The expedition to Monte Roraima does not require climbing technique — but it charges dearly of anyone who turns up unprepared. It is 90 km in 7 days, savannah sun, a steep climb and cold nights. The good news: with 2 months of preparation, an ecotourist of average fitness reaches the top smiling. This is the plan.
Training: 8 weeks before
- Long walks — twice a week, starting at 8 km and building to 15-20 km, preferably with climbs and a 5-8 kg backpack.
- Strengthening — squats, lunges and calf raises twice a week: these are the muscles that hold you on the descent (where the aches are born).
- Stairs or a hill — once a week, simulating the day of the “ramp”: 800 meters of continuous climbing.
- Full rehearsal — 2 weeks before, do a full-day trail with the backpack and the boots you intend to take. It is the rehearsal that reveals blisters and adjustments.
The right backpack
The system uses two backpacks: the big one (50-70 L), which can go with a Pemón porter, and the daypack (20-30 L) that stays with you. Essentials: broken-in trekking boots (never wear new boots for the first time on the expedition!), sandals for the rivers, a waterproof jacket, a fleece for the 5 °C nights on top, a sleeping bag for the cold, a headlamp, a 2-liter bottle, sunscreen, a hat and swimwear for the Jacuzzis. Dry bags protect everything — on the plateau, rain arrives without warning.
The mistakes that cost dearly
- Underestimating the savannah sun on days 1 and 2 — dehydration brings down more people than the climb.
- New boots or a badly adjusted backpack: blisters on day 2 turn the expedition into suffering.
- Not hiring a porter to save money — if your limit is carrying 8 kg, respect it.
- Ignoring the cold on top: some people take only warm-weather clothing and spend 3 nights shivering.
- Taking “souvenirs” from the Vale dos Cristais: besides being an environmental crime, the Pemón guides do search — and tradition says a stolen crystal brings bad luck on the way down.
🥾 Who is it for?
Effort: intense — but achievable with preparation. If you already do full-day trails comfortably, the 7 days are a viable step up. Children: not recommended before the age of 14. Older travelers and reduced mobility: no age limit for those with proven health and preparation (a medical assessment beforehand is a duty); it is not suitable for anyone with mobility limitations or serious knee problems — the descent is the hardest test of the expedition.
One last tip
Arrive in Boa Vista a day early to check your kit with the agency and sleep well. The mountain has been there for 2 billion years — it is in no hurry, and neither should your preparation be.
Photo: Tinhojv, via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0. Image resized; derivative under the same licence.
