Travel in Venezuela - INTI Tours

Table mountains and dream beaches

Venezuela is an incredibly diverse destination. About 60% of the country is considered a protected natural region and there are 43 national parks, which puts Venezuela at the forefront of conservation in North and South America. The country is known for the highest free-falling waterfall in the world - the so-called Angel Fall - as well as for the impressive table mountains of the Gran Sabana with their endemic flora. In addition, there is the fascinating river system of the Orinoco Delta, beaches on the Caribbean coast with dreamlike islands off the coast, jungle with the best animal observation opportunities, the Andes with snow mountains and pretty small towns. Actually a wonderful travel destination - just not in the current time!

For security reasons, we are not offering any tours in Venezuela at the moment! When the situation has changed again, you will find wonderful travel options here.

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Country information Absolutely worth seeing Facts and figures Travel in Venezuela Addresses

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Our types of travel in Venezuela

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Country information on VENEZUELA: "Diversity and uniqueness"

Venezuela is located in the very north of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, Guyana to the east and the Caribbean Sea forms the natural border to the north. The country has about 2,800 kilometres of coastline. Of the total area, about 39 % is forested, 20 % consists of meadows and pastures, and 4 % is fields and arable land. Venezuela is one of the most diverse travel regions on earth, with its mainland and offshore Caribbean islands, desert and species-rich rainforest, snow-capped mountains and mysterious dripstone caves. You can experience heat as well as snow, explore state-of-the-art world metropolises or discover villages with indigenous people. With over 60% protected natural areas, Venezuela is a pioneer in all of North and South America, and the diversity of these natural treasures in the 912,000 square kilometres of national territory is enormous. Diverse ecosystems create an incredible variety of species and biodiversity with many endemic species, genera and families of plants and animals. There is a variant on the origin of the country name Venezuela, among others: The sailors Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda were travelling along the northwestern coast in 1499 and marvelled at the pile dwellings of the indigenous population near the Guajira Peninsula. These probably reminded Vespucci of the city of Venezia and as a result the region was named Venezuela, meaning Little Venice.  

Capital Caracas: 

The capital of Venezuela is beautifully situated in the coastal mountains in the very north of the country at just under 800 to just over 900 metres above sea level. The so-called Caracas Valley is separated from the Caribbean Sea, which is about ten kilometres away from the city centre as the crow flies, by the Ávila mountain range, which is over 2,000 metres high. The city lies within the tropics and has a correspondingly warm and humid climate. A good 2 million people live in Venezuela's largest metropolis, including the outlying districts Caracas has a population of around 3 million. The city was founded by the Spanish in 1567 under the original name Santiago de León de Carácas. It became the capital of a Spanish general capitanate and the seat of the governor. Around 1750, the city flourished due to the increasing export of cocoa. The city was repeatedly hit by earthquakes, which is why it no longer has many colonial buildings worth mentioning. From 1930, the oil rush brought a population explosion to the city and it is the financial and industrial centre of Venezuela. 
Due to the current situation, Caracas is currently considered very dangerous.

Absolutely worth seeing:

• Cable car to the top of the Ávila Mountains. The Ávila National Park borders Caracas and separates the sea from the city. There is a fantastic view of Caracas on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other from the top.
• The colonial flair in Caracas can only be found in various church buildings, e.g. Iglesia San Francisco, Iglesia de Santa Teresa, Iglesia Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria, Iglesia Ortodoxa Rumana de San Constantino y Santa Elena, etc. 
• Guided tours are available "in the footsteps of the freedom hero Simon Bolivar" - Plaza Bolívar with the city cathedral, the government palace and the city hall - Bolívar's birthplace - the Palacio Federal, where the golden keys to Bolívar's mausoleum are kept.
• Caracas has several art museums worth seeing, including the beautiful art museum Museo de Bellas Artes, the museum of contemporary art Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, the National Art Gallery, the Museo de la Estampa y del Diseno Carlos Cruz-Diez and others.
• Art combined with delicious food in beautiful rural surroundings can be experienced at the Hacienda La Trinidad Parque Cultural.
• You can stroll through the botanical garden on foot.
• An excursion to the El Ávila National Park with a visit to the small villages of San José de Galipán and San Isidro de Galipán by jeep excursion is worthwhile. 
• A must is a trip to Henri Pittier National Park. The variety of landscapes is intoxicating: coastal cordillera with enchanted forests, sandy beaches with palm trees and blue Caribbean sea with bathing beaches. There are many different excursion sites within the national park with very good hiking opportunities.

