Introduction
If you could channel-surf for landscape, Venezuela would tire out any remote. Venezuela is epic in proportion: it boasts South America's largest lake and third-longest river,
the highest waterfall in the world, the longest of all snakes, and some of the most spectacular landscapes you'll ever see.
There are the snowcapped peaks of the Andes in the west; steamy Amazonian jungles in the south; the hauntingly beautiful Gran Sabana plateau, with its strange flat-topped mountains, in the east; and miles of white-sand beaches fringed with coconut palms on the Caribbean coast.
Geography:
Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America, north of Brazil between Colombia and Guyana. The southeast is dominated by the Guayana Highlands, and a further 30% of the country is taken up by the vast grassland plain of the central Llanos, which is drained by South America's third-largest river, the Río Orinoco. The continent's largest inland lake, Lake Maracaibo, lies in the northwest, surrounded by marshy, fertile lowlands. South of the lake rises the northern end of the Andes, climbing to 5007m (16,423ft) at Pico Bol í var. Boggy highland meadows in the Andes, known as p á ramos, are home to some of Venezuela's most amazing plant species. Equally diverse flora can be found on the tepuis (table-topped mountains) in the southeast of the country, particularly Roraima.
Destination Facts
Capital: Caracas
President: Hugo Chávez
Government: federal republic
Time zone: GMT -4.5
Area: 916445
Population: 25700000
People: Mestizo (67%), European descent (21%), African descent (10%), indigenous (2%)
Languages: Spanish is the official language, but more than 30 Amerindian languages still survive, predominantly belonging to the Arawak, Carib & Chibcha ethnolinguistic categories
Religion: Roman Catholic (96%), Protestant (2%), other (2%)
Currency: Bolívar Fuerte (Bs)
GDP: Approx. Bs176400000000
Major industries: Petroleum, iron ore, cereals, fruit, sugar and coffee
Major Trading Partners: USA, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, China, Spain, Russia
Country Dialing Code: 58
Getting there and away
Flights to Caracas arrive from the US and Western European countries. From Australia and New Zealand, round-the-world tickets may be the cheapest and most flexible option. There are direct flights between Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil, though the latter is very expensive. Weekly passenger boats operate between Venezuela and Trinidad. Overland, you can enter Venezuela from Colombia at four border crossings. The two most common (and safest) are: the coastal route between Maicao and Maracaibo and from C ú cuta and San Antonio del T á chira. No roads link Guyana and Venezuela, and only one road connects Brazil with Venezuela; it leads from Manaus through Boa Vista to Santa Elena de Uair é n and continues to Ciudad Guayana. Long-distance international buses operate from Caracas.
Getting around
Caracas' airport is the country's major aviation hub, with flights to Porlamar, Maracaibo, M é rida, Ciudad Bol í var, Canaima and Puerto Ordaz (Ciudad Guayana) among others. Venezuela has half-a-dozen major commercial airlines - the largest being Aeropostal - and a dozen minor provincial carriers that cover regional and remote routes. Venezuela has a number of islands, but only Isla de Margarita is serviced by regular scheduled boats and ferries. As there is no passenger-train service, almost all traveling is done by bus. Buses are generally fast, affordable and they run regularly day and night between major population centers. Caracas is the most important transport hub, handling buses to just about every corner of the country. Many short-distance regional routes are served by por puestos (literally 'by the seat'), a cross between a bus and a taxi. Renting a car is a comfortable and flexible way of getting around Venezuela. The country is reasonably safe, the network of roads is extensive and usually in acceptable shape, and gas is just about the cheapest in the world - you can fill up your tank for a dollar. However, traffic in Venezuela, especially in Caracas, is chaotic and requires nerves of steel.
Weather
The dry season from December to April is the best time to hang out on the Venezuelan coast and soak up the rays. While temperatures can get a bit fevered, peaking around 32 ° C (89 ° F) during the day, there is decent sunshine and negligible rainfall. During the rest of the year temperatures are just a pinch hotter, especially between June and September, with rainfall peaking around October. Moving inland, temperatures are cooler but still with little seasonal change, averaging highs between 24 ° C (75 ° F) and 27 ° C (80 ° F). Though the wet season is the same inland as on the coast, rainfall is more frequent throughout the year. In the southern plateau region the temperature climbs again, however the hottest months are now February and March and it is wet for most of the year with slightly drier periods in September and October and between January and March.
Places of Interest
From Andean peaks and Angel Falls to Caracas and the Caribbean coastline. Venezuela receives fewer visitors than other major South American countries, but it's not for want of attractions. There's the world's highest waterfall (Angel), the world's longest cable car (at M é rida), Amazon jungle, Andean peaks and wonderful wildlife in the grasslands of Los Llanos.
Venezuela is epic in proportion: it boasts South America's largest lake and third-longest river, the highest waterfall in the world, the longest of all snakes, and some of the most spectacular landscapes you'll ever see.
Warning
Street crime in Venezuelan cities is reasonably common, particularly Caracas. Exercise the same common sense as you would in any large, chaotic city and, if you must stroll the streets after dark, be aware that many neighbourhoods are considered to be zonas rojas, high crime areas where you may be at risk. Venezuelan politics is unpredictable and demonstrations and public protests are common. Travelers are advised to avoid such gatherings as they can become violent; monitor news services for any potential unrest. Any travel near the Colombian border in more remote Zulia, T á chira, Barinas, Bolivar, Apure and Amazonas states should be avoided due to the presence of Colombian guerrillas and various other armed types.
