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Population: 21,051,000
Area: 912,050 square km.
Capital: Caracas
Language: Spanish
Electricity: 110 Volts AC, 60Hz, Use Flat 2 pin plugs
Currency: Bolivar
Holidays: 01 Jan, 19 April, 01 May, 5 & 24 July, 24 Sep, 12 Oct, 25 Dec
Climate: Low areas have a tropical climate with higher regions being cooler & mountains can freeze at high altitudes. The dry season (Jan-Apr) is the best time to visit. May to Dec is the wettest season. |
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If you would like a hard copy of our Explore South America Booklet, please send us an Email Request. |
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Venezuela is a country of striking natural beauty and dramatic contrasts: the snow-capped peaks of the Andes in the west, and Amazon jungles in the south; the beautiful Gran Sabana plateau, with its strange flat-topped mountains, in the east, and 3000km (1860mi) of white-sand beaches fringed with coconut palms line the Caribbean coast. The country boasts the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls. It is also home to a wide variety of exotic plants and animals, including the jaguar and the longest snake in the world, the anaconda.
Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America, north of Brazil and between Colombia and Guyana. The south-east is dominated by the Guayana Highlands, and the vast grassland takes up a further 30% of the country plain of the central Llanos, which is drained by the Rio Orinoco, the 3rd longest lake in South America. The continent's largest inland lake, Lake Maracaibo, lies in the north-east, surrounded by marshy, fertile lowlands. South of the lake, rise the northern end of the Andes, known here as the Cordillera de Los Andes, which climb to 5007m (16,423ft) at Pico Bolívar.
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 Caracas Rio Orinoco The Venezuelan Andes Carribean Coast The Amazon Jungle
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| CARACAS – Bustling Metropolis |
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Situated in a picturesque valley on the north coast, Venezuela's capital is a bustling metropolis, fast, progressive and cosmopolitan, the city is now highly 'Yankeefied', retaining little of the character of its colonial roots. While it boasts some of the most impressive modern architecture in South America, Caracas is also home to a vast expanse of ranchos - sprawling slums of tin sheds and cardboard boxes covering the surrounding hills which are the product of the uncontrolled surge of post-war immigration.
Sights include the Plaza Bolívar, with its 17th-century cathedral. Santa Capilla, a 19th-century neo-Gothic church modelled on Paris's Sainte Chapelle; the monumental Palacio de Miraflores, the sacred Panteón Nacional, the Petares district, which has retained its historic colonial character; and the modern, bustling Parque Central, which provides a taste of modern Caracas.
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| RÍO ORINOCO – Colonial Charm |
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The third-longest river in South America, the Orinoco covers about 2150km (1333mi) from its source near the Brazilian border in the south of the country to its wide, flooded delta on the north-east coast. The forested islands that make up the delta are home to the Warao people, who live on the riverbanks in houses on stilts, travel mostly by canoe, and earn their livelihood from fishing. At the reaches of the Lower Orinoco lies the site of Ciudad Bolívar (formerly Angostura), a hot city which boasts a glorious history and still retains much of its colonial charm.
This spectacular town is located on the Río Carrao with a chain of 7 magnificent waterfalls. Nearby, on a tributary, is Salto Angel (Angel Falls), with an uninterrupted drop of 807m/ 2647ft (16 times the height of Niagara Falls). Continuing south-east brings you to the fascinating landscape of the Gran Sabana, with its tepuis and simas ('sink-holes' of jungle up to 350m/1148ft wide surrounded by sheer cliffs).
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| THE VENEZUELAN ANDES |
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The mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Merida are the northernmost tip of the Andes range, and lie in the north-western reaches of Venezuela. Dotted with small villages whose inhabitants still follow a traditional lifestyle, the mountain trails reward the more adventurous and energetic traveller with stunning views of the snow-capped peaks. The friendly town of Merida, nestled in the mountains just 12km (7mi) from the country's highest peak, Pico Bolívar, is one of Venezuela's most popular tourist destinations. |
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| THE CARIBBEAN COAST – Idyllic Beaches |
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The north-east coast is the place to go for outdoor activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, sailing or just lying around and enjoying the sun. The county's beaches are at their idyllic best here - long expanses of white sand lapped by turquoise waters and fringed with coconut palms. Isla Margarita, 40km (25mi) from the mainland, is a favourite for beach-lovers and a popular holiday destination for Venezuelans. It is easily accessible by ferry from Cuman· and Puerto La Cruz on the mainland. |
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| THE AMAZON JUNGLE – A Tropical Experience |
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The Amazonas region in the south of the country is thick with tropical rainforest, criss-crossed by rivers, and is home to a number of isolated Indian tribes. Tours up the Orinoco, Sipapo or Autana rivers and deep into the Venezuelan Amazon can be arranged from the town of Puerto Ayacucho. |
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