DESTINATION GUIDES > COUNTRIES

Venezuela

A bounty of oil is behind the modern monuments you'll find today in Venezuela. Caracas, its cosmopolitan capital, has fine restaurants and outiques that rival those of Paris or Buenos Aires. Its high-end resorts hold their own with any in the region, and its highway system is one of the best on the continent. But these days, with the price of oil faltering, Venezuela is counting more and more on its other natural assets -- Andean mountains, dramatic waterfalls, tropical jungles and miles and miles of Caribbean beaches -- to fuel its economy. The government is hoping to entice more visitors to Venezuela with such lures as fishing for peacock bass and marlin, scuba diving in the turquoise waters off Los Roques or jungle adventures in Canaima and the Grand Sabana...

Where to Go

ANGEL FALLS

One of Venezuela's most romantic (and remote) sights, Angel Falls is truly spectacular. Water plummets 3,210 ft/980 m, making it the world's highest waterfall—so high that during the dry season the cascade can evaporate into mist before it reaches bottom. The water originates from Auyan-Tepui ("Devil Mountain"), a great mesa or plateau with its own ecosystem, and ends in almost impenetrable jungle. Angel Falls and Auyan-Tepui inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Lost World.

The falls were unknown to the outside world until U.S. pilot Jimmy Angel crashed there in 1935. Today Angel Falls is one of Venezuela's most popular tourist sights. But it remains difficult to reach. There are two ways to see the falls: on a flightseeing tour or on a boat trip. You can take a one-day flight from several Venezuelan cities that leaves early in the morning, makes passes over the falls, lands for lunch and then returns. A better option is a two-day trip that includes a flight over the falls and the Orinoco River and an overnight stay at Canaima, with a return flight out the following day. (Be aware that there's some risk of disappointment in the flightseeing tours—clouds may cover the falls.) You can also see the falls up close in a dugout canoe. This trip is possible only during the rainy season and is only for hardy travelers. It involves a jeep ride to the river, then a trip upstream on 40-ft/12-m curiaras (motorized canoes). After a portage by jeep around some rapids, a stop at Orchid Island, then a trip through rapids, you hike for an hour through the hilly jungle to emerge at the base of the falls. (As a bonus, a walk behind the 100-ft/31-m Sapo Falls near Canaima is often included in the tour.) The best time to visit the falls is June-December—the wet season when the volume of water coming off the top of the falls is greatest. But it's also when visibility can be the worst.

Canaima, about 70 mi/112 km northwest of Angel Falls, is a frequent stopping point for visitors to the falls. Set on the shore of a lagoon stained the color of root beer by the tannins in the jungle leaves, the town has its own waterfalls and a battery of seven cataracts. You can visit the hollowed-out cave behind Sapo Falls and then climb to the top, where masses of orchids grow. Canoe trips and visits to nearby Indian villages are also possible. Canaima ("God of Thunder" in the Indian language) is usually reached by air from Caracas, Margarita Island or Ciudad Bolivar. Accommodations, relatively expensive by Venezuelan standards, are generally sold in conjunction with airline tickets. Angel Falls is 450 mi/725 km southeast of Caracas.

BARQUISIMETO

Originally founded by the Spanish, Barquisimeto is Venezuela's fourth-largest city (pop. 800,000). Most of it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1812, but a number of attractive colonial buildings still remain, lending the downtown the relaxing atmosphere of a small town. There's also an excellent museum and an ultramodern cathedral. Fortunately, the city's large industrial area to the north isn't visible from downtown. 220 mi/350 km west of Caracas.

CARACAS

Caracas, like so many cities in South America, can delight and dismay in equal measure. Venezuela's capital and largest city (4.5 million and rising) is a study in paradox—modern and progressive in some areas, wretched and filthy in others.

Some travelers revel in the city's shimmering, futuristic skyscrapers, restaurants serving fine international cuisine and museums displaying works by Picasso and Matisse—all frequented by residents who look as if they're ready to pose for Vogue or GQ. Others, however, return home shaking their heads, because Caracas is also a city where poverty is widespread and highly visible: More than a third of its inhabitants live in tin-and-concrete shanties perched precariously on hillsides. Petty street crime is common.

We think Caracas is worth a look, if only to experience a major South American city and its congenial, multiethnic population. While savvy travelers who speak fluent Spanish may feel comfortable tackling the city on their own, most others should stick to guided tours.

