South America – Venezuela

Venezuela is a diamond in the rough per se when it comes to South American countries. Greatly overlooked, Venezuela is home to many beautiful and natural wonders. Located at the northern most part of South America, its neighbors include Colombia, Guyana, Brazil and the Caribbean.

If one was planning a trip to Venezuela, the top attraction will most likely be Angel Falls, or as the natives call it, “Kerepakupai Meru.” Angel Falls is the world’s tallest water fall and also the tallest single drop. At a whopping 3212 feet, the falls consist of 2 drops and are split into 3 portions. Angel Falls is a must see when visiting Venezuela. The highlands of Venezuela are very beautiful, and there are plenty of tour groups that one could be a part of.

Getting back to city life, a trip to Venezuela can be fairly inexpensive. The standard exchange rate from Bolivar Fuerte (BsF) to U.S. dollars is 4.3:1. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted around the country as well.

The food and drinks of the country are, to say the least, decent. Like many other countries in South America, the staple foods are rice, beans and corn. Highly influenced by Latin culture, some popular Venezuelan dishes include, reina pepiada and domino arepas (stuffed corn torillas), hallacas (Venezuelan version of tamales), cachapas (corn pancakes), empanadas (savory pastries) and “perros calientes” or in English, hot dogs. Venezuelans own The Polar Companies, manufactures most of the drinks sold in Venezuela, from their own beers to carbonated beverages.

 

 

 

Venezuela Travel Spots

Angel Falls

Deep in Canima National Park in Venezuela there are the highest falls in the world – Angel Falls, named after Jimmy Angel – an American aviator! The meaning of this name is absolutely suitable for the falls, because their beauty is like not from the earth, but coming from heaven! Thousands of tourists go to see that amazing view, deep in the green forests of the park, where innumerable species live and countless different plants can be found. Definitely the jewel of the park is the waterfall, because the very sight of the blue water falling from such a height – 979 meters, and the amazing landscape of natural beauty is something that visitors can never forget!

Sand Dunes,  Medanos de Coro National Park

One of the most amazing places to see in Venezuela is the Medanos de Coro National Park! Beyond the imagination, in this tropical place there is a real piece of desert – sand dunes that cannot be found anywhere else. What is most weird about them is that the dunes can reach 40 meters of height and disappear as quickly as they were formed. The reason for this change is the permanent wind blowing there; it is the cause of this unbelievable creation of nature. Going to see the sand dunes is a unique experience, because they transform all the time and you can never see one and the same twice!

Margarita Island

More famous as “The Pearl of Caribbean”, Margarita Island is definitely one of the best places for a sunny vacation in the world. This place with indescribable natural beauty and tropical landscape combined with beautiful mountains is able to charm even the most sceptic visitors. Going there people should be prepared to find the most impressive beaches, surrounded by nature so gorgeous that it is even hard to be described! Activities could range from lying on the golden sand and swimming in the blue crystal water, to diving, riding, wind surfing and even horse riding! In two words, there is no way to feel bored in this gorgeous island, created with the only purpose to provide the most perfect vacation!

Canaima National Park

This place in Venezuela is maybe one of the most famous tourist destinations and attracts many people with its unbelievable uniqueness! Canaima was pronounced for a National Park in 1962 and it definitely provides sights that could be seen nowhere else in the world. Most noticeable creation of nature there are the “table” mountains, called like this because of their flat, table-like tops. Called by the natives “tepuis”, these mountains were formed thanks to the natural forces from sandstone and continue to be a site of great scientific interest. Canaima National Park inspired many people and there are even novels (“The Lost World” by Conan Doyle) written about this place, so going to Venezuela, you must include a visit to it!

Mount Roraima

Another unique part of Venezuela is the Roraima Mountain. This gorgeous mountain, with its flat top is absolutely one of a kind and definitely deserves to be among the top ten destinations in this beautiful country. Going up to the mountain top reveals a sight that is worth the long climbing up – it will be remembered for life! As climbing could be a problem for some tourists, there are amazing helicopter rides available for everybody who does not want to miss one of the best views in Venezuela. The mountain looks like taken from an ancient legend and provokes the imagination in a very romantic way!

