Seems a bit contradictory to describe a compilation of adrenaline fueled BASE jumps as relaxing but this breathtaking FPV drone footage captured at Angel Falls in Venezuela somehow achieves a calming effect.
Plunging down the sheer cliffside of the Auyán-tepui tabletop mountain in Venezuela’s Canaima National Park, Angel Falls holds the record as the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, standing at a staggering 3,212 feet with a single continuous drop of 2,648 feet. It stands roughly 19 times taller than Niagara Falls, and during warmer months, much of the falling water atomizes into a fine mist before ever hitting the ground.
Historically known to the indigenous Pemon people as Kerepakupai Merú (waterfall of the deepest place) its international name stems from Jimmie Angel, an American aviator who put the falls on the global map after crash-landing his monoplane atop the plateau in 1937. Beyond its sheer scale, Angel Falls is globally significant as a key ecological anchor of a UNESCO World Heritage site, draining an ancient, isolated tepui ecosystem that harbors plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth.
BASE jumping pioneers began eyeing the wall in the 1980s with early jumpers sneaking gear into the national park or securing rare government filming permits under the guise of nature documentaries.
Because Angel Falls’ incredible height, jumper can freefall roughly 10 to 12 seconds before pulling their ripcords. On the way down atomized water can create downdrafts, turbulence, and near-zero visibility making this zone quite dangerous even for seasoned professionals.
The ideal time to visit Canaima National Park to experience Angel Falls is during the rainy season, from June to November. During these months, heavy rainfall swells the Churún and Carrao rivers, making them deep enough for traditional wooden motorized canoes (curiaras) to transport travelers upstream directly to the foot of the falls. This peak water flow turns the waterfall into a roaring, majestic spectacle. October and November are often considered the prime sweet spot, as the heaviest downpours begin to taper off (improving visibility and cloud coverage around the summit of Auyán-tepui) while the river levels remain high enough for seamless boat navigation.
