The Gran Sabana is reached almost exclusively overland on the Troncal 10, the road that runs south from Ciudad Guayana through El Dorado, Las Claritas, and the long climb onto the plateau at La Escalera. Santa Elena de Uairén, the main base, is around 12 hours by night bus from Ciudad Guayana — a long but straightforward drive on paved road, with several military checkpoints along the way.
There is also a small airport at Santa Elena with infrequent domestic connections — schedules and operators change often, so a flight should not be assumed. Most travellers cross overland from Boa Vista in Brazil instead, a 2.5-hour ride from the border at Pacaraima.
Hiring a 4x4 with a driver-guide in Santa Elena is the standard way to see the plateau itself — public transport along the Troncal 10 is patchy and most of the sights are off the main road. Fuel can be scarce; tour operators include it in their prices.