The latest destination to hit our books is Venezuela, a colourful and diverse country on the northern coast of South America bordered by Colombia, Brazil and Guyana. Thanks to this prime location, Venezuela has amazing biodiversity that’s unmatched by anywhere else – made up of the rugged, towering Andes mountains, the snaking Orinoco river and surrounding jungle, arid plains and idyllic Caribbean coastline. This makes for a huge range of activities available to travellers wanting to get off the beaten track during their time here.
Venezuelan natives are proud of their intricate and fascinating culture, and you’ll find them really welcoming hosts. Delicious local food and cold beers are served up at bustling cafes and restaurants, and the wild scenery calls you from all angles. We’re really excited to start sending our intrepid travellers to this fantastic location, and to save you some research we’ve hand-picked some of the most popular activities you just can’t miss when you’re here. It was a tough call to select only ten, but we’ve whittled them down! Read on for the low-down.
Fly over Angel Falls
Let’s start with one of Venezuela’s most celebrated sights! Angel Falls is the world’s tallest single-drop waterfall, standing at a whopping 3212 feet tall at the top of Auyantepui mountain in Canaima National Park, eastern Venezuela. You may hear it referred to as Kerepakupai Vená, or ‘waterfall of the highest place’ in the local Pemon language. Auyantepui is a great mountain for trekking, but for the less athletic loads of guided tours and boat trips are available from nearby Ciudad Bolívar. If you feel like splashing out (groan), regular fly-bys can be scheduled in a tiny plane; a birds-eye view is the best way to take in the full majesty of this waterfall.
Fun fact: The falls’ beauty inspired the plot of 2009 Disney film ‘Up’ – can you see the resemblance?
Wildlife spotting on the Orinoco Delta
The vast Orinoco River meets the Atlantic Ocean with a fan-shaped delta called the Orinoco – and round here, you’ll find some of the most diverse wildlife Venezuela has to offer. Over sixty broad tributaries are home to cayman, catfish and even piranha, and in the lush surrounding jungle you could spot puma, parrots, hummingbirds and howler monkeys amongst thousands of other exotic species. We recommend exploring these teeming waters with a canoeing or kayaking expedition in the style of the native Warao people, camping overnight and cooking traditional local foods as you travel with the tide! Our Venezuela Explorer Adventure includes expert kayak lessons and support from experienced staff, so all you’ve got to worry about is resisting the urge to stick your hands in the water at the side of the canal (the rumours about piranhas, we hear, are true).
Fun fact: The native Warao people still live on the banks of the Orinoco today, navigating the waterways in dug-out canoes and sleeping in wall-less, thatched roof huts on stilts above the surface.
Eat everything!
Like much of South American cuisine, Venezuelan food is a delicious mix of indigenous, European and even African influences, prepared using the fresh and plentiful locally-grown produce that the good farming conditions allow. After all that exploring, it’s time to fill your belly! By the coast you’ll find some of the best seafood around, and across the country trout is commonly prepared due to its abundance in various freshwater rivers. Meat is generally of a really high standard and there’s lots of corn, plantain, beans and fresh fruit and vegetables – you’ve got to try empanadas, fried stuffed corn patties with fillings that vary by region; cow tongue, soft white cheese, minced meat and even shark meat.
Fun fact: a lot of Venezuelan cuisine is heavily influenced by French, Italian and Spanish food, due to the country’s colonial history.
Chill out at Parque Nacional Mochima
Mochima National Park lies on the northeast coast (that’s the Caribbean, you guys) and it’s a beach bum’s heaven. White sand beaches border the azure water, and if you cast your eyes out to the horizon you can spot hundreds of tiny, undiscovered islands that are perfect for birdwatching, snorkelling, sunbathing and scuba diving. Spend your time here being as lazy or as lively as you like – there are coral reefs and secluded coves to discover, as well as sleepy beachside bars to raise a drink at and sample some delicious local food. There are camping expeditions to join in with if you fancy spending the night on a secret islet under the stars (and you’ve never seen stars like these)!
Fun fact: The local beach ‘Playa Colorada’ is famous for its deep golden sand which in some lights looks almost red; this gives it its name in the local language, ‘coloured beach’.
