Bradt Travel Guide: Venezuela

About this book

Venezuela occasionally features in world news in connection with its rich oil resources, its obsession with beauty pageants, its outspoken and colourful president, Hugo Chvez, or the world's highest waterfall - and little else. However, beyond the headlines, this beautiful and diverse country has so much more to offer to all types of visitors - hiking the 'Lost World' landscape of Conan Doyle, piranha-fishing from dugout canoes, paragliding from Andean peaks and windsurfing on Margarita Island.

Taking travellers to the wildest of fiestas, inside the steamiest salsa bars and introducing visitors to the quirkiest of local customs, Bradt's Venezuela leads tourists from the Caribbean coast to the southern tropical wilderness, delving into the culture and eccentricities of the country more deeply than any other guide.

Contents

Introduction Part One: General Information Background Information Geography, Climate, Fauna and flora, History, Government and politics, Economy, The people, Language, Religion, Education, Culture, Sport, Natural history Practical Information When to visit, Highlights and itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, What to take, Money and budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Solo traveller's, Business, Cultural dos and don'ts, Giving something back National parks Environmental NGOs, Birding and special interest sports Part Two: The Guide Caracas Maiquetia airport, Getting around, Exploring Caracas by metro, Where to stay, Where to eat, What to do, Shopping, Money, Security, Communications, Visiting El Avila mountain, Beyond the city Central Coast and Colonia Tovar The central coast, La Guaira, historic port, Macuto, Naiguata, Los Caracas, East to Chuspa, Chirimena to Carenero, Colonia Tovar to western coves, Colonia Tovar to the sea Los Roques, Morrocoy, Mochima The Robinson Crusoe experience, Parque Nacional Archipelago Los Roques, Parque National Morrocoy, Parque Nacional Mochima Margarita Island Caribbean island, Getting there and away, Getting around, Information, What to do, Porlamar, Pampatar, El Valle del Espiritu Santo, La Asuncion, Cerro El Copey National Park, East coast beaches, Santa Ana and craft villages, Juangriego and Northwest coast, La Restinga and Macanao Peninsula, Windsurfing in El Yaque, Coche and Cubagua The Oriente Coast Anzoategui State, Sucre State, Araya Peninsula, East Sucre State, Paria National Park Monagas and the Orinoco Delta Caripe and the Guacharo cave, Around Caripe, Orinoco Delta Los Llanos, wildlife paradise Flora and fauna, Wildlife lodges and camps San Fernando de Apure, Cinaruco-Capanaparo Park, Barinas state Bolivar State, Gran Sabana and Caura River Ciudad Bolivar, Gran Sabana and Lost World of the tepuis, Canaima and Angel Falls, Santa Elena, Roraima trek, Caura River and Para Falls Amazonas Puerto Ayacucho, Up the Orinoco, To and from Brazil, To and from Colombia Aragua and Carabobo Maracay, Choroni and Chuao, Valencia, Carabobo hot Springs and beaches Yaracuy, Maria Lionza and Lara Yaracuy state and the Cult of Maria Lionza, Barquisimeto, The Quibor handicrafts route Merida and The Andes Paramos and peaks, Merida City, High sierras and mountain walks, Mucuposadas, Mystery of Catatumbo Lightning, Travel to/from Colombia Falcon and Zulia Colonial Coro and the Medanos, Paraguana Peninsula, Sierra de San Luis, Maracaibo, Western Zulia, The east lake coast Appendices Language Further Reading Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

Having lived and worked in Venezuela for 12 years, author Russell Maddicks has covered