matériel, des guides experimentés et seront également de bon conseil si vous décidez de partir indépendamment. 

Pour acheter Le Petit Fute Venezuela

Viajes de Aventura - America del Sur (2001): Guias Expertas Para Aventureros

Nacido Para ser Salvaje: 
Los viajes de cuatro o cinco días a Los Llanos utilizan alojamientos exclusivo para que los grupos pequeños no se encuentren con otros grupos. Los precios, con todo incluido (excepto las bebidas alcohólicas) son de unos 50 $ diarios por persona.
También proporcionan hamacas y buenos mosquiteros. Tiene una relación calidad-precio excepcionalmente buena, con guías que hablan español, francés, alemán e inglés.

Animación Continua:
Este operador con sede en Mérida ofrece una amplia gama de excursiones por los Andes. 
La caminata de cinco días a Pico Bolívar cuesta unos 200 $ e incluye toda la comida, el transporte, el equipo especializado, guías y el regreso en teleférico. Tiene una buena relación calida-precio.
Otras excursiones más fáciles incluyen un viaje de cuatro días al pico Humboldt y una hermosa excursíon de tres días por Sierra Nevada. Hay También varias excursiones sin guía. se habla español, francés, alemán e inglés.

Para comprar el libro Viajes de Aventura - America del Sur

Venezuela the Bradt Travel Guide 2000:

Tour Operators: Bum Bum Tours/ Arassari Trek is located at the end of Calle 24 past the Teleferico. Their name comes from an Andean river in Barinas State where they have pioneered kayaking and rafting. They also handle a wide variety of reasonably priced tours in and around Merida, and farther afield to nature preserves on the Llanos. Owner Tom Evenou sells maps and runs a guesthouse, too. 
 
 

To buy Venezuela the Bradt Travel Guide

South America 2001 / Lonely Planet on a shoestring guide:

Organized Tours:  Arassari Trek & Bum Bum Tours
Rafting: This is the newest craze. It was introduced in 1996 by Arassari. 

South American Handbook 2000:

Tour companies & travel agent:Arassari Trek, owned by Raquel and Tom  Evenou, recommended tours and guides, fair prices, English, French and German spoken, very hospitable, highly recommended  for Los Nevados and the llanos, horse riding, river rafting, book exchange, cybercafé, English speaking guide Alan Highton is highly recommended  for the Llanos and the Rio Catatumbo. 

South American Handbook 1999:

Tour companies & travel agent:Bum Bum Tour, owned by Tom and Raquel from Posada Las Heroinas, rec tours and guides, fair prices, English, French and German spoken, very hospitable,  highly rec  for Los Nevados and the llanos, horse riding, river rafting, book exchange, English speaking guide Alan Highton is highly rec  for the Llanos and the Rio Catatumbo. 

Venezuela 98 / Lonely Planet:

Tour Companies: The most responsible, knowledgeable, stable and competitive operators at the time of writing included:   Bum Bum Tours, one of Merida's most progressive and innovative operators, opening new routes and destinations. Apart from a wide range of standard tours, the company offers some challenging, savage treks through total wilderness and is the best ( and original) operator for rafting trips. Kayaking and floating are also available. Bum Bum Tours runs a cybercafe and sells mountain maps and travel publication including occasionally, Lonely Planet guidebooks. It has excellent reports from travelers of it's Los llanos tours, some of which are conducted by Alan Highton, possibly the best bird and wildlife guide around. By and large, good value for money on all tours.

Paragliding: One of the most experienced local gliding pilots and instructors is Raul Penso, who runs tandem flight and conducts courses. He can be contacted through Bum Bum.

Rafting: This is the newest craze. It was introduced in 96 by Bum Bum, and other companies are eager to go on with it as well. 

Venezuela Handbook 98 / Footprint Handbooks:

Tours companies & travel agents:Bum Bum Tours, owned by Tom and Raquel (and Janik) from Posada Las Heroinas, English, French and German spoken, tours with great guides, fair prices, very helpful and hospitable, highly recommendedfor Los Nevados, Trekking and climbing in the Sierra Nevada, horse riding, mountain biking, river rafting and sand boarding; they also offer a book exchange and sell the best jam in the world; English-speaking guide Alan Highton is highly recommended for the tours of the Llanos and the Rio Catatumbo.

Rafting & Kayaking: Bum Bum Tours offers 1 - 5 day rafting trips on different rivers of grades 2, 3 and 4 plus. You can even combine rafting or kayaking with their Llanos tour and some treks. They provide all necessary gear according to European safety standards (lifesavers, helmets, ropes etc.) and charge around US$ 50 per day all inclusive (or US$20-30 extra on their Llanos tour). During the dry season the boats are used for wildlife and fishing tours in the lower Llanos; floating down little side rivers and camping out in the bush. It costs around US$40 per person per day all inclusive; 4-10 days. 