The Andean region of Venezuela:

In Venezuela, the Andes stretch from Barquisimeto on the coast to San Cristobál on the Colombian border. The peaks of the Venezuelan Andes reach an altitude of almost 5,000 metres. Most of the population lives in the fertile valleys between the mountains. Industry and agriculture are concentrated here. The rugged mountain ranges of the Andes on the Colombian border, on the other hand, are the least populated region. The most important peaks are Pico Bolívar (4,978 m.a.s.l.) and Pico Humboldt (4,942 m.a.s.l.). The landscape of the lower Andean slopes is characterised by tropical agriculture and humid cloud forests. From 3,000 metres above sea level, the páramo begins, the forest-free high mountain formation of the Andes. Typical of the páramo are the frailejones, the national flower of the Andes. In their main flowering season from November to December, they enchant the páramo with their bright yellow blossom. Almost 400 moraine lakes, where mainly trout are farmed, are embedded in the north-western slopes of the Venezuelan Andes and invite you to go hiking.

Absolutely worth seeing: 

• The Andean metropolis of Mérida is often called the "roof of Venezuela" as well as the "city of perpetual spring". The small highland and student town lies at an altitude of 1,630 metres and has beautiful colonial architecture. The so-called Merida Railway runs as a cable car from the outskirts of Mérida to Pico Espejo at 4,765 metres above sea level in the immediate vicinity of Venezuela's highest mountain, Pico Bolívar. The view from the railway station and its surroundings of the surrounding snowy peaks is unique. From Mérida, a variety of excursions and outdoor activities can be undertaken in the surrounding Andes mountains, e.g. hiking, mountaineering, paragliding, rafting, canyoning and mountain biking. 
• The Sierra Nevada de Mérida National Park protects a breathtaking mountain massif with beautiful lagoons and rich, diverse vegetation. Mountaineers can climb the two snow giants Pico Humboldt and Pico Bolívar, and hikers get their money's worth.
• The mountainous Sierra de la Culata National Park attracts visitors with its 200 or so lagoons, moss-covered cloud forest at lower altitudes and a barren, majestic mountain world. While hiking, one discovers a rich flora, especially fascinating are the graceful, tall-growing, so-called frailejones with their beautiful yellow flowers. Besides highland trekking into the glacier world up to Pico Espejo, easier walks through the valleys are also possible.

Venezuela's northwest:
Paraguaná is Venezuela's largest peninsula and is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land about five kilometres long, the so-called Istmo de los Médanos. Here, with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius a year, enormous heat and barren desert vegetation with cacti and thorn bushes spread out. Only in the north of the peninsula can lush vegetation develop. This region and part of the Coro coast were declared the Los Médanos de Coro National Park in 1974, and a visit is especially worthwhile because of the bizarre beauty of the high, rust-red shifting sand dunes. The dune area only spreads out over about five to ten kilometres. The sand dunes constantly change shape during their migrations, as there is always a constant dry wind blowing. This extraordinary Venezuelan landscape is not unlike the African desert and during hikes one can easily get the impression of being in a vast desert region. Lake Maracaibo is located at the northern end of the Andean Cordillera. With its 13,820 square kilometres, it is considered the largest lake in Latin America and has a connection to the open sea. The Escalante, Santa Ana and Catatumbo rivers flow into this lake. The latter is the eponym for the worldwide unique light phenomenon "Weatherglow of the Catatumbo" at Lake Maracaibo. Venezuela's richest oil reserves are stored under the eastern shore of Lake Maracaibo.

