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Watch lightning lash the earth at the Catatumbo Delta Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela
If you don’t believe in ancient Greek gods, let alone their hold over the South American continent, prepare to have your convictions rattled.
In the Catatumbo Delta you will be gobsmacked as Zeus – the god of sky and thunder – slices a fiery incision across the heavens with his infamous lightning rod.
The mouth of the Catatumbo, where the river empties into Maracaibo Lake, is an electrical hot spot, where lightning strikes up to 280 times an hour, on about 150 nights a year.
Start your journey by boat, cruising through Juan Manuel National Park, where you’ll spot howler monkeys, iguanas and exotic butterflies, before moving onto Maracaibo Lake, home to freshwater dolphins, pelicans and more than 130 different types of fish.
As the sun sets, cruise into the stilt village of Ologa, settle in to camp and prepare for a spectacular show as the night sky blazes.
Three-day tours with Catatumbo Camp cost from US$117.
The hike can be exhausting, and the constant lightning strikes are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Catatumbo Camp
catatumbotour.com
Lightning season is between April and September.
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