VENEZUELA
Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea.
For more than 300 years Venezuela was a Spanish colony and declared its independence in the early 19th century. Since becoming a sovereign nation, Venezuela has faced civil conflict and dictatorship, with the military exerting a strong influence over politics. However, since the late 1950s, democratically elected governments have successively ruled the nation.
The country is endowed with an astonishing array of landscapes and experiences as well as tropical beaches, vast wetlands, great rivers, making it a haven for tourists.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Colombia lies to the west of Venezuela, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east. The country is divided into four distinct geographic regions: the northern mountains, the Maracaibo lowlands, the Llanos (plains) of the north central region, and the Guiana Highlands to the south. It has a total area of 916,445 sq km and consists of the 72 coastal islands, of which Margarita is the largest and most important.
The climate varies according to altitude with the lowland areas having a tropical climate and the mountainous regions being significantly cooler. The rainy season runs from May to December.
ECONOMY AND CURRENCY
The economy of Venezuela was agrarian until the discovery of vast quantities of petroleum in the early 1900s. The oil industry has generated a vast amount of wealth but the Venezuelan society remains sharply divided between rich and poor. A large number of unskilled urban laborers and rural farm workers live in relative poverty while the elite class of businessmen, oil-company technicians, and large landowners control most of the country’s resources.
The monetary unit of the country is Bolivar fuerte.
PEOPLE, CULTURE AND LANGUAGES
The majority of Venezuelans are mestizos or people of mixed European and Native American ancestry. And about 85% of the population lives in urban areas in northern Venezuela. Almost the entire population follows Christianity.
Venezuela's heritage, art, and culture have been shaped by indigenous, Spanish and African influences. The aboriginal culture was assimilated by Spaniards and over the years a unique hybrid culture had spread throughout the region.
The national and official language of the country is Spanish and in addition to that 31 indigenous languages are also spoken, including Guajibo, Pemon, Warao, Wayuu, and the various Yanomaman languages
CAPITAL NA DMAIN CITIES
The capital of Venezuela is Caracas, which is situated high in a beautiful valley and is blessed with perpetual spring weather, is enriched with numerous cultural institutions, hotels, shopping centers, famous restaurants, and varied nightlife.
Some other major cities of Venezuela are- Isla Margarita, Coro, Maracaibo, Maracay and Valencia.
HOW TO REACH
The national airlines are Avior and Santa Barbara and they offer direct flights to Miami but to no other USA or European destination. The main airport is Aeropuerto Internacional Simon Bolivar, which is on the coast at Maiquetía, 26km (16 miles) from the city. Coaches shuttle the passengers to and from Parque Central in downtown Caracas during daylight hours.
There are no international rail links in the country.
For road travel there are two principal overland routes from Colombia: from Cartagena to Maracaibo and from Bogotá to. It is also possible to travel from Brazil (Manaus) to Caracas via Santa Elena de Uairen.
TRAVEL DESTINATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
In the Sierra Nevada de Mérida several of the country's highest peaks are located, try mountain trekking or rock climbing there but with experienced guides and equipment that can be hired in Mérida.
The world's longest and highest cable car (teleferico), which runs 12.6km (7.9 miles) from Mérida to the top of Pico Espejo, is a real fun ride.
Snorkel or dive at Parque Nacional Mochima on the northeast coast, with dozens of offshore islands and islets, surrounded by coral reefs. Another underwater wonderland, the archipelago Los Roques should not be missed.
Take a cruise through the mangrove ‘canos’ (channels) of Parque Nacional Morrocoy in the northwest, or then sail out to the park's chain of islands, renowned for their paradisiacal beaches and flocks of flamingos.
Explore the Cueva del Guacharo, the most spectacular of Venezuela's many cave systems, and its thrilling to watch the eerie screeching of thousands of ‘guacharos’ (oilbirds), a type of nocturnal bird that inhabits the subterranean dwelling.
Enjoy skiing in the tropics at the peaks of the Cordillera de Merida have a permanent snowline and can be skied between November and June.
The Parque Nacional Henri Pittier is a birdwatchers' haven with hummingbirds, herons, tanagers, toucanets, curassows and hundreds of other exotic bird species at on the central northern coast.