If you could channel-surf for landscape, Venezuela would tire out any remote. Venezuela is epic in proportion: it boasts South America's largest lake and third-longest river,
the highest waterfall in the world, the longest of all snakes, and some of the most spectacular landscapes you'll ever see.
Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America, north of Brazil between Colombia and Guyana. The southeast is dominated by the Guayana Highlands, and a further 30% of the country is taken up by the vast grassland plain of the central Llanos, which is drained by South America's third-largest river, the Río Orinoco. The continent's largest inland lake, Lake Maracaibo, lies in the northwest, surrounded by marshy, fertile lowlands. South of the lake rises the northern end of the Andes, climbing to 5007m (16,423ft) at Pico Bol í var. Boggy highland meadows in the Andes, known as p á ramos, are home to some of Venezuela's most amazing plant species. Equally diverse flora can be found on the tepuis (table-topped mountains) in the southeast of the country, particularly Roraima.
Capital: Caracas
President: Hugo Chávez
Government: federal republic
Time zone: GMT -4.5
Area: 916445
Population: 25700000
People: Mestizo (67%), European descent (21%), African descent (10%), indigenous (2%)
Languages: Spanish is the official language, but more than 30 Amerindian languages still survive, predominantly belonging to the Arawak, Carib & Chibcha ethnolinguistic categories
Religion: Roman Catholic (96%), Protestant (2%), other (2%)
Currency: Bolívar Fuerte (Bs)
GDP: Approx. Bs176400000000
Major industries: Petroleum, iron ore, cereals, fruit, sugar and coffee
Major Trading Partners: USA, Germany, Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, China, Spain, Russia
Country Dialing Code: 58
Flights to Caracas arrive from the US and Western European countries. From Australia and New Zealand, round-the-world tickets may be the cheapest and most flexible option. There are direct flights between Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil, though the latter is very expensive. Weekly passenger boats operate between Venezuela and Trinidad. Overland, you can enter Venezuela from Colombia at four border crossings. The two most common (and safest) are: the coastal route between Maicao and Maracaibo and from C ú cuta and San Antonio del T á chira. No roads link Guyana and Venezuela, and only one road connects Brazil with Venezuela; it leads from Manaus through Boa Vista to Santa Elena de Uair é n and continues to Ciudad Guayana. Long-distance international buses operate from Caracas.
Caracas' airport is the country's major aviation hub, with flights to Porlamar, Maracaibo, M é rida, Ciudad Bol í var, Canaima and Puerto Ordaz (Ciudad Guayana) among others. Venezuela has half-a-dozen major commercial airlines - the largest being Aeropostal - and a dozen minor provincial carriers that cover regional and remote routes. Venezuela has a number of islands, but only Isla de Margarita is serviced by regular scheduled boats and ferries. As there is no passenger-train service, almost all traveling is done by bus. Buses are generally fast, affordable and they run regularly day and night between major population centers. Caracas is the most important transport hub, handling buses to just about every corner of the country. Many short-distance regional routes are served by por puestos (literally 'by the seat'), a cross between a bus and a taxi. Renting a car is a comfortable and flexible way of getting around Venezuela. The country is reasonably safe, the network of roads is extensive and usually in acceptable shape, and gas is just about the cheapest in the world - you can fill up your tank for a dollar. However, traffic in Venezuela, especially in Caracas, is chaotic and requires nerves of steel.
The dry season from December to April is the best time to hang out on the Venezuelan coast and soak up the rays. While temperatures can get a bit fevered, peaking around 32 ° C (89 ° F) during the day, there is decent sunshine and negligible rainfall. During the rest of the year temperatures are just a pinch hotter, especially between June and September, with rainfall peaking around October. Moving inland, temperatures are cooler but still with little seasonal change, averaging highs between 24 ° C (75 ° F) and 27 ° C (80 ° F). Though the wet season is the same inland as on the coast, rainfall is more frequent throughout the year. In the southern plateau region the temperature climbs again, however the hottest months are now February and March and it is wet for most of the year with slightly drier periods in September and October and between January and March.
From Andean peaks and Angel Falls to Caracas and the Caribbean coastline. Venezuela receives fewer visitors than other major South American countries, but it's not for want of attractions. There's the world's highest waterfall (Angel), the world's longest cable car (at M é rida), Amazon jungle, Andean peaks and wonderful wildlife in the grasslands of Los Llanos.
Street crime in Venezuelan cities is reasonably common, particularly Caracas. Exercise the same common sense as you would in any large, chaotic city and, if you must stroll the streets after dark, be aware that many neighbourhoods are considered to be zonas rojas, high crime areas where you may be at risk. Venezuelan politics is unpredictable and demonstrations and public protests are common. Travelers are advised to avoid such gatherings as they can become violent; monitor news services for any potential unrest. Any travel near the Colombian border in more remote Zulia, T á chira, Barinas, Bolivar, Apure and Amazonas states should be avoided due to the presence of Colombian guerrillas and various other armed types.
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