Paragliding & Hangliding:  A recommended instructor and one of the best and safest pilots is Raul Penso (twice vice champion of Venezuela); you can contact him through Bum Bum Tours. 

South American Handbook 98 / footprint edition:

Tour companies & travel agent:Bum Bum Tour, owned by Tom and Raquel from Posada Las Heroinas, tours with great guides, fair prices, very hospitable, highly rec. for Los Nevados and the llanos, horse riding, river rafting, book exchange, English speaking guide Alan Highton is highly rec. for the Llanos and the Rio Catatumbo. 

Reise Know How /1999:

Sport: Mountain Biking / Paragliding / Reiten / Trekking.
Bum Bum Tours, am Ende der calle 24, no8-301, direkt gegenueber der Seilbahn, Kuerzlich eroeffnetes Buero von Raquel und Tom Evenou, den Leitern der Posada Las Heroinas. Im Angebot : Trekking-touren, Exkursionen zu Pferd, Mountain Biking, Paragliding, zudem River Rafting. Preise fuer die Touren in die Anden und Llanos: 40 $ pro Tag.

Alan Highton, gebuertiger Englaender ( Barbados!) und einer der erfahrensten Guides in dieser Region, unternimmt Trekking-Touren und Exkursionen mit dem Wagen ins Gebirge sowie auch die Llanos.

River Rafting: Seit kurzem bietet der Schweizer Tom Evenou in Merida Rafting- Exkursionen an: auf Fluessen, die sich ihren Weg von den Anden hinunter zu den Flachebenen der llanos suchen.

Petit Fute, country guide Venezuela 98 / Nouvelles Editions de l'Universite:

Voici les meilleures agences:
Bum Bum Tours. Cette agence est sure. Elle propose aussi une bonne posada et les patrons suisses, Raquel et Tom Evenou, parlent francais. Nouveaute: les suisses proposent aussi du rafting sur l'apure dans les llanos. 

Reise Know How /Dez.96:

Bum Bum Tours, am Ende der calle 24, no8-301, direkt gegenueber der Seilbahn, Kuerzlich eroeffnetes Buero von Raquel und Tom Evenou, den Leitern der Posada Las Heroinas. Im Angebot : Trekking-touren, Exkursionen zu Pferd, Mountain Biking, Paragliding, zudem River Rafting. Preise fuer die Touren in die Anden und Llanos: 25 - 35 $ pro Tag. Alan Highton, gebuertiger Englaender ( Barbados!) und einer der erfahrensten Guides in dieser Region, unternimmt Trekking-Touren und Exkursionen mit dem Wagen ins Gebirge sowie auch die Llanos.
Seit kurzem bietet der Schweizer Tom Evenou in Merida Rafting- Exkursionen an: auf Fluessen, die sich ihren Weg von den Anden hinunter zu den Flachebenen der llanos suchen.

South America 97 / Lonely Planet on a shoestring guide:

Tours Operator: The most responsible, knowledgeable, stable and competitive operators include: Bum Bum is among the cheapest operators. It's also the best place to buy maps of the region, country and continent, plus other travel publications including, occasionally, Lonely Planet guidebooks. Bum Bum have radio phone - important in the event of an emergency high in the mountains. 

La Guia de Valentina Quintero 98 - 99:

Merida:   Algunos guias:Bum Bum Tours. Raquel y Tom Evenou.
                               Raul Penso. Parapente.Tandem.

Barinas:  Rafting:Tom Evenou es Suizo y se caso con Raquel, una merideña, tuvieron su muchachito y montaron su empresa de turismo de aventura llamada Bum Bum Tours, la cual se dedica, entre otras opciones de llano y montaña, a organizar paseos de rafting en ríos de Barinas.
Es una experiencia emocionante porque se lanza uno en botes de goma por ríos muy turbulentos o menos turbulentos, remando como loco para no voltearse y gozando con la adrenalina que eso produce. Tiene bastante experiencia y buenos equipos porque de verdad son suizos. El hospedaje es absolutamente precario, en hamacas guindando en corredores, se trata de una hacienda bastante rústica en Barinas, a la orilla de uno de los ríos. Solo puede hacerse de mayo a diciembre porque es necesario que los ríos tengan bastante agua. 

Kline's guide to camps, posadas & cabins, Venezuela 97 -98:

The principal gathering spot for hikers and climbers. Bum Bum Tours, belonging to the owners of the Posada, Raquel & Tom Evenou, and operated  out of the last house at the end of this street (where they live and which will eventually have guest rooms as well) offers trekking and climbing in the mountains, tours of the plains, horseback riding, guides, tandem paragliding, jeep excursions with multilingual guides.