Venezuela

Venezuela - is a country of striking natural beauty and dramatic contrasts: the snowcapped peaks of the Andes in the west, and steamy Amazonian jungles in the south; the hauntingly beautiful Gran Sabana plateau, with its strange flat-topped mountains, in the east, and 3,000 km of white-sand beaches fringed with coconut palms line the Caribbean coast. South America's largest lake, Lake Maracaibo, and third-longest river, the Orinoco, are also here, and the country boasts the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls. It is also home to a wide variety of exotic plants and animals, including the jaguar, ocelot, tapir, armadillo, anteater, and the longest snake in the world, the anaconda.

Environment - Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America, north of Brazil and between Colombia and Guyana. The south east 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 north-east, surrounded by marshy, fertile lowlands. South of the lake, rise the northern end of the Andes, known here as the Cordillera de Los Andes, which climb to 5,007 metres at Pico Bolívar. Boggy highland meadows in the Andes, known as páramos, are home to some of Venezuela's most amazing plant species. Equally diverse flora can be found on the tepuis (huge flat-topped mountains) in the south-east of the country, particularly Roraima.

Culture - Roman Catholicism is by far the dominant religion in Venezuela, and has been adopted by most indigenous people - only those living in isolated regions still practise their ancient tribal beliefs. The Protestant church has a significant presence, and recently has been gaining some ground, attracting adherents from the Catholic Church. An unusual and obscure pantheistic sect, known as the Cult of María Lionza, exists in the north-west and combines pre-Hispanic indigenous creeds, African voodoo and Christian religious practices.
Spanish is spoken by almost all Venezuelans, though some 25 indigenous tongues are spoken by remote tribes. English is spoken by some people in urban centres.

Visual arts and handicrafts are popular in Venezuela, but the country's most distinctive cultural outlet is probably its music, which is an eclectic blend of European, African and indigenous rhythms. Theatre is growing in popularity, and there is an active literary scene, especially among the younger generation.

Venezuelan snacks and dishes (referred to as comida criolla) consist mainly of pancakes, chicken, pork, beef, soups and stews. Travellers should look out for restaurants which serve menú del día, a very cheap set meal consisting of soup and a main course. Local specialities include empanadas (deep-fried cornmeal turnovers with fillings of ground meat, cheese, beans or baby shark) and pabellón criollo (Venezuela's national dish which consists of shredded beef, rice, black beans, cheese and fried plantain).

Events - The country's largest, most exuberant festival is Carnaval, which takes place on the Monday and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday. Characterised by music, dancing, parades and masquerades, the flavour of the event varies from region to region. The town of Carúpano is famous throughout the country for its elaborately staged Carnaval. Given the strong Roman Catholic character of Venezuela, most other national celebrations are tied to the Christian calendar. Apart from Easter, Christmas and Corpus Christi, which are celebrated enthusiastically, there are many saints' days spread over the calendar year.

Warning - There have been reports of violence in remote areas along the Colombian border in Zulia, Tachira, Apure and Amazonas states. If venturing into these regions, contact your embassy to assess the security risk. 

Attractions: 

Rio Orinoco - The third-longest river in South America, the Orinoco covers about 2,150 km from its source near the Brazilian border in the south of the country to its wide, flooded delta on the north-east coast. The myriad forested islands which make up the delta are home to the Warao people, who live on the riverbanks in houses on stilts, travel mostly by canoe, and earn their livelihood from fishing.  

The Venezuelan Andes - The verdant mountains of the Sierra Nevada de Merida are the northernmost tip of the Andes range, and lie in the northwestern reaches of Venezuela. Dotted with small villages whose inhabitants still follow a traditional lifestyle, the mountain trails reward the more adventurous and energetic traveller with stunning views of the snowcapped peaks. The pleasant, friendly town of Merida, nestled in the mountains just 12 km from the country's highest peak, Pico Bolívar, is one of Venezuela's most popular tourist destinations. 

