Things To Do In Venezuela

Take a scenic flight or motorised canoe trip to the foot of Angel Falls (Salto Angel), the world’s highest waterfall, in the southeast. The falls have an uninterrupted drop of 979m (3,212ft), which is about 16 times the height of Niagara Falls. Access to the falls is fairly difficult (there is no road link) and involves a flight to Canaima first (the main tourist base, some 50km (31.5 miles) northwest of the falls). The canoe trip operates from June to November, the rainy season, and takes approximately two days.

• Explore Venezuela’s parks. There are over 40 national parks and around 20 nature reserves (monumentos naturales). Parque Nacional El Avila includes around 200km (125 miles) of fairly easy, signposted trails, as well as numerous camping grounds.

• Try mountain trekking or rock climbing in the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, where several of the country’s highest peaks (such as the Pico Bolívar or the Pico Humboldt) and the magnificent Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada are located. Experienced guides and equipment can be hired in Mérida, the regional tourist hub. Other popular trekking destinations in the area include Los Nevados (reached via an easy trek along a beautiful mountain track); Pico El Aguila (accessible from Valera, which can be reached on a bus ride from Mérida along Venezuela’s highest road); and the Sierra de la Culata (particularly known for its desert-like landscapes).

• Board the world’s longest and highest cable car (teleferico), which runs for 12.6km (7.9 miles) from Mérida to the top of Pico Espejo (4,765m/15,629ft), and provides easy access to starting points for mountain treks.

• Swim, surf, snorkel or dive at Isla de Margarita, some 40km (25 miles) off the mainland north of Cumaná. Another good spot is the Parque Nacional Mochima, consisting of a wealth of islands and islets, some of which, such as the Isla de Plata (the most developed), are surrounded by coral reefs.

• Take a boat trip through the mangrove caños (channels) of Parque Nacional Morroy in the northwest, or sail to the park’s islands (two of the best known are Cayo Sombrero and Chichiriviche). The fishing, both fresh- and salt-water, is good.

• Head underground to the Cueva del Guácharo, the most spectacular of Venezuela’s many cave systems, located three hours by bus from Cumaná.

• Enjoy the novelty of skiing in the tropics. The Cordillera de Mérida are the only peaks in the country with a permanent snowline. The Sierra Nevada National Park offers opportunities to ski between November and June but, at an altitude of 4,270m (14,000ft), this is recommended only for the hardiest and most dedicated.

• Climb Mount Roraima, suggested as the site of Conan Doyle’s Lost World. A fortnight’s supplies and full camping equipment should be taken as the trip can take up to two weeks.

• Spend a day at the races. Caracas has South America’s largest and most modern horse racing track – La Rinconada.

• Head for the Caribbean coastal resorts. Maiquetia is one of the best and most popular, offering wide beaches, an extensive range of watersports and some of the best fishing (including an international competition for the giant blue sailfish). There are daily air-shuttles from Maiquetia to Porlamar, on Margarita Island. Also to the west of Caracas are Macuto, Marbella, Naiguata, Carabelleda, Leguna and Oriaco, all of which boast excellent beaches. To the north of Maiquetia are the idyllic islands of Los Roques.

• Pass through the 1,130m (3,710ft) Portachuelo Pass to the coastal resorts of Ocumare de la Costa and Cata. The coastline here is dotted with fine beaches and islands, many inhabited only by flamingos and scarlet ibis. Most can be reached by hired boat. Morrocoy, off the coast from Tucacas, is the most spectacular of these – hundreds of coral reefs with palm beaches ideal for scuba-diving and fishing.

• Enjoy the popular coastal resort of Puerto la Cruz, a good centre for travelling to remoter beaches. There is the Morro marina development in the Lecherías area adjacent to Puerto la Cruz, and the attractive town of Pueblo Viejo with ‘old’ Caribbean architecture and a Venetian lagoon layout – boats are the only means of transport.