Absolutely worth seeing:

• The Los Médanos de Coro National Park, which translates as "The Sand Dunes of Coro", covers an area of only about 90,000 hectares, making it Venezuela's smallest national park. Nevertheless, measured by sand deposits, the dunes belong to the top fifth of all deserts in the world. They are also said to be among the highest, with maximum heights of 25-40 metres. A walk through the dune landscape in the morning or evening light is spectacular.
• The pretty town of Coro is located just south of the Los Médanos de Coro National Park and is particularly impressive because of its attractive old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The Ciénagas de Juan Manuel National Park is a marshy landscape of flooded and tropical forests. The main attraction of the "Swamps of Catatumbo" is a unique weather phenomenon: especially during the rainy season, the spectacular weather glow on the lake surface can be seen - best if you stay in a pile-dwelling accommodation directly at the lake. The village of Puerto Concha is the starting point for boat safaris through the jungle and canal landscapes with the best animal observation opportunities. The national park is home to about 20,000 different bird species, river dolphins, tapirs, red howler monkeys, toucans, parrots, tigers and pumas.

Venezuela's Northeast:

In the north-east of Venezuela, a dream landscape spreads out along the foothills of the coastal cordillera with bays and beaches embedded in palm groves and the lush vegetation of the dark green sierra. Fishing villages string together, sleepy colonial towns have survived the centuries, and nature awaits its explorers in the Mochima National Park. The region is easy to reach from Caracas, so the locals like to use this Caribbean paradise at weekends and during the holiday months. Accordingly, the infrastructure has been well developed. The flat coastal zone of the Araya and Paria peninsulas with views as far as Trinidad and Tobago is quieter. Pure Caribbean!

Absolutely worth seeing: 

• The beaches of the Paria Peninsula are among the most beautiful in the country. Wonderful palm beaches and crystal-coloured water can be found at Playa Curumiche, Playa Pui Puy, Hermosa Playa Rosada, Playa de Uva and Playa Medina. From Playa Medina you can go hiking to Cerro de la Cerbatana or take a boat trip to beaches further east. The one not far to the east, which is even more unspoilt, can also be reached by car along the same route as to Playa Medina. Further east are Playa de Plata and even more remote Playa de Sipara and Playa Los Cocos. Hikes to the mountains El Humo and Patao can be undertaken.
• In the northeast, the Mochima National Park extends between the coastal towns of Puerto La Cruz and Cumaná over many islands and islets out to sea. The national park was founded in 1973 and encompasses two Venezuelan states. In Anzoáequi in the west, it mainly protects the diversity under water, while in the eastern state of Sucre it also includes the flora and fauna of the coastal regions. At dawn or dusk, dolphins and whales even cavort in Mochima Bay. Famous for its densely populated coral reefs, divers and snorkellers in particular will find a first-class holiday destination in the country's second oldest marine reserve. The most distant island is Isla de las Aves, about 500 kilometres from the mainland. The best-known tourist islands are Los Roques and Isla de Margarita. There are boat trips to uninhabited islands and hiking opportunities in the rainforest-covered mountains of the Turimiquire chain.
• Laguna de la Restinga National Park is a mangrove area on Isla de Margarita. It lies north of the narrow headland that connects the main island with the Macanao peninsula. By boat, you pass colourful mangrove forests, lagoons, canals, pelicans and cormorants through the peculiar wilderness. In the eastern part of the Caribbean island lies the Cerro El Copey National Park. At 957 metres, Cerro El Copey is the highest elevation on the island and is easy to hike up.
• The most beautiful beaches in Venezuela are Playa Medina, beaches in the Morrocoy National Park and Los Roques.
• The Parque Nacional El Guácharo is located about 140 km southeast of the coast. The stalactite cave of the fat swallows was already discovered by Alexander von Humboldt. The birds' tallow was once used as lamp oil by the indigenous peoples. Even the journey is fun, as you pass through an attractive subtropical plant world. The fascinating visit to the cave world is a special experience.