Los Roques National Park

Los Roques National Park was one of the widest marine parks and a fishing region, long before it turned into a preferable tourist destination. This amazing archipelago was pronounced a National Park in 1972 because natural treasures like corals, mangroves and the whole Eco-system should be protected and saved! Diving is one of the most popular water sports there, because the underwater world is able to astonish even the most trained divers with its colorful flora and fauna! The crystal waters offer one of the most pleasant sights and also incomparable experience of the swimmers! This National Park is the perfect destination for a Caribbean vacation with a romantic and adventurous scent!

Caribbean Islands

There is no question why The Caribbean Islands are called “the Paradise on Earth”, because this place is definitely touched by the generous hand of the Nature. This is one of the world’s most famous vacation destinations and the reason for this is nothing else, but the amazing beaches with golden sands and endless blue water. The unique tropical nature and the smiley faces meeting the visitors are the best beginning of an unforgettable holiday! The islands are suitable for families and adventurers, for elders and young – there is no one who would not feel happy here!

Caracas

Situated by the Avila Mountain, the capital of Venezuela Caracas is one of the most populated cities – over 4 million citizens live there. It is a historical, political, economic and cultural centre of the country and there are a lot of places to visit and things to do there. The city is built at about 900 meters over the sea level and this makes the climate absolutely unique. Caracas offers interesting sites, wonderful collection of finest museums and art exhibitions that will catch the attention of even the most pretentious art experts and at the same time there are numerous opportunities to explore the night life of the this sleepless city!

Delta of Orinoco River

The Delta of one of the most magnificent rivers in the World – Orinoco, is one of the few places on Earth, with untouched natural beauty and going there is an experience that will remain in your mind for your whole life. The gorgeous jungle around and the various wildlife consisting of innumerable flora and fauna species, offers the tourists sights that could be seen nowhere else. There are many guided tours and cruises that will take the inexperienced nature lovers to all the places of the delta, which are accessible! There is nothing that could be compared with the virgin beauty of the tropical forest there!

Merida Cable Car

The cable car of Merida is an attraction, famous in Venezuela as much as the Vatican in Rome! The long ride is divided into four sections and the total length is 12.5 kilometers. This is a totally incomparable experience! It reaches the height of 4765 meters, which is also a record! Each of the stations offers the adventurers to have some rest, get used to the altitude and enjoy the breath-taking views! There is no feeling like this – to pass through different landscapes and finally reach the snowy Mirror Peak, so dress well, take a camera and just go!

 

 

 

Venezuela Top Cities

Maracay

Maracay is one of the most important cities in Venezuela. This city is the capital of one of Venezuela’s 23 states, Aragua. Here in this city, one would spot one of the most popular sites in the country, The Aviation Museum. Because the city is closely tied to the military, a lot of aviation tools were made from here. It even holds two of the biggest bases of the Air Force in Venezuela. Other than this, the famous F-16 fighter planes of the country can also be found here. There are also other weapons that are being displayed in the museum. There are some weapons that are still being used in the modern world but most are weapons from the previous wars. If you are someone who is interested in weaponry and wars between countries, this city will surely be a must-go for you. A visit in Venezuela would not be complete if you would not set foot in Maracay.

Maracaibo

What has been an isolated place in the beginning is now one of the most popular places in Western Venezuela. Maracaibo is the second largest city and is also a popular choice for tourists who come to this South American country.

It is already in the habit of most South Americans to strongly preserve a strong heritage and to actively promote their culture but it seems to be more evident in Maracaibo. In the absence of appropriate technology in the past to have it connected with the other cities, it has learned to stand on its own and be still strong even with the isolation. With the fast development of technology in transportation, it soon evolved from being isolated to become one of the most valued commercial centers in the country.