There's plenty to see in Caracas, so decide if you're more interested in history or art and then concentrate your energies accordingly. Many of the city's old buildingswere razed during the oil boom as developers rushed to put up massive skyscrapers. But enough escaped the wrecking ball to make a day immersed in the past worth your time. And art lovers will find that Caracas' museums contain excellent collections of contemporary art. The Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Museo Bolivariano, Museo de Ciencias Naturales and Museo de los Ninos are all located in close proximity so you can spend an entire day going from one museum to another. Be sure to stop by the Teresa Carreno Cultural Complex—one of the most important cultural centers in Latin America. It straddles an urban hillside and offers symphony concerts, Latin jazz, experimental theater and foreign films.

A good first stop for history buffs is Plaza Bolivar, which marks the colonial center of Caracas. Palm trees shade the equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar, disabled Venezuelans sell lottery tickets, mothers watch their toddlers chase pigeons and elderly Caraquenos sit on benches, eyeing the action.Around Plaza Bolivar are the seats of Venezuelan political and religious power. Congress meets in the gold-domed Capitolio Nacional, worth a look to see the huge mural on the ceiling depicting the Battle of Carabobo. Stroll through the Catedral to see the Rubens painting of Christ's Resurrection and, on the south side of the plaza, Concejo Municipal, where the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence was written (the building is now the town hall).

To get a feel for what life was like among the upper class during Bolivar's time, head for Quinta de Anauco, a restored colonial home in the San Bernardino neighborhood. Also known as the Museo de Arte Colonial, the building is where Bolivar spent his last night in Venezuela.

Also worth a visit is the Panteon Nacional, which contains the remains of Simon Bolivar and other national heroes. Don't be fooled by the austere exterior: The opulence inside makes up for it. The Panteon, located in Altagracias, is guarded around the clock. Be aware that, in keeping with the esteem afforded Bolivar in his homeland, guards may turn away visitors dressed in shorts or sleeveless shirts or admonish those who do not show proper respect for the site.

Cultural performances are a popular form of entertainment for middle- and upper-class families in Caracas. National and international performers and companies bring classical dance, jazz, concerts, magic shows, operas and plays to the city. Most of these events take place in the Teresa Carreno Cultural Complex, which is one of the most important performing-arts venues in all of Venezuela. Call ahead for ticket availability and purchase tickets early—events often sell out.

Smaller theaters, such as Teatro Nacional, regularly host performances by local dance and theater companies throughout the city. To find information about productions and schedules in English, check The Daily Journal or head directly to the theater's box office. The newspapers El Universal and El Nacional print entertainment schedules in Spanish.

Caraquenos love to dance—to salsa, merengue, reggae, rock 'n' roll, tango, you name it. Most discos require dressing up, and some admit only couples. Juan Sebastian Bar is a lively jazz club on Avenida Venezuela in the neighborhood El Rosal. You can dine at the club, then slide over to the lounge for dancing.

Very popular in Caracas these days are tascas—bars with live music, dancing and lots of little Spanish appetizers.

Las Mercedes neighborhood is alive until all hours with discos, nightclubs, pubs and coffee bars. Ask your taxi driver to drop you off at El Picoteo (Avenida Rio de Janeiro) or Flanagan's Pub (Centro Comercial Paseo Las Mercedes), then take it from there.

CIUDAD BOLIVAR

This historic port town was once named Angostura (the Narrows) because the Orinoco River is only 1 mi/1.5 km wide there. It was renamed for Simon Bolivar, who liberated the city in 1817 and who convened the Congress there that created the unified republic of Gran Colombia. Today Ciudad Bolivar (pop. 259,000) is of interest to visitors not only for its colonial history and sights, but also because of its proximity to Angel Falls. The city has one of South America's longest suspension bridges, a reconstructed cathedral and several museums (good modern-art collections and exhibits on history, geology and mining). It's also a great place to shop for gold nuggets, as well as red-, green- and yellow-gold bracelet charms and colorful chocano gold. The city is easy to get around: Ignore the tour guides who solicit visitors around the hotels and cafes.

