Destination Guide - Venezuela

Venezuela, a Caribbean jewel, is a country of striking natural beauty. The snowcapped, jagged peaks of the Andes in the west; the steamy Amazonian jungles in the south; the tabletop mountains of the Gran Sabana plateau in the east; and endless expanses of white sand beaches adorned with coconut palms line the Caribbean coast. Venezuela is home to the mighty cascade of Angel Falls, the world's highest, as well as Lake Maracaibo, South America's largest freshwater lake. Add over 1250 species of birds, 250 species of mammals, a rich culture with Spanish, African and indigenous roots and you have an exotic destination. Venezuela is an ideal place for adventure.

Official Name: Republic of Venezuela
Population: 23 Million
Capital City: Caracas, pop. 4.6 Million
People: 67% Mestizo, 21% European descent, 10% African descent, and 2% Indian
Languages: Officially Spanish, plus dialects of Amerindian and Arawak
Religion: 96% Roman Catholic and 2% Protestant
Currency: Bolivar
Time: GMT minus 4 hours
Electricity: 110V, 60Hz (http://www.kropla.com)
Major Industries: Petroleum, iron ore, fruit, sugar, cereals, and coffee
Airport Departure Tax: $62.55 USD (subject to change)

IMPORTANT FACTS

Travel Documents

Canadian and US citizens require a valid passport to enter Venezuela, with an expiry date beyond six months from the date of entry. If arriving by commercial airline, tourist cards are required but can be issued at the airport for no charge and allow stays for up to 60 days. If traveling by private transportation or by land, a visa is required. The visa should be obtained before leaving home, as they are difficult to arrange en route. You will be expected to show custom officials your onward ticket.

Climate

Venezuela is located entirely in the tropics. The temperature varies very little during the year and most areas of the country maintain an average of over 25°C (77°F). Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, has an average annual temperature of 22°C (72°F) and varies by only 4°C (8°F) over the year. However, the temperature drops with altitude. The mountainous regions can get cold, especially at night, and there is even snow in the highest parts of the Andes.

Like all tropical countries, Venezuela only has two seasons, the dry and the rainy seasons. Generally, the dry season is from December to April/May and the rainy season from May to November/December. Rainfall, however, can occur during the dry season and the rainy season often has dry spells.

Food

Venezuela has a variety of traditional dishes. Most are fried maize or wheat flour based pancakes or breads. The most common meat dishes in Venezuela are fried and grilled fish and meats usually served with rice. Generally, beef and chicken are most popular, though other meats such as goat are preferred in certain regions. Pork is eaten mostly at Christmas. The huge variety of fish includes trout, red snapper, dorado, parrot fish, catfish and the baby shark (cazon). Oysters, clams and other shellfish are also widely enjoyed.

There is an abundance of fruits in Venezuela. Mango, papaya (lechosa), avocado (aguacate), oranges (naranja), banana (cambur), coconut (coco), passionfruit (parchita), melon (melón), pineapple (piña), guava (guayaba) and soursap (guanábana) are just a few.

Drinks

Fresh fruit juices are readily available, as are batidos, a thicker juice, and milkshakes (merengada). Sugar cane juice with lemon (papelón con limón), and fresh coconut milk are also on offer. Beer is ubiquitous, and the most popular brand is Polar. Rum, the commonly found spirit, comes in several varieties and is mixed with coke to make Cuba Libre, a favorite drink amongst Venezuelans. Soft drinks, liquor, coffee, alcohol and tea do not possess the hydrating qualities of water so we suggest that you bring a water bottle to fill up and supplement available drinks.

Vaccinations

There are no required vaccinations required for Venezuela, but for people arriving from a Yellow Fever infected area within the last 5 days, and International Certificate of Vaccination is required. Health requirements can and do change regularly so we advise that you check with your doctor or public health official regarding travel to Venezuela. A good site to check for up to date information is the Centre for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. Plan ahead if you are going to get any inoculations. Some shots cause mild reactions (fatigue to mild fever and nausea) and may require more than one dose over a period of weeks.

Venezuela Trips

CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
1	Viva Venezuela! Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding and Hiking (9 Days)