The Caribbean Coast - The north-east coast is the place to go for outdoor activities such as snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing, sailing or just lying around and enjoying the sun. The county's beaches are at their idyllic best here - long expanses of white sand lapped by turquoise waters and fringed with coconut palms. Isla Margarita, 40 km from the mainland, is a favourite for beach-lovers and a popular holiday destination for Venezuelans. It is easily accessible by ferry from Cumaná and Puerto La Cruz on the mainland. 

Coro - Situated on the Caribbean coast at the base of the Península de Paraguaná, Coro is a pleasant, peaceful, cultured town with some of the best colonial architecture in Venezuela. Founded in 1527, it was one of the earliest colonial settlements on the continent, but most of the interesting architecture dates from the 18th century when Coro flourished as a contraband centre trading with the islands of Curaçao and Bonaire. The historic town centre was declared a national monument in the 1950s and a number of buildings have been restored. The cobblestoned Calle Zamora is the most beautiful colonial street with spectacular old mansions. Other attractions include the Catedral and the Museo de Arte Coro. 

The Amazonian Jungle - The Amazonas region in the south of the country is thick with tropical rainforest, criss-crossed by rivers, and is home to a number of isolated Indian tribes. Tours up the Orinoco, Sipapo or Autana rivers and deep into the Venezuelan Amazon can be arranged from the hot but pleasant town of Puerto Ayacucho. 

Activities - Venezuela's 40-odd national parks provide a great range of treks from well-signposted jaunts to jungle paths that should not be attempted without a machete and some local knowledge. Parque Nacional El Ávila, which looms over Caracas, is probably a good place to start; head for Guatopo, Terepaima and San Esteban for less developed trails. The Sierra Nevada de Mérida is the best region in the country for mountaineering, hill trekking and rock climbing; guides and equipment are available for hire. Mérida is also the best place to go hang-gliding and paragliding. There are beautiful beaches and snorkelling opportunities all along the Caribbean coast. Tucacas is the best diving centre. Speleologists should check out Cueva del Guácharo, the most spectacular of Venezuela's many cave systems. It's a three-hour bus ride inland from Cumana.

Getting There & Away - Flights to Caracas are readily available from the US and the UK. From Australia and New Zealand, round-the-world tickets may be the cheapest and most flexible option. Flying into the country from other South or Central American destinations can be problematic and/or very costly. Be sure to research your options thoroughly.

Entry by sea is possible via the US, where travellers can take a cargo ship from one of several ports on the Gulf of Mexico. Alternatively, ferries run from the Lesser Antilles, but there is no longer any service between Venezuela and the Netherlands Antilles.

By land, there are road connections from Colombia and Brazil, but not from Guyana. Travellers planning to use the dangerous El Amparo de Apure-Arauca border crossing or the Puerto Páez-Puerto Carreño crossing into Colombia should consult their embassy to assess the security situation. Colombian guerilla attacks on Venezuelan army posts resulted in a confrontational build up of troops on both sides of the border in March 1995.

Getting Around - Avensa is Venezuela's main domestic airline, and has a network of routes servicing 24 cities. There are half-a-dozen or so smaller carriers which service regional areas.

The lack of railways means that buses are the primary form of transport through most of Venezuela, and services are generally fast, efficient and comfortable. There are frequent buses from the main Caracas bus terminal to almost every corner of the country, and prices are kept fairly low by the high level of competition.

Driving or motorbiking give you added flexibility, but it's expensive both to take a car into the country or to rent one while you're there. Additionally, be aware that road rules are rarely observed by local drivers, which could make the undertaking somewhat hazardous. Stops at national guard and police checkpoints are common and travellers should follow instructions and be prepared to show papers or be searched. Be polite and compliant; those resisting searches have, in the past, been shot.

Local transport includes cheap but crowded bus services and inexpensive shared taxis. Caracas has a modern, efficient and cheap metro.