Soak up the culture in Mérida
The city of Mérida, photo credit: http://bit.ly/1AYdle9
Officially known as Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérid (Mérida is fine though), this bustling town sits on a tableland in the Chama River valley in the northwest against the striking backdrop of snow-capped Pico Bolívar, Venezuela’s tallest peak. It’s a University town and comes with the usual trappings; excellent restaurants, cafes and bars and fascinating museums and galleries and historic buildings to learn about the local culture. Enjoy the weather in one of the city’s many parks and outdoor spaces, or take advantage of its prime location to head out into the nearby Los Llanos (see next point). The mountainous surrounds make a great starting point for adventure, and the local area is really rich in traditional Andean culture – perfect for those wanting to really get under the skin of Venezuela.
Fun fact: Mérida is also known as the City of Gentlemen, due to the high education level and subsequent standard of living historically enjoyed by its residents.
Head out to Los Llanos
The vast Los Llanos (The Plains) is an enormous grassland plain that spans from Venezuela across to bordering Colombia, and is home to loads of amazing wildlife. If you’re nearby, it’s well worth taking a guided trip out to the sprawling plains – but watch when you visit, as in the wet season large portions become submerged in up to a metre of water. When it’s dry, you could spot anteaters, scarlet Ibis, deer, wildcats and even the massive green anaconda, which is native to these parts.
Fun fact: In the past, Los Llanos was home to cattle farmers who herded their animals continuously across the plains. You can still join them for horse riding excursions etc; this is a really good way to see the area.
Party on Isla de Margarita
This lively island is situated off the northeast coast of Venezuela, in the state of Nueva Esparta. It’s Venezuela’s largest island, and it’s the place to go if you want to eat, drink and be merry. The principal town, Porlamar, is a hive of activity where you can sample the freshest seafood, quaff local beers and dance late into the night – then, hit up some of the 104 miles of pristine Caribbean coastline to recover with a swim in the sparkling sea. Its mountainous areas are home to mangrove swamps and forests teeming with yet more wildlife. Though there aren’t any direct flights, there are regular internal charters and ferries to Isla de Margarita to take advantage of.
Fun fact: Around the 16th century, Isla de Margarita was continually targeted by notorious pirates due to the abundance of pearls in the surrounding waters!
Discover an underwater world
The crystal clear waters that run along Venezuela’s Caribbean coastline are the ideal place to discover your mermaid tail. Simply pick up a cheap snorkel and float along the surface of the water, or pick up a brand new skill with expert scuba tuition, available at many resorts for a small fee. With just a few hours’ teaching, you could be wet-suited up and heading off into the briny blue to gaze on the kind of underwater wonders usually reserved for Blue Planet!
Fun fact: the ocean surrounding Venezuela is home to over 450 species of fish, as well as numerous endangered turtle species, protected coral and even manatee and humpback whales.
Explore the eerie beauty of Mount Roraima
The flat-topped mountains of Canaima National Park are thought to be some of the oldest rock formations on earth, and Mount Roraima sits firmly on Venezuela’s border with Guyana. Native people believe the mountain is the stump of an ancient, gigantic felled tree, and it’s easy to see why. Sheer perpendicular rock faces plunge down from the vast plateau at the top, which is home to hundreds of species of endemic plants that thrive in the unique eco-system (it rains every day!). For some unbeatable trekking it’s best to approach from the Venezuelan side, accompanied by a native guide if possible for some expert insight on the history and culture surrounding Roraima. Adventurous souls may want to try their hand at climbing or abseiling down the enormous cliffs, but this isn’t for the faint-hearted!
Fun fact: This amazing structure is thought to have inspired Arthur Conan Doyle’s book ‘The Lost World’.
Get your pulse racing
Venezuela is an extreme sports enthusiast’s dream! The vast waterways provide the perfect playground for adventurous souls and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains even become a haven for ski enthusiasts at certain times of year. If you fancy turning it up a notch, why not try your hand at paragliding, canyoning (abseiling down waterfalls) or white water rafting? On our Venezuela Internship, our expert in-country staff will be able to organise all these excursions for you and it’s surprisingly affordable.
Fun fact: Gigantic Angel Falls has recently become the latest must-do destination for bold base-jumpers to descend. We’ll pass, thanks.
There’s more fantastic activities in Venezuela than you can shake a stick at, and we’re sure that any time spent there will be filled with excitement and awe at some of the most striking natural beauty in the world. Get in touch with us today if you’d like to try your hand at teaching in Venezuela with LoveTEFL, or read our ‘Teaching English in Venezuela‘ page to find out more about what it’s really like to teach here.