Be sure to visit the Parque Miranda, where an old theater building houses contemporary art exhibits. Make a stop at the pink building in Plaza Bolivar where the republic's first Congress met in 1819. The four statues of women in each corner of the plaza symbolize Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (the original republics of Gran Colombia). We enjoyed strolling the waterfront in the evening and watching the spectacular sunset. Local legend has it that Piedra del Medio, an island in the middle of the river, is the head of a giant submerged snake and that the occasional movement of its body (which is said to lie under the cathedral) causes minor earthquakes. Plan one night. 370 mi/600 km southeast of Caracas.

CIUDAD GUAYANA

Just downstream from the junction of the Caroni and Orinoco Rivers lies the relatively new iron-ore boomtown of Ciudad Guayana. Established in 1961, the city has undergone fantastic growth (its population now is around 550,000). Ciudad Guayana's industrial complex encompasses neighboring Puerto Ordaz and San Felix. Although the city itself is not an appealing place for travelers, there are some interesting sites nearby. You can take a car or bus to the Salto Llovizna waterfalls or to Caroni Falls, both of which are just south of Ciudad Guyana. There is good hunting and fishing in the nearby mountains. Also nearby is Raul Leoni Dam, one of the world's largest hydroelectric dams (guided tours available). Another possible day trip is to Los Castillos de Guayana: the ruins of two Spanish forts—one built on a rock in the river, the other on a hill. You can also take river trips to see native Indians and jungle flora and fauna. 446 mi/720 km southeast of Caracas.

COLONIA TOVAR

Set in a high, steep valley, this Black Forest-style village was settled in 1843 by immigrants from Germany. At an altitude of 6,000 ft/1,830 m, the town was so remote that it was virtually impossible to reach and so insular that marriages outside the community were forbidden until the 1940s. Today a narrow, scenic and paved road leads from Caracas to the town, which is often jammed with visitors curious to see an old-style German village preserved in a South American cloud forest. (Some of the residents are still blond and blue eyed, and many speak German.) Most people go to dine in the restaurants, visit the old gristmill and wooden church and see German architecture (steeply pitched roofs designed to shed snow—as of yet never put to the test). Be sure to try the excellent homemade jams, bread and bratwurst. Venezuela's first beer was brewed in Tovar and is still a local specialty. Souvenir, pottery and handicraft shops line the street. We think the whole town is very touristy but fun. Nearby are some petroglifos, or rock paintings. The best time to visit the area is during the week. The road, which is lined with picnic tables and food stands, becomes one big traffic jam on weekends. 45 mi/70 km west of Caracas.

CORO

A port city on the Caribbean Sea, Coro has some of the country's best-preserved colonial architecture in its Zona Colonial, a nicely restored area that includes museums and the site of the earliest cathedral in Venezuela, dating from 1531. South America's oldest Jewish cemetery is also there. To the south of Coro are the badlands, home to cacti, rattlers and burros: Giant sand dunes constantly encroach on roads. To the north is the Paraguana Peninsula, an area of arid scrubland, oil refineries and smugglers. The peninsula itself is very flat, with the dramatic exception of Santa Ana Mountain in the center (it abruptly rises 2,500 ft/760 m). Plan to spend one night or visit Coro as a day trip from Maracaibo. 277 mi/446 km northwest of Caracas.

CUMANA

Residents of Cumana (pronounced koo-mah-NA) boast that it was the first city built by Europeans on the South American continent and the birthplace of many Venezuelan generals and poets. (The exact date of its founding is disputed, but it was established some time between 1515 and 1540.) Though located on the mainland, Cumana is often visited by those vacationing on Margarita Island. A ferry operates between the island and Cumana.

The city (pop. 350,000) charms visitors with its historical sites, cobblestone streets, castles, fortresses, lagoons and museums. A 1929 earthquake destroyed much of the original section of town, but the fully restored San Antonio castle is notable, especially for its panoramic view of the city. The lovely tree-lined Manazares River runs through or along a number of pretty municipal parks. 250 mi/400 km east of Caracas.

LA GRAN SABANA

The Great Savannah is a region of magnificent vistas, numerous rivers and fascinating wildlife (including giant anteaters), as well as ecological ruin (caused by gold and diamond miners). Travelers cross a region of spectacular tepuis rising abruptly from the plains. To visualize a tepui, imagine a mesa or butte crowned with its own isolated and unique ecosystem. The largest tepui, at 9,220 ft/2,810 m, is Mt. Roraima: About 9 mi/15 km by 3 mi/5 km, it has many waterfalls, including one with a 2,000-ft/610-m drop! A rough asphalt-and-dirt road crosses the Sabana, leading to Manaus, Brazil. This trip is only for the adventurous. You can camp in this region, but you'll need a permit (obtainable from the Inparque office in Ciudad Bolivar). Tours (usually lasting two to five days) can be arranged from Caracas or, better still, Ciudad Bolivar. 650 mi/1,046 km southeast of Caracas.

