Once we get past describing Venezuela as oil-rich, we can then move on to pointing out that this South American country in the Caribbean is also a place of spectacular landscapes, from the Andes to the Amazon, as well as along its 1,700 miles of coast and idyllic islands just off shore. Caracas is the gateway to the country and a stopping-off point on the way to exploring great rivers coursing through rainforests, focusing those binoculars in wildlife-rich savannahs, meeting various indigenous peoples, or meeting no one at all along a pristine beach.
CARACAS
Occupying a lush mountain valley at 3,000 ft. above sea level and boasting a year-round average temperature of 72°F, the capital of Venezuela has earned the title of “City of Eternal Spring.” On a clear day, the best view of Caracas is from atop Mt. Avila, a lovely ride up by cable car. Closer to the ground—and getting around is easy by firstrate metro system—you’ll fi nd the most historic attractions grouped around the Plaza Bolivar such as the cathedral, with sumptuous interiors that houses works by Rubens and Murillo, as well as Casa Natal, birthplace of Simon Bolivar, and the Bolivar Museum. Count the San Francisco Church among the city’s outstanding artistic treasures, then add the Museum of Modern Art (Picasso, Miro and Henry Moore are here); the Museum of Fine Arts displaying works of leading Venezuelan painters; and the Museum of Colonial Art. Caracas has long boasted a vibrant performing arts scene, and the Caracas Hilton has got to be the best place to stay to be within walking distance of the Teresa Carreno Cultural Complex, which hosts the national theater and national symphony, as well as both folkloric and modern ballet companies. For business and leisure travelers who want to be near the city’s best restaurant scene in the Las Mercedes neighborhood, the Tamanaco InterContinental is one of the capital’s best options.
ISLA MARGARITA
Venezuela offers many different Caribbean vacation experiences. Its most popular resort and tourist destination is Isla Margarita, a sunworshipping paradise and just a short hop by air from Caracas to Porlamar airport. Legions of local and international visitors are drawn to this big island (40 miles east to west/20 miles north to south), which boasts some 200 miles of coastline and lovely beaches and offers highland villages with lively craft markets, championship golf courses, fortresses and historic churches to explore, and nature reserves such as La Restinga National Park. But the big three attractions seem to be sun-bathing, duty-free shopping and windsurfi ng—all in a hurricanefree zone. And without doubt, Margarita offers the country’s grandest selection of modern, deluxe resorts. For every facility in one place, the Hesperia Isla Margarita Golf, Spa, Casino and Beach Resort is a top vacation choice.
LOS ROQUES ARCHIPELAGO NATIONAL PARK
Located some 80 miles off the coast are more than 150 tiny islands that form the archipelago of Los Roques, an absolutely beautiful and tranquil wonderland of white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and one of the largest barrier reefs in the Caribbean. Nature buffs find pelicans and three species of boobies, as well as iguanas and nesting turtles in this designated national park, while scuba divers and snorkelers delight in the dazzlingly colorful fi sh and the beautiful coral formations of the Cabecera Reef. Most posadas (small guesthouses that offer the only accommodations) are on the largest island, Gran Roque. Mancano Lodge is considered the most deluxe.
AT HOME ON THE PLAINS
Nature lovers are discovering Venezuela’s central region, or los llanos, huge savannahs covering one-third of the country between the Andes and the Orinoco River delta. Birdwatchers and photographers come (best in October and November) when the vast plains are partially flooded: wildlife abounds and there are birds galore. The particular treat here is a stay in a supremely comfortable ecotourism cattle ranch, called a hato, with tours of the wildlife preserve in the company of naturalist guides by day, and enjoying Venezuelan food and music by night. Hato Pinero, a pioneer nature lodge and working cattle ranch, is a good choice.