Venezuela's East:

In the very east of Venezuela, between the southern foothills of the state of Monagas, the Guayanés mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean, lies the Delta region. The Orinoco is the fourth largest river in the world and the second largest in South America. The catchment area covers about one million square kilometres and lies just north of the equator. It is partly bordered by the Andes and the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy and covered by tropical rainforest and wet savannahs. About two-thirds of it lies in Venezuelan territory and about one-third in Colombia. The Orinoco Delta National Park is a vast, branching labyrinth of waterways winding through tropical jungle at the eastern coastal end of Venezuela, where countless river branches pour into the Atlantic Ocean. In between lie numerous large and countless small islands, where a very species-rich fauna has developed. In 1800, the German explorer Alexander von Humboldt and the French botanist Aimé Bonpland undertook an expedition from the mouth of the Río Apure to the upper Orinoco Valley. They collected important data on the flora and fauna of the river basin. The source of the Orinoco was not discovered until November 1951 by Venezuelan and French explorers. Untouched tropical flora and fauna can be discovered in the breathtaking Orinoco Delta on winding jungle paths, accompanied by parrots, monkeys, butterflies, freshwater dolphins and caimans. 

Absolutely worth seeing:

• Multi-day tours usually start in the small indigenous settlement of Boca de Uracao at the southernmost part of the alluvial plain or in Tucupita (with airport), both places are easily accessible by road.
• The best way to explore the Orinoco Delta is directly on the river. A boat trip on the Orinoco is the best way to experience the spectacular facets of this magnificent river delta, taking you from the towering peaks of the Andes to the tropical lowlands at the wide-ranging estuary delta. In boats large and small, from motorised excursion boats to rustic dugout canoes, you can immerse yourself in the lush green world of tropical sensations. Colourful parrots and butterflies, howler monkeys, caimans and, with a bit of luck, freshwater dolphins accompany the excursions.
• A stay in a lodge in the Orinoco Delta is an authentic experience. Appropriate excursions into the surrounding area are then undertaken from the lodges.

Central region of Venezuela:

In the central country of Venezuela, vast grassy plains, the so-called llanos, spread out. They cover almost a third of the country's surface and extend as far as Colombia and Brazil. There are lower and higher llanos, with altitudes between 50 and 500 metres above sea level. In the lower llanos, the rivers are flooded during the rainy season, they all flow towards the Orinoco Delta. The area lives from the constant alternation of dryness and floods, which makes nature so varied. The Llanos run as a strip through the entire centre of Venezuela, the abundance of animals is overwhelming. 

Absolutely worth seeing:

• A must are boat trips on the riverbeds where, with a little luck, you can see freshwater dolphins, capybaras, caimans, anacondas, turtles and otters and several species of birds.
• You can experience "holidays on the farm", so to speak, on huge cattle farms - some as big as European provinces - and from there you can take tours into the surrounding area. The abundance of animals is immense, nature lovers and ornithologists get their money's worth.

Venezuela's south:

45 % of Venezuela's total area is occupied by the Guiana region in the south of the country. With its plains and plateaus, it is home to one of the oldest geological formations on earth. In the language of the Mountain Pemon, these are called tepui. In the midst of these fantastic mountain formations is the world's highest free-falling waterfall, Salto Ángel, at 979 metres. Among the most famous and highest tepuis are Mount Roraima (2,800 m.a.s.l.), popular with mountaineers due to its relatively easy climb, its twin tepui Kukenan (2,600 m.a.s.l.), whose steep face is broken by the Kukenan Falls, the Auyan tepui (2,400 m.a.s.l.), from which the spectacular Angel Fall plunges into the depths, and Chimata (2,700 m.a.s.l.). Due to the high diversity of landscapes and the different altitudes, Canaima National Park is populated by a variety of exotic animals. The dense undergrowth of the jungle, which is home to over 300 endemic plant species, is home to pumas, jaguars, anteaters, two-toed sloths, monkeys, hummingbirds, toucans, parrots, iguanas, large armadillos, giant otters and many more. The region is easily accessible by plane or by jeep and then by boat and on foot from Canaima.