LOS ROQUES

The isolated archipelago of Los Roques, north of Caracas in the Caribbean Sea, is usually visited as part of a day tour or an overnight tour package. Do be prepared to pay a US$10 port fee for visiting Los Roques as the entire archipelago is a national park. Some of the islets are little more than patches of sand big enough for a single person to stretch out on a beach towel. Because the islands can be reached only by charter plane or boat, they are an idyllic place to escape. Most operators fly you to the islands aboard a small plane, then transfer you to a catamaran, from which you explore the park. You'll anchor for snorkeling at coral reefs and pull up to picture-perfect beaches for swimming and sunning. (Bring plenty of sunscreen: There is little shade on the cays.) Food is served buffet-style aboard the catamaran, and there's an open bar. Packages start at about US$150 for a day trip, which can be arranged at the airport in Caracas. Tours are also offered from Margarita Island. Los Roques archipelago is about 95 mi/150 km north of Caracas.

MARACAIBO

Venezuela's commercial and oil center, Maracaibo (pop. 3 million) has little to offer tourists. Situated on the shores of Lake Maracaibo, the low-lying city—it's only 25 ft/8 m above sea level—is hot, humid and windless. Among the few sights worth seeing are the nicely restored old town near the waterfront and the nearby neighborhood of Santa Lucia (pretty church and brightly painted houses). There are good markets around Maracaibo where you can buy crafts and textiles made by the local Guajira tribe.

Other places to visit include the Basilica of Our Lady of the Chiquinquira (beautiful Spanish-colonial architecture) and the 5-mi/8-km Rafael Urdaneta Bridge (one of the world's longest bridges). The water in Lake Maracaibo is brackish—it's open to the Caribbean Sea. Driving across the bridge at sunset is spectacular, and oil rigs around the lake illuminated at night are a surreal sight, too. The new racetrack, Hippodromo Santa Rita, is near the bridge.

Do not leave Maracaibo without dining at Mi Vaquita, the city's most famous restaurant. Take a cab there, and have one pick you up at the end of your meal.

Excursions can be made to Rio Limon, about 30 mi/50 km north, where you can take a boat trip upriver to see the Paraguana Indian villages. Built on stilts over the water, the town of Sinamaica is the place Amerigo Vespucci saw when he gave the country its name. Sinamaica and Paraguaipoa (its market has less expensive goods) are accessible by car. 438 mi/706 km west of Caracas.

MARACAY

This pleasant city of 925,000 has a number of attractions, including several buildings erected by General Gomez, the dictator whose headquarters were there when he ruled the country from 1908 to 1935. The block-long Anthropology Museum once held his administrative offices. The Aeronautic Museum has Jimmy Angel's airplane, which was stuck nose down at the top of Angel Falls until the early 1970s, when the Venezuelan Air Force helicoptered it out. Nearby Lake Valencia, which has 22 islands in a pleasant setting, offers good boating (but not swimming). There's also horseback riding, golf, a bull ring (modeled after the one in Seville) and a beautiful park called Las Delicias (once the country home of Gomez). The zoo there is a good place to take children.

Just north of town is the expansive Henri Pittier National Park, which contains a cloud forest and beautiful tropical coastline. Within the park are two villages, Choroni and Puerto Colombia, both of which have charming colonial buildings and a relaxing atmosphere. The two-hour drive from Maracay to Choroni will both take your breath away and churn your stomach. 68 mi/110 km southwest of Caracas.

MARGARITA ISLAND

Giant pearls once lured adventurers to Margarita Island. Today, the pearls are mostly gone, and it's the dazzling sunsets, duty-free shops and powdery beaches that bring in the crowds. This Caribbean isle (25 mi/38 km off the northeast coast of Venezuela) is a mecca for fun seekers from mainland Venezuela and—more recently—from other parts of the world as well. Some cruise ships, most on southern Caribbean voyages, also call at the island, which is officially called Isla de Margarita.