Unwind at the coastal resorts of Isla de Margarita, Venezuela's largest Caribbean isle with 168km (104 miles) of beaches.
Go angling off La Guaira, where the plankton-rich El Placer bank is renowned for its extraordinarily abundant blue marlin, white marlin and sailfish.
Caracas, the capital city, a modern metropolis in a stunning setting along the base of the Avila range, is worth exploring Besides offering exotic cuisine, it has a vibrant cultural life and throbbing nightlife scene, the city also boasts an array of world-class museums.
At the foot of Angel Falls (Salto Angel) lies the world's highest waterfall; a two-day motorized canoe trip operates from June to November or else you can take a scenic flight to the place.
Large colonies of pink flamingos and scarlet ibis present a spectacular sight at Parque Nacional, a coastal refuge about four hours north of Caracas. During September, the flamboyant fowl congregate in the lagoons near Chichiriviche and along the mangrove canals.
Watch a show of joropo, Venezuela's national dance, in Los Llanos, the vast plains region where it originated. The dance is accompanied by ensembles playing harp, guitar and maracas and singing in a high-pitched nasal style.
If you travel from Maracaibo north to the Guajira peninsula, you can see where the indigenous Wayuu (or Guajiro) people live much as they did when the first Spanish settlers arrived, dwelling in houses that are raised above the lake on stilts.
Visit Mérida, a delightful university town perched amidst snow-capped Andean peaks. It is an excellent base for hiking, wildlife watching and whitewater rafting, and has several fine art and archaeology museums and a vibrant nightlife.
The beautifully preserved center of Coro, an early colonial settlement near the Caribbean coast is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Make a definite visit to the Mount Roraima, the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's ‘The Lost World’.
Visit the Colonia Tovar, in the forested mountains west of Caracas, settled by German immigrants from the Black Forest in the mid-19th century; the town retains its Old World traditions, food and architecture, making for a surreal excursion from the capital.
GETTING AROUND
Air
Nearly all significant towns are connected with scheduled services operated by domestic airlines, including Aserca, Avior and Santa Barbara.
Water
There are ferries that link Margarita Island with the mainland at Puerto La Cruz and Cumana
Rail
There are no passenger trains operating in Venezuela besides the Caracas subway and a suburban light rail line,
Road
The quality of roads varies but the main roads in Caracas and to the interior is reasonably good. Some routes have many potholes, on which a 4-wheel drive is recommended.
Long-distance bus routes connect virtually all cities and towns in Venezuela but the bus quality varies widely. However, the major lines all offer modern, air-conditioned executive-class service as well ultra-reclining seats. ‘Por puestos’ or share-taxis can be found on some inter-city routes but they are generally a little more expensive than buses.
Major car-rental firm agencies operate at the airport and in major city centers if you are looking to self drive.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Hotels
Hotels are easily found throughout the country in a wide range of prices, with the exception of Caracas where budget accommodations are hardly available. Make advance reservations if you plan to visit Isla de Margarita, Archipielago Los Roques, Canaima or other major destinations during holiday periods.
Youth Hostels
Youth hostels which are Hostelling International (HI) affiliated operate on the Caribbean islands of Margarita and Coche, in the mountain villages of Jaji and San Rafael de Tabay, in the Orinoco river towns of Ciudad Bolivar and Puerto Ayacucho and on the coast at Coro.
Posadas
Posadas are generally low-key family-operated inns, often in atmospheric colonial homes. The smaller establishments offer humble accommodations and the larger ones sport swimming pools and volleyball courts. These accommodations are found in both urban and rural areas.
Campamentos
These are holiday compounds in protected nature zones like Canaima, the Rio Caura and the Amazon. Campamentos are a series of rustic huts or cabins, and many have restaurants serving tempting regional fare. These accommodations provide tours of the surroundings, with nature walks, river trips and visits to indigenous communities.
Hatos
Hatos are big cattle ranches on the plains of Los Llanos for the purpose of ecotourism and packages generally include accommodation on the ranch, meals and safaris to observe the zone's abundant wildlife.
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