Absolutely worth seeing:

• Canaima National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, lies on the border with Guyana and Brazil. Like silent witnesses of the past, many table mountains with their rugged sandstone walls rise majestically from the savannah of the Gran Sabana and are home to a unique animal and plant world. The area around the ancient Tepui table mountains with waterfalls and lagoons can be explored very well by boat. In addition, you can experience visits to indigenous Pemón communities, hikes through the jungle and trekking tours to and up the mesas as unique highlights of Canaima National Park.    
• A must-see in this region is the 979-metre Angel Fall, which plunges over the edge of the Auyan-Tepui and offers an unforgettable sight. A table mountain without a waterfall, yet one of the most spectacular in the world, is Mount Roraima.
• The Canaima Lagoon is a truly magical place. The two mighty waterfalls Sapo and Sapito pour into the lagoon.

Facts and figures Venezuela:

Land area: 912,050 sq km
Population: around 30 million - of which 51.6 % are mestizos, 43.6 % European, 3.6 % black African and 2.8 % of Indian descent; due to the recent and still ongoing huge refugee flows to neighbouring countries and the current chaotic conditions within the country, it is currently impossible to give any real figures.
Capital: Caracas with almost 2 million inhabitants, around 3 million people live in the metropolitan area (data currently imprecise - see number of inhabitants).
Highest mountain: Pico Bolívar, 4,978 metres above sea level, not far from the city of Mérida.
Form of government: Presidential Federal Republic
History: Before Christopher Columbus' arrival and first landfall in 1498, indigenous groups lived as nomadic hunter-gatherers, fishermen and farmers in what is now Venezuela. This was followed in 1499 by an expedition of Alonso de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci, who are said to have given the country the name Venezuela - "Little Venice" - because of the frequent use of pile dwellings. The cultivation of cocoa, sugar, tobacco, coffee and cotton led to large numbers of slaves being brought to Venezuela by the Spanish crown to work the fields. After years of trying, Simón Bolívar finally succeeded in proclaiming Venezuela's independence in 1811. At first, the country was part of the Republic of Greater Colombia created by Bolívar in 1819. A few days after his death in 1830, Venezuela broke away from this union and declared itself independent. In 1864, Venezuela was transformed into a federal republic. There followed a series of civil wars, revolutions, dictatorships that influenced the political development of the country. In 1958, Venezuela became a democracy. Between 1974-79, the country's income from oil exports increased so rapidly that the country was one of the wealthiest countries in South America. From 1998 to 2013, under the leftist Chavez government, the country increasingly made the headlines, with coup attempts, acts of sabotage and strikes keeping the country on tenterhooks. After Chavez's death in 2013, Vice President Nicolás Maduro took office. Since then, waves of protest, violence and shortages of supplies have characterised the country, and huge streams of refugees are still leaving Venezuela for neighbouring countries and third countries.
Economy: Venezuela has always been a supplier of raw materials and thus dependent on current world market prices. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, which gave the country immense wealth when oil prices were high. But within the first decade of the 21st century, the global oil price collapsed. For this reason, among others, the Venezuelan economy, which is almost entirely dependent on oil exports, is in a severe crisis, marked by hyperinflation, supply shortages and famine, with a poverty rate that has risen above 50 per cent since 2014, reached around 80 per cent in 2016 and probably 90 per cent by the end of 2018. In January 2016, the Maduro government declared a state of economic emergency. As of summer 2018, the country's most important source of funding was no longer oil exports, but the remittances of Venezuelans who had fled abroad to their families.
Currency: Bolívar soberano
Language: Spanish
Festivals: Generally, all Christian festivals are celebrated intensively.
In February/March carnival with parades etc. - the strongholds are El Callao south of Puerto Ordaz, Carúpano in the state of Sucre, the regions of Barlovento and the island of Margarita; 
Holy Week - "Semana Santa" with solemn processions throughout the country; Corpus Christi is celebrated in the town of San Francisco de Yare with devil dances; 
in small coastal towns and in Barlovento, on the eve of 24 June, descendants of slaves hold drum dances to express hope for a life of freedom and symbiosis with the African gods;
in Chichiriviche, the village celebrates a festival in honour of the patron saint of the sea on 8 September, when fishermen take their families and a statue of the saint out to the grotto and then bring it to the church; 
a kind of harvest festival, on 23/24 September in Maparorí - the maize farmers gather in town to invoke the spirits through dances and music and thank them for their harvest...; 
Christmas is celebrated with nativity scenes, Father Christmases and small gifts for the children; 
29 December is "Día de los Inocentes" - "Day of the Innocent Children", where children give each other small gifts; 
New Year's Eve is celebrated as a family festival; 
on 27 December and 1 January, the black people at the southern end of Lake Maracaibo worship their saint San Benito;