The bustling business center of Margarita is Porlamar (a contraction of Puerto de la Mar—or Port of the Sea) on the southeastern side of the island, which is also where most of the island's other towns and nearly all of its residents are located. (The western side is more arid and sparsely populated.) Tourism fuels the island's economy, so you'll find a very pleasant scene almost everywhere you go: Roving waiters at beaches proffer cocktails, and seaside restaurants serve up fish plucked fresh from the ocean. You can trace the island's colonial history in its old churches and fortresses, or venture into the mangroves to spot rare birds, including scarlet ibises, frigate birds and parrots. There are still some isolated, undeveloped stretches of sand, if you want to escape civilization.

Beach parties, tropical discotheques and open-air nightclubs reverberate all night. One of the more popular dance clubs is Subsuelo, in the Galerias Fente shopping center on Avenida 4 de Mayo in Porlamar. Several hotels have floor shows and nightclubs or piano bars. The Margarita Hilton and Laguna Mar hotels have popular casinos that are open daily until 5 am.

MERIDA

Located high in the Andes at an elevation of 5,332 ft/1,655 m, this city of 250,000 has magnificent mountain views, beautiful architecture (colonial alongside modern) and a relaxed atmosphere. The University of the Andes, founded in 1785, is also in Merida.

To best way to take in the fabulous scenery is to ride the Teleferico, the famous cable-car system that runs right from Merida up to the peak of El Espejo. Divided into four stages, each actually with its own cable car, the Teleferico ascends to 16,000 ft/4,960 m, which is above the timber line. The view from El Espejo is spectacular: It's great to watch the city disappear beneath you as the cable car climbs. Close to the last cable car station is Pico Bolivar—at 16,425 ft/5,000 m the country's highest point.

You can stop along the way to get off and hike to the village of Los Nevados (at an elevation higher than Lhasa, Tibet, the village is a five-hour walk from the station). When you get to the top of El Espejo, it will be very cold (regardless of how warm it may be down below). You may also get an altitude-induced headache, which is locally known as siroche. If you're not dressed for cold weather you should rent a warm sweater or jacket at the entrance to the first cable car for about US$1 per item.

The area around Merida is an excellent place for mountain climbing, butterfly and bird watching, mountain biking, horseback riding and trout fishing in one of the nearby lagoons. A two-hour drive north of town will take you high into the mountains, across the 12,000-ft/3,720-m pass at Apartaderos, into the treeless steppe known as the paramo, and back down about 3,000 ft/915 m to the Hotel los Frailes (The Friars), which was a monastery (founded in 1642), on the edge of the Sierra Nevada National Park. The historical property is worth a look even if you're not staying there. Another day trip, southwest of Merida, is the colonial-era village of La Mesa, famous for its sugarcane, metal crafts and dried flower arrangements. 422 mi/680 km southwest of Caracas.

PUERTO AYACUCHO

This town, capital of the territory of Amazonas, is the main jumping off point for tours into the Amazon. The town of about 70,000 also has a few attractions, including an early-morning crafts market (hammocks, mosquito nets, blowguns, etc.) and an ethnology museum. It's a good place to arrange excursions to Parque Tobagan de la Selva (a steep, smooth rock with a water channel—lots of people slide down it, but be careful if you decide to join them), nearby native Indian villages and Cerro Pintado (hard-to-see ancient petroglyphs). Also nearby are jungle lodges, which can be reached by light aircraft. The source of the Orinoco River (at the base of a tepui) is a two-day trek to the southeast, near the Brazilian border. Adventurous travelers can shoot the Orinoco rapids on white-water rafting trips.

Note: Tourists have been kidnapped by Colombian guerrillas along the Venezuelan border with Colombia. Check conditions before traveling to Puerto Ayacucho. 590 mi/950 km south of Caracas.

PUERTO LA CRUZ

This beach town is popular in its own right, in addition to being the gateway to Margarita Island. Regular ferry service and flights operate daily between Puerto la Cruz and the island. The port city (pop. 450,000) has a beautiful hilly setting, a quaint colonial section and good deep-sea fishing. Though an oil port, the waterfront remains fairly clean and the beaches pleasant.