ANDEAN ADVENTURES
The bustling university center of Merida lies in the shadow of the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada range in western Venezuela. The town has two claims to world fame—the 8-mile-long El Teleferico, the longest and highest cable car system in the world, showing off stunning Andean vistas as it climbs in stages to the 15,500-ft. Espejo Peak; and in town, the Coromoto Ice Cream Parlor, selling the largest number of fl avors (many quite bizarre: fried pork skin, for instance) in the world—709, according to the ”Guinness World Records.” Our Lady of Carmen Church is the oldest religious structure in Merida, while the Museum of Modern Art features works by many of Venezuela’s most famous painters. Merida sits at the center of prime territory for hiking, trekking, mountain biking and horseback riding, and travelers always enjoy staying in such special highland inns as Los Frailes, occupying a 15th century monastery, or family-run haciendas.
COME TO CANAIMA
Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spreads across nearly 12,000 sq. miles of southeastern Venezuela. The land is the home of the Pemon, an Amerindian people whose territory crosses into Brazil and Guyana and whose word for these mountains, tepuis, is how they are now known. The Gran Sabana is a huge grassland plateau within the park, dotted with towering tabletop mountains, including Roraima-tepui, the tallest and easiest to hike, and Auyan-tepui, from which Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, plunges 3,000 ft. down through the rainforest. Day excursions within the national park include jungle walks and dugout canoe rides to riverbound islands, as well as charter flights over Angel Falls or multi-day trips right up to the falls (only in the rainy season, May to December). Along the way, travelers indeed meet members of the Pemon tribe community.
It Would Be a Shame to Miss...
Scuba diving among the coral keys of Morrocoy National Park (a 3-hour drive from Caracas) and among the reefs of Los Roques National Park. Here, billfishing is tops off the Caracas coast, and bonefishing is world-class in Los Roques. Top windsurfing is available from El Yaque Beach on Isla Margarita, and just off shore on Coche Island.
Celebrations for All Seasons
Feb./Mar.: Carnival in Merida lasts almost two weeks, complete with bullfights, masquerades, street dancing and parades.
June: The liveliest festival is the Dancing Devils of Yare, held during Corpus Christi in the town of San Francisco de Yare, 40 miles southeast of Caracas.
June 24: On St. John’s Day, continuous drum music and dancing celebrate African-Venezuelan traditions for four days in the coastal towns of Higuerote and Curiepe, two hours east of Caracas.
Sept. 8: A procession on land and a boat flotilla at sea honor the Virgin of the Valley on Isla Margarita.
CARACAS
Occupying a lush mountain valley at 3,000 ft. above sea level and boasting a year-round average temperature of 72°F, the capital of Venezuela has earned the title of “City of Eternal Spring.” On a clear day, the best view of Caracas is from atop Mt. Avila, a lovely ride up by cable car. Closer to the ground—and getting around is easy by firstrate metro system—you’ll fi nd the most historic attractions grouped around the Plaza Bolivar such as the cathedral, with sumptuous interiors that houses works by Rubens and Murillo, as well as Casa Natal, birthplace of Simon Bolivar, and the Bolivar Museum. Count the San Francisco Church among the city’s outstanding artistic treasures, then add the Museum of Modern Art (Picasso, Miro and Henry Moore are here); the Museum of Fine Arts displaying works of leading Venezuelan painters; and the Museum of Colonial Art. Caracas has long boasted a vibrant performing arts scene, and the Caracas Hilton has got to be the best place to stay to be within walking distance of the Teresa Carreno Cultural Complex, which hosts the national theater and national symphony, as well as both folkloric and modern ballet companies. For business and leisure travelers who want to be near the city’s best restaurant scene in the Las Mercedes neighborhood, the Tamanaco InterContinental is one of the capital’s best options.
ISLA MARGARITA
Venezuela offers many different Caribbean vacation experiences. Its most popular resort and tourist destination is Isla Margarita, a sunworshipping paradise and just a short hop by air from Caracas to Porlamar airport. Legions of local and international visitors are drawn to this big island (40 miles east to west/20 miles north to south), which boasts some 200 miles of coastline and lovely beaches and offers highland villages with lively craft markets, championship golf courses, fortresses and historic churches to explore, and nature reserves such as La Restinga National Park. But the big three attractions seem to be sun-bathing, duty-free shopping and windsurfi ng—all in a hurricanefree zone. And without doubt, Margarita offers the country’s grandest selection of modern, deluxe resorts. For every facility in one place, the Hesperia Isla Margarita Golf, Spa, Casino and Beach Resort is a top vacation choice.