Travelling in Venezuela:

Entry requirement: All travel documents must be valid for six months upon entry. German-Venezuelan dual nationals must enter and leave the country with a Venezuelan passport. German nationals do not require a visa for entry, unless it is by sailing ship. Upon entry, each tourist will be given a tourist card on the plane, which entitles them to a stay of up to 90 days. If you were also given a duplicate of the tourist card on entry, you should keep it safe - in the rather rare event that you are asked for it when leaving the country or at other controls. In Venezuela, foreigners must also be able to identify themselves at all times and prove their legal residence status. In case of illegal residence, you may be deported, sometimes after a long period of detention.
Vaccinations: No compulsory vaccinations are required for direct entry from Germany, but a yellow fever vaccination is strongly recommended when travelling to almost all parts of the country except central sections of the north coast. For entry from Brazil or stays of more than 12 hours in transit in Brazil, all persons over the age of 1 year must provide proof of yellow fever vaccination. Make sure that your standard vaccinations are up to date according to the vaccination calendar of the Robert Koch Institute. Vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies are recommended for long-term stays or special exposure.
Climate/travel season: Venezuela is a tropical country and can generally be visited all year round. Temperatures are consistently warm. It lies just above the equator and temperatures remain constant throughout the year. The seasons are determined more by the humidity. The country can be divided into the different altitudes and the corresponding climate zones. The dry season around Caracas lasts from December to April, and the coolest months there are January and February. The dry season in the south-eastern region lasts from November to May. In the Andes, the dry season is from October to May. However, the weather in the mountains is unpredictable and the rain can vary greatly at any time and in a single day. The Caribbean coast as well as the islands are generally dry all year round, although storms can be experienced there at any time. Around Caracas, daily highs can reach 32 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is highest in July. At high altitudes, temperatures can drop to 12 degrees Celsius, with Merída recording around 27 degrees Celsius. Night temperatures in the Andes can drop to as low as 10 degrees Celsius during the coolest months in January and February. In other parts of the country, the lowest temperature at night is 20 degrees Celsius. The Caribbean coast is dry and easy to travel all year round, but watch out for unusual storm warnings. Generally, of course, the dry season is the best time to visit Venezuela, i.e. from September to around the end of April. 
Local time: The time difference is minus 5 hours according to Central European Time (CET), during European Summer Time the time difference is minus 6 hours (CEST).

Addresses:

Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela
Schillstr. 10
10785 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0) 30 8322400
embavenez.berlin@botschaft-venezuela.de
http://botschaft-venezuela.de