Some of the country's best snorkeling and diving can be found northeast of the city in Mochima National Park, which includes several offshore islands, where there are dazzling arrays of tropical fish in the mangrove-thick waters. (Diving can be arranged locally.) Among the park's best beaches is Playa Colorado, a long strip of reddish sand crowded with coconut trees and visitors. The park is also a good place to observe a variety of shore birds. If you have time, explore the park's cloud forest, with its exotic (though often elusive) wildlife. Puerto la Cruz is about 200 mi/330 km west of Caracas.

SAN CRISTOBAL

Sprawling across the steep foothills of the Andes, this state capital (pop. 350,000) is most famous for its 10-day festival of San Sebastian (held every January). Visitors from dozens of nations congregate there to watch bullfights, folklore shows and sports events. Note the interesting inset tile "posters" on the walls of the city's bullring. The town of Cucuta, Colombia, is only 35 mi/55 km to the west and has a giant shopping center for bargain-hunting Venezuelans. If you're not attending the festival, plan only one night. 500 mi/810 km southwest of Caracas.

VALENCIA

We would spend as little time as possible in this large industrial center. While there are some interesting sites—colonial architecture, an 18th-century cathedral and an enormous bullfighting ring—they're not enough to make it worth spending time in this dirty, crowded, unsafe city. Nearby are the mudbaths and hot sulfur springs at Las Trincheras. The site of the Battle of Carabobo (the decisive fight of the Wars of Independence) is also in the vicinity. 90 mi/145 km southwest of Caracas.

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History

The first European to set foot in the region was Christopher Columbus, who arrived in what is now Venezuela in 1493. Another European, Amerigo Vespucci, the explorer whose name graces the New World, named the country Venezuela, which means "little Venice" in Spanish. The huts built over the water reminded the explorer/cartographer of the Italian city of Venice (he had been at sea for a long time).

Beginning in the late 1700s, under the leadership of Francisco de Miranda, Venezuela began to throw off the yoke of Spanish colonial rule, becoming the first colony in South America to declare its independence. When the Spanish tried to suppress the rebellion, 30-year-old Simon Bolivar entered the fray and slowly changed the course of history on the continent. Bolivar helped to liberate Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and his namesake, Bolivia, and finally Venezuela. The Caracas-born Bolivar remains the most revered historical figure in Venezuela: The major plaza of every town, village and city in Venezuela is called Plaza Bolivar. Even the currency bears his name.

It seems that Venezuela has been struggling ever since to find a truly stable form of government. Following independence, 140 years of instability were necessary to get the last of a series of dictators to step down in favor of a democratically elected government in 1958. The early 1990s saw a number of failed coup attempts against President Carlos Andres Perez, including one led by a revolutionary named Hugo Chavez. Perez was finally impeached in 1993 for stealing US$17 million in public funds. Not long afterward, the country went into an economic tailspin brought on by deficit spending, a bloated bureaucracy and a severe banking crisis. Falling oil prices aggravated the situation. In 1998, Hugo Chavez was elected president, and the erstwhile revolutionary's plans to reorganize the government and revive the economy have met with mixed reviews and results. Though Chavez was reconfirmed as president in 2000, his role and the country's future remain clouded by Venezuela's continued economic turmoil.

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Dining

You'll find good local food as well as a variety of cuisine in the larger cities, including Argentine, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and French. Dinner is generally served late -- around 9 pm.

Venezuelan cuisine makes generous use of both hot and sweet peppers. The national dish appears to be arepa (a kind of cornbread that's stuffed with everything from cheese to octopus). A favorite appetizer is aguacate relleno con camarones, an avocado stuffed with shrimp and served with a sauce similar to Russian dressing. It can also be made with crabmeat or lobster. Every region has a specialty: In Maracaibo (and the Zulia region), for example, meats are often cooked with coconut. Around Lake Maracaibo, the freshwater fish are quite good. In Merida and the Andean regions, trout dishes are popular: The trout there is considered some of the world's best.

Other dishes worth sampling include sancocho (meat and vegetable soup), steak, seafood (especially shrimp and lobster), fish (red snapper), the excellent cascos de guayaba con queso crema (guava dessert) and pabellon (a spicy mixture of shredded meat, beans, rice and plantains). Be on the lookout for a condiment that looks like black jelly: It might be ants. (They're reported to be crunchy and tart.) The tropical fruit is excellent. Also quite good are some of the local drinks, both alcoholic (local beers and mixed drinks) and nonalcoholic (chicha, a milk and rice mixture; batida, which is milk, sugar and fruit pulp; and fruit juices). Note, however, that it's best to avoid the milk drinks in rural areas. Venezuela produces some of the world's finest rum. Popular cocktails are ponche crema, an eggnog drink, and cuba libre, a tall rum drink.

