Venezuela

1. You'll find a wide variety of exotic plants and animals, including the jaguar, ocelot, tapir, armadillo, anteater, and the longest snake in the world, the anaconda!

2. Some basic information:

Time zone- GMT/UTC minus 4 hours (minus 5 hours in summer) Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz. Weights & measures: Metric

3. US nationals, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, UK nationals, South Africans and most Western and Scandinavian Europeans do not require a visa if they fly directly to Venezuela. Others require a visa.

4. The tourist season in Venezuela runs year-round so, theoretically, any time you visit is OK. However, the dry season is more pleasant for traveling, though some sights - including the famous Angel Falls - are certainly more impressive in the wet season.

5. Keep in mind the periods during which Venezuelans take their holidays. Particularly, visit friends and family over Christmas, Carnaval (several days prior to Ash Wednesday) and Semana Santa (Holy Week; the week before Easter Sunday). In these three periods, you'll have to plan ahead and do a little more legwork before you find a place to stay. On the other hand, these periods are colorful and alive with a host of festivities.

6. Health risks include cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis, malaria, and yellow fever.

7. The country's most exuberant festival is Carnaval. It is characterized by music, dancing, parades and masquerades… the flavor of the event varies from region to region. The town of Carúpano is famous throughout the country for its elaborately staged Carnaval. You're lucky if you get to see this.

8. Given the strong Roman Catholic character of Venezuela, 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 celebrated in various cities and towns.

9. Public Holidays fall on-

January 1 - New Year's Day

Before Easter Sunday - Maundy Thursday & Good Friday

April 19 - Declaration of Independence

May 1 - Labour Day

June 24 - Battle of Carabobo

July 5 - Independence Day

July 24 - Bolívar's Birthday

October 12 - Discovery of America

December 25 - Christmas

10. The Currency is bolívar (Bs). Venezuela was a very cheap country to travel in during the period of the fixed exchange rates, provided you came with US dollars and changed them in the black market. Since the bolívar was freed, there has been a massive increase in prices of goods and services. Still, travelers on a budget can easily get by on US$30-40 a day; if you are looking for more comfort expect to spend at least US$50, or more if taking a guided tour.

11. US dollars and American Express travelers' cheques are by far the most popular, so stick to them. Visa and MasterCard have the best coverage for both cash advances and for making payments in top-end hotels, restaurants and shops. You can change money at a bank or at a casa de cambio (authorized money-exchange office). Banks change cash and travelers' cheques, but casas de cambio deal only in cash. Lines for ATMs can be very long, especially the first Monday of the month, when many banks are closed, and the day before holiday weekends, when machines are often cashed-out by midmorning.

12. Most of the budget hotel accommodations are in the less salubrious suburbs, which are not always safe, especially at night. The best is probably Sabana Grande. Be sure to always keep your wits about you, as mugging and petty thefts have become rife in recent years.

13. Nightlife tends to be centered on the districts of Las Mercedes, El Rosal, La Floresta and La Castellana. Enjoy a beer at the Greenwich Pub, or catch some jazz at the Juan Sebastián Bar, one of the city's few authentic jazz venues.

14. Avensa (along with its offspring, Servivensa) was Venezuela's main domestic airline until it went bankrupt in 1999. It now operates on a reduced scale. Its place has been taken by Aeropostal, which has a network of routes servicing most major domestic destinations. There are half-a-dozen or so smaller carriers including Aserca, Laser and Avior, which service regional areas. The lack of railways means that buses are the primary forms 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 the high level of competition keeps prices fairly low.

15. Driving or motor biking gives you added flexibility, but it's expensive both to take a car into the country and 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 travelers should follow instructions and be prepared to show papers or be searched.

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

17. The country's climate is predominantly tropical, with a warm Temperate Zone extending along the coast. Venezuela's climatic zones are defined by rainfall rather than by differences in temperature. The dry season is more pleasant for traveling, particularly if you plan on hiking.

18. You'll discover that visual art 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. Theater is growing in popularity, and there is an active literary scene, especially among the younger generation.

19. Venezuelan snacks and dishes (referred to as comida criolla) consist mainly of pancakes, chicken, pork, beef, soups and stews. Look out for restaurants that serve menú del día, a very cheap set meal consisting of soup and a main course. Local specialties 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).

20. Venezuela's 40-odd national parks provide a great range of treks. Activities include mountaineering, hill trekking, rock climbing, hang-gliding, paragliding, snorkeling and diving.

 

If you plan to see some magnificent things… sights include Plaza Bolívar, with its 17th-century cathedral; the Casa Natal de Bolívar, birthplace of Simón Bolívar; Santa Capilla, a 19th-century neo-Gothic church modeled on Paris's Sainte Chapelle; the monumental Palacio de Miraflores, palace of former leader Joaquín Crespo; the sacred Panteón Nacional, where many eminent Venezuelans are interred; the Petares district, which has retained its historic colonial character; and the modern, bustling Parque Central, which provides a taste of modern Caracas.