Cueva Charles Brewer

Useful Information

Location:	Churí Tepui, Macizo del Chimantá, Canaima National Park, Bolívar state. (5.243401, -62.026454)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=5,700 m, VR=110 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Condor Verde Venezuela, Av. Río Caura, Torre Humboldt, MZ 3, Caracas, Venezuela, C.P. 1080, Tel: +58-212-6550101. E-mail: Autana. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1978	multidisciplinary expedition visits the summit of the Eruoda-tepui and the Murey-tepui plateaus for the first time.
1994	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2002	entrance of the cave discovered by Charles Brewer-Carías from helicopter.
MAR-2004	first exploration by a team of 12 cavers led by Charles Brewer-Carías.
MAY-2004	second expedition to the cave.

Description

Cueva Charles Brewer (Charles Brewer Cave) is named after the Venezuelan adventurer, naturalist and discoverer Charles Brewer-Carías. It is the biggest quartzite cave in the world and located in Churí Tepui.

The cave was discovered by Charles Brewer-Carías on an expedition when they were actually on the flight back. He needed two years to find a group of cavers and to make a tour into the cave. It was so big and interesting numerous other expeditions followed, the first only two months later. Another eight expeditions were organized until 2012. Landing in the entrance with a helicopter is not possible, during the first visits the helicopter was hovering above the entrance, while the cavers jumped out with their equipment. Later the pilots refused to do this dangerous stunt. They landed on the plateau above the entrance where a base camp with tents was made. Then the cavers had to abseil 80 m to the cave.

The cave is located in the Macizo del Chimantá (Chimantá massif), a mountain complex between the Caroní and Karuay rivers with an area of 1470 km². More than half of this area is occupied by a huge plain separated by deep canyons of the río Tírica and its tributaries into 10 differnt tepuis. The indigenous Arekuna tribe named these tepuis Amurí, Akopán, Churí, Toronó, Chimantá, Agparamán, Tirepón, Abakapá, Apakará and Murey-tepui (Eruoda). Murey-tepui has the highest point of the entire massif at an altitude of 2698 m asl. The vertical rock walls vary between 400 m and more than 1,000 m in height.

We thought about listing this cave just for its superlatives, when we learned that its actually possible to visit the cave. The companies Condor Verde and Autana organizes visits by helicopter. We also found other tours by local and international tour operators, which include a trip to this cave. However, there is no such thing as a regular tour, so you have to search on the internet if you are interested.