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Shopping

Shop for locally produced ceramics, leather goods, masks and other handicrafts, Venetian-style crystal glass (from the Arte Murano factory), shoes, gold, pearls, tapestries, wood carvings, handmade clothes and coins. An unusual souvenir is the Hand of Fatima (a good-luck charm) that is sold in several different metals.

If you see the letters PVP on an item, it denotes the maximum price allowable -- bargaining is expected to get the price lower. Margarita Island has good shopping, with some of the lowest liquor prices in the Caribbean.

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Climate

The best time to visit Venezuela is December-May, when the weather is at its driest. December and January are especially cool and pleasant. April-September is very warm, and it's usually rainy May-December. In Merida, the weather is best October-June. The Orinoco River area can be more humid and a bit warmer, and the mountain areas will be at least 10 degrees F/5 C cooler (and much colder at high elevations). No matter when you go, be sure to take a sweater -- the evenings are cool most of the year.

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Health

Medical care in Caracas is good at private hospitals and clinics. Cash payment is usually demanded. Most hospitals and clinics, however, accept credit cards. In rural areas outside Caracas, physicians and medical supplies may be scarce.

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Basics

- Capital City: Caracas
- Economy: Industry, petroleum, natural gas, mining, agriculture, fishing.
- Language Description: Spanish (official), but English is spoken in most major hotels and restaurants.
- Passport/Visa U.S.: A valid passport is required of citizens of Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. (tourist cards are issued on flights and cruises before arrival in Venezuela). Reconfirm travel document information with your carrier before departure.
- Population: 23,542,649
- Religion: Christian (Roman Catholic).
- Telephone Codes: 58, country code; 212, Caracas city code; 274, Merida city code -
- Time Zone: 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed
- Tipping Overview: Generally, a 10% service charge is automatically added to your restaurant bill: It is customary to add another 10% as a tip. Cab drivers are not tipped. Bellhops are customarily tipped US$1-$5, depending on the class of hotel.
- Voltage Requirements: 110 volts

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Do's and Don'ts

Do expect to see lots of large U.S.-made cars from the 1970s and 1980s. During the oil boom, when gas was US$.07 per gallon, big cars were an affordable status symbol for Venezuelans. Today, new cars are beyond the economic reach of most citizens, who must get by with their now dilapidated gas guzzlers.

Do be prepared for fast, chaotic traffic. And watch out for motorcyclists—they're often among the most aggressive drivers.

Do expect long lines and repeated security checks when boarding international flights. Check in to all flights as early as possible because overbooking can and does occur. And pay the airport departure tax at a separate window prior to check-in.

Do stop at all national guard checkpoints in the countryside, and have your passport and car papers handy. In fact, be sure to carry your passport with you at all times.

Do be flexible. Many museums, especially in the provinces, are closed after 1 pm or are open on weekends only.

Don't bring Canadian dollars to Venezuela: They're nearly impossible to exchange into local currency.

Don't expect to be served alcoholic beverages if you are younger than 18 years of age.

Don't be surprised by the wide range of costs for food, coffee and drinks. Some prices are controlled in cafes and smaller restaurants, while others are not. There's not much you can do, so grin and bear it.

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Passport & Visa

VISA

Required by all except the following, who do, however, require a Tourist Entry Card (TEC) issued by an authorised air carrier on presentation of valid air tickets (including return or onward ticket) for stays of maximum 90 days:

- nationals of EU countries (except nationals of Greece who do require visas);

- nationals of Australia, Canada, USA and Japan;

- nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, San Marino, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay.

Note:

- Special authorisation is required from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to grant entry to certain nationalities; enquire at the Embassy for details.

- Holders of Business visas must declare any profit incurred during their stay to the Ministry of Finance. It is an offence for holders of Tourist visas and TECs to do business in Venezuela.

PASSPORT

Passport valid for at least 6 months (if entering with a visa) or for the duration of stay (if entering with a Tourist Entry Card) required by all.

IMPORTANT: we cannot held responsible for the correctness of this information.

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