🌴 From Andalusia to the Amazon: the unique nature of Venezuela 🦜

Last updated Mar 4, 2025

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To the question: “What do you know about Venezuela?” — the majority will answer that there are picturesque landscapes and gorgeous beaches. And… that's it. This is where many people’s knowledge about the distant South American country ends. Yes, Venezuela is filled with a variety of pristine wildlife: mountains, forests, jungles, tropical deltas, coastal wilderness. But there are many more reasons why you should add a visit to this country to your travel plans.

Facts about the country

Venezuela is a federal republic with a population of almost 32 million people. It is located in South America and is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, bordering Colombia, Guyana and Brazil. Off the coast of Venezuela there are the Islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Trinidad and Tobago.
The main language of the local population is Spanish. Located at the intersection of Indian, Spanish and African traditions, Venezuela has become a true museum of different eras and cultural influences. In addition to the noticeable Spanish and Caribbean influence on the local culture, some of it is borrowed from Italian, German, Portuguese and even Arab traditions and customs.
Venezuela has a tropical climate with high humidity, especially along the coast and in low-lying areas. However, the country's mountains are much cooler, with temperatures dropping to 9°C. The rainy season in Venezuela lasts from May to December, and the hurricane season lasts from June to November.
For almost three centuries, Venezuela was a European colony until the republic gained independence from Spain in the mid-19th century. The colonial past is still evident in both the architecture and the way of life of the Venezuelans. The locals are famous for their leisurely pace, friendliness and noisy celebrations.
At frequent festivals, fairs and carnivals, one of the main entertainments is bullfighting. Several times a year, the country's hotels are overcrowded with tourists from all over the world who come here for the holidays. At the same time, guests of the country do not have to deny themselves anything – only $100 is enough for a few days' stay.
The country's currency is the Venezuelan bolivar. There are ATMs in the country and they are quite common, but not all of them accept foreign cards. But due to prolonged inflation, prices for tourists here are very affordable: a place in a hostel will cost only $3-5 per day.
Public transport in Venezuela can hardly be called safe, and therefore most travelers prefer to use taxis. But remember: the cars do not have meters, so negotiate the fare before boarding.

Safety

It is difficult to say that Venezuela is suitable for solo tourists. Political unrest sometimes occurs in the republic, and some places are undesirable for tourists to visit. There is a chance to be left without cash, documents and jewelry worn unwisely. It is better to get a local guide who knows the country and its cultural characteristics well, or use the services of travel companies. Then your trip will be not only interesting and exciting, but also safe. The situation with political unrest is also changing, but it is still best to plan your trip by keeping a close eye on the news. Keep in mind that foreign media rarely publish up-to-date information on this matter. Basically, they inform about past events.

National cuisine

The main foodstuffs are rice, sweet potatoes, and legumes. But the fertile soil and hot climate of Venezuela make it possible to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables, some of which foreign tourists hear about for the first time. One such exotic vegetable is caigua, also known as Peruvian cucumber. It has an elongated shape and an elongated smooth green, yellow or brown peel. Caigua contains pulp with a sweet taste and delicate texture, which is why Venezuelans often use it in salads and desserts.

In general, Venezuelan cuisine has not been spared the influence of Spanish and Italian cuisines, but purely Indian traditions have also been preserved. Locals eat corn a lot and often, which is used to prepare one of the main national dishes – arepa, or fried corn pie with filling.

Another popular dish is asado – meat, most often beef, is fried and served with a sauce based on parsley, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. For a snack, Venezuelan cuisine offers empanadas – fried pies filled with meat, cheese or fish.

Venezuelans love sweets, so desserts are often included on the menu. Every traveler must try arequipe, a sweet that the locals prepare using condensed milk. Or Tres Leches – a three-layer cake based on it. The traditional drink throughout Latin America is atole, consisting of corn flour, cinnamon and sugar.

Attractions

Caracas is the capital of Venezuela and is therefore the starting point for many tourist routes, including visits to the Caribbean islands. The city is famous for its modern architecture, fine restaurants, museums and parks. A tour of the capital of Venezuela will take several days, but will allow you to see the city in all its glory. Those interested in history are advised to familiarize themselves with the unique architecture here.

There are museums and monuments dedicated to national hero Simon Bolivar throughout the republic, including Caracas. Caracas's many Catholic churches are reminders of Venezuela's colonial past, but the oldest is in Valencia, the capital of the state of Carabobo.

And another city, Merida, is known as the center of adventure sports in Venezuela. Hiking, rafting, mountain biking or paragliding and much more awaits lovers of nature and outdoor activities.

Nature

Venezuela is known for its many national parks and wildlife reserves open to tourists. Among them, it is worth noting the El Guacharo Park, Morrocoy, where you can enjoy views of coral reefs, as well as the Canaima Park with amazing steep mountains, popular among nature lovers.

In addition, Canaima has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the sixth largest park in the world. The highest mountain in this park is Roraima. It has a special, sacred meaning for the indigenous people of the Pemon tribe.

Venezuelans are proud of the tallest waterfall in the world. Angel Falls is located in Canaima National Park on the Rio Grande River. It borders Guyana and Brazil. Its height is about 979 meters and its width is 150 meters. This is a popular place among tourists, attracting with its mesmerizing beauty. The park offers helicopter tours for those who want to see it from a bird's eye view.

No less popular and famous is Bolivar Peak. Being the highest point in Venezuela, it reaches an altitude of 4978 meters. Climbing this peak is part of a popular hiking route. The nearby Esperjo Peak can be reached by cable car, which is more than 12 km long.

Margaret Island

The beaches and bays of Venezuela are loved by divers from all over the world. One of the most famous wind surfing centers is located on Margarita Island, not far from the mainland. This is an ideal place for lovers of active recreation – scuba diving and kitesurfing. The island is deservedly called the Pearl of the Caribbean. And not only because of its beauty: pearl mining began here in ancient times.

After relaxing on the beach, you can go to the mountains, visit caves with stalactites, walk through the tropical jungle and the Los Medanos de Coro desert. Eternal summer reigns on Margarita. The sea washing the shores of the island is restless and playful, especially on El Agua beach. In numerous coves, including the famous Cayo Sombrero, there is a chance to see dolphins, whales and green sea turtles.

Porlamar is the main tourist town of the island, modern and with well-developed infrastructure. There is everything here: restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, shopping centers, water parks, a large number of shops and even a casino. For those who prefer a relaxing holiday or want to recover after long walks and travels around the island, inexpensive hotels with quality service and all-inclusive meals await you here.

So, you can take advantage of one of the offers from the travel company Tiqets.com. The three-star Surf Paradise Hotel is located on the southern coast of Margarita Island. It invites guests to watch the sunset from its terrace overlooking the beach. There is a restaurant and bar on site. There, guests can enjoy a truly heavenly sea, and El Yaque Beach is widely known for its ideal conditions for kitesurfing.

There are even more expensive options on Tiqets.com. One of these is the five-star Hesperia Isla Margarita hotel. It is located in perhaps the greenest corner of the island. Surrounded by a park and located just 300 meters from the beach of Playa Puerto Viejo.

The cost of an 11-night tour at the time of publication will cost $2,476. The hotel provides guests with bars, restaurants, an outdoor pool, a gym and a spa at full disposal. For the little ones there is a children's club on site, so children definitely won't be bored.