Looking for an off the beaten and challenging travel destination? Consider Venezuela.
Venezuela has had severe economic and political problems over recent years and tourism and slumped, which is a shame as there are some really beautiful destinations.
Venezuela now attracts the more adventurous of traveller seeking to get off the South America tourist trail, and if you would like to visit, view my tips for getting around, where to go and how to stay safe.
Highlights
These are some of the essential places to add to your Venezuela travel itinerary:
Caracas
Caracas is the most visited and highly populated city in Venezuela. It’s also the capital, so there has to be something special about it, right? Well, besides its moderate and comfortable climate and its cultural diversity, there are literally thousands of things to do:
Historical buffs can visit the National Pantheon of Venezuela, which was built in 1812 as a church but now holds the remains of several famous Spaniards, like Simón Bolivar.
The main shopping district in Caracas is known as Las Mercedes. You can grab a bite to eat at an exclusive restaurant or a local pub, visit an art gallery and then shop for clothes at a variety of fashion boutiques.
For a fun-filled opera or ballet show the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex is the most prestigious place you can visit. This theater is divided into two rooms and covers over 22,000 square meters of space, making it the perfect size to fit its capacity of 2,400 people.
Venezuela’s version of New York’s Central Park is known as Parque del Este, and it’s a great place to spend a weekend reading a good book, jogging or planning a picnic.
If a luxury trip is what you want, one of the most luxurious hotels includes Cayena-Caracas, an ultra modern hotel that provides the most innovative design and upscale comfort. There is also the five-star InterContinental Tamanaco Caracas, a hotel surrounded with luxurious tropical gardens with a scenic backdrop and posh amenities. Another great choice is the Gran Melia Caracas Hotel, a stylish business hotel for people on the go.
Caribbean Beaches
Yes, the northernmost portion of Venezuela has Caribbean shorelines that offer some of the most fascinating beaches in the world. The country in fact has more than 600 islands off the Caribbean, and most have private white sand beaches, quintessential of the region.
Angel Falls
No trip to Venezuela is complete without seeing the awe inspiring Angel Falls – the world tallest waterfall located in the Canaima National Park.
At 3,212 feet high this is the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. Salto Ángel plummets 979m from the top of a tepui into this area of outstanding beauty in the Amazon basin.
There are many places to capture beautiful pictures of this natural wonder, and you can even purchase a plane trip to fly around the entire waterfall.
One of the most popular ways to get close is sailing the river (the world’s second longest) to the base of the falls on board a traditional boat, wooden curiaras – this is all part of the experience.
Margarita Island
If you visit Venezuela during summer you should stop at Margarita Island. Located off the north coast of Venezuela, this island was discovered by Christopher Columbus and is the perfect place to get some sun during the day and then to go shopping at night.
Coro
When Columbus arrived in Venezuela he remarked that he had found paradise on earth. Though cloumbus has long since departed, the influence of Spanish colonialism endures in the gorgeous architecture of this coastal town.
Mérida State
Adrenaline junkies can get their fix for outdoor adventure in Mérida State. Everything from trekking, mountain biking, whitewater rafting to paragliding is possible in this Latin American centre for extreeme sports.
Los Llanos
Nature lovers should head to the grassy wetlands of Los Llanos, prime wildlife-watching territory, teeming with giant anacondas, birds and caimans.
Amazonas
Those looking to get off the beaten track would do well to venture into Venezuela’s wild south. Here intrepid travellers can explore some of the Amazon’s least visited reaches.
Venezuela Travel Tips
Climate
Venezuela’s climate varies from humid, low-elevation plains, where average temperatures as high as 28 °C (82 °F), to an average temperature of 8 °C (46 °F) in the highlands.
Currency
Make sure that you know the ropes about the local currency. Old Bolivars have been replaced with Bolivars Fuerte, and foreign exchange may not be as smooth-sailing as you would want it to be. It might be better to use your credit card, which is widely accepted in upscale establishments.
Religion:
According to government estimates, 92% of the population is at least nominally Roman Catholic.
Language
Spanish is the main language in Venezuela, and English-speaking tourists would have a hard time communicating outside the Capital City of Caracas.
Health Conditions
Typhoid, yellow fever, cholera, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis D.
Transportation & Getting Around
The railway and highway systems in Venezuela were once considered very dangerous, so not many of them were built. Because of this the people often traveled by sea or air.
Helicopters would take people to sights such as Angel Falls and other hard-to-reach locations. There are also many airports with both paved and unpaved runways where people can catch small airplanes to get to their destination.
Since Venezuela is surrounded by ports, harbors and waterways, boats are also a widely used mode of transportation in the country. Both boats and ferries usually depart from Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and travel to nearby cities, transporting both passengers and cargo.
As usual, there are always car rental options while abroad. You can use a website like Expedia to find an entire list of car rental companies in Venezuela.
Taxis are probably the most expensive mode of transportation in Venezuela, but if you have extra money they are recommended.
Some local and international companies also offer tours here.
Plan a Trip to Venezuela
Okay I’m not going to lie, Venezuela isn;t the easiest or cheapest or safest destination, but if you do want to venture off the beaten track you will be rewarding with a beautiful country far away from the busy tourist crowds.