Juan Griego

Juan Griego got its name from its founder, Juan the Greek from the 1500s. As a navigator, he traveled to different island and soon landed on this one. In Juan Griego, he started his business of transporting captive Indians to Santo Domingo. During his stay, he became the most prominent citizen in the island, earning him the right for it to be named after him.

This island played a big role in the War of Independence of Venezuela. In 1881, this city played the role of a battle port and served as a place for battery construction for the military. Being a major part of the biggest war in the country, tourists would surely see a large collection of war artifacts. If you are interested of learning more about Venezuelan history and seeing a real battle port for yourself, you should definitely pay Juan Griego a visit.

Cumana

Venezuela is divided into 23 states, takes pride in a town filled with so much history. Cumana, Venezuela is the capital of Sucre State and is even the hometown of South American hero, Antonio Jose de Sucre. Andres Eloy Blanco, one of the largest contributors in South American literature also graced the said town, playing a part in its rich history.

Currently, this town has a population of over 35,000 and positioned just about 402km east of Caracas’s capital. Because this place is Europe’s first colony in South American land, this place will look not like any other modern cities. Though this town had to face several reconstructions due to attacks, evidences of colonialism in terms of architecture would still be seen. Earthquakes also contributed to the destruction of some of the original buildings, leaving only buildings made in the 17th and 18th century standing. Those that were built in the 15th century when the town was first colonized and during the 16th century all crumbled because of the attacks caused both by man and nature.

Caracas

Caracas is Venezuela’s capital so it is just natural for tourists to go to this place before anywhere else. That is just right since it would be a waste for tourists to not see the wonderful sights in this largest Venezuelan city.

What Caracas takes pride in is its world-class museums containing one of a kind artworks and different historical artifacts that would not be found anywhere but in their property. Tourists who enjoy going out at nights would also enjoy exploring the different clubs in the city. It would be a joy for these tourists to go around even in the wee hours of the night because people would still be up partying. Since the city is primarily, industrial and commercial, it is bustling with malls. If you have plans of visiting this beautiful city, make sure to go spend a little (or a lot) of your money to buy clothes and quirky items fit for gifts.

Mérida

Because of the spring-like climate in Merida all year round, this makes it a popular choice for members of the youth to go camping at. This place in Venezuela has a lot of valleys filled with trees that are indeed perfect as a camping spot. In these valleys, not only the young campers can participate for as long as the older campers have sufficient energy, they can freely explore the forests in Merida and have a great time.

Porlamar

As the center of commerce in the island of Margarita, it is just natural for Porlamar to receive attention not only from the locals but from the South American tourists as well. Venezuela gets a lot of international tourists every year because people are always interested in their ways of preserving their culture. Museums are everywhere and each museum has unique artifacts depicting the rich culture of their city in their country as a whole.

Puerto La Cruz

There are reasons Puerto La Cruz is attractive that it would not be easy to name each and every one of them. It has fast become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole of Venezuela because of its resorts. Their resorts have all these luxurious hotels that provide service fit for kings and queens. The hotel windows have great views of the beaches, ocean, and the mountains.

Puerto Ordaz

One of the less popular places in Venezuela in terms of tourist attraction is Puerto Ordaz. Because this place is treated as a transport hub for most people, they do not get to go around and see the amazing sceneries in the city.

There is actually a really locally famous park in Puerto Ordaz called La Llovizna. This place has waterfall that would catch the attention of tourists. This has got to be one of the most breathtaking sceneries you would ever see in Venezuela and it is only just ten minutes from downtown. You can go here after having a wonderful time touring the place and relax underneath the water directly falling from above.

Valencia

Valencia is the capital of Carabobo, Venezuela third largest city. Valencia is one of the most popular cities in this South American country. This city takes pride in its many mountains that are excellent for hiking. Those who want to have some adventure in a foreign country will absolutely have a great time exploring the mountains and going around South American forests. Other than hiking, there are more nature activities that can be done. Mountain biking can provide an equally exhilarating experience as hiking and this will also give nature lovers a chance to go up the mountains in a much faster pace.