LOS ROQUES ARCHIPELAGO NATIONAL PARK
Located some 80 miles off the coast are more than 150 tiny islands that form the archipelago of Los Roques, an absolutely beautiful and tranquil wonderland of white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and one of the largest barrier reefs in the Caribbean. Nature buffs find pelicans and three species of boobies, as well as iguanas and nesting turtles in this designated national park, while scuba divers and snorkelers delight in the dazzlingly colorful fi sh and the beautiful coral formations of the Cabecera Reef. Most posadas (small guesthouses that offer the only accommodations) are on the largest island, Gran Roque. Mancano Lodge is considered the most deluxe.
AT HOME ON THE PLAINS
Nature lovers are discovering Venezuela’s central region, or los llanos, huge savannahs covering one-third of the country between the Andes and the Orinoco River delta. Birdwatchers and photographers come (best in October and November) when the vast plains are partially flooded: wildlife abounds and there are birds galore. The particular treat here is a stay in a supremely comfortable ecotourism cattle ranch, called a hato, with tours of the wildlife preserve in the company of naturalist guides by day, and enjoying Venezuelan food and music by night. Hato Pinero, a pioneer nature lodge and working cattle ranch, is a good choice.
ANDEAN ADVENTURES
The bustling university center of Merida lies in the shadow of the snowcapped peaks of the Sierra Nevada range in western Venezuela. The town has two claims to world fame—the 8-mile-long El Teleferico, the longest and highest cable car system in the world, showing off stunning Andean vistas as it climbs in stages to the 15,500-ft. Espejo Peak; and in town, the Coromoto Ice Cream Parlor, selling the largest number of fl avors (many quite bizarre: fried pork skin, for instance) in the world—709, according to the ”Guinness World Records.” Our Lady of Carmen Church is the oldest religious structure in Merida, while the Museum of Modern Art features works by many of Venezuela’s most famous painters. Merida sits at the center of prime territory for hiking, trekking, mountain biking and horseback riding, and travelers always enjoy staying in such special highland inns as Los Frailes, occupying a 15th century monastery, or family-run haciendas.
COME TO CANAIMA
Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spreads across nearly 12,000 sq. miles of southeastern Venezuela. The land is the home of the Pemon, an Amerindian people whose territory crosses into Brazil and Guyana and whose word for these mountains, tepuis, is how they are now known. The Gran Sabana is a huge grassland plateau within the park, dotted with towering tabletop mountains, including Roraima-tepui, the tallest and easiest to hike, and Auyan-tepui, from which Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, plunges 3,000 ft. down through the rainforest. Day excursions within the national park include jungle walks and dugout canoe rides to riverbound islands, as well as charter flights over Angel Falls or multi-day trips right up to the falls (only in the rainy season, May to December). Along the way, travelers indeed meet members of the Pemon tribe community.
It Would Be a Shame to Miss...
Scuba diving among the coral keys of Morrocoy National Park (a 3-hour drive from Caracas) and among the reefs of Los Roques National Park. Here, billfishing is tops off the Caracas coast, and bonefishing is world-class in Los Roques. Top windsurfing is available from El Yaque Beach on Isla Margarita, and just off shore on Coche Island.
Celebrations for All Seasons
Feb./Mar.: Carnival in Merida lasts almost two weeks, complete with bullfights, masquerades, street dancing and parades.
June: The liveliest festival is the Dancing Devils of Yare, held during Corpus Christi in the town of San Francisco de Yare, 40 miles southeast of Caracas.
June 24: On St. John’s Day, continuous drum music and dancing celebrate African-Venezuelan traditions for four days in the coastal towns of Higuerote and Curiepe, two hours east of Caracas.
Sept. 8: A procession on land and a boat flotilla at sea honor the Virgin of the Valley on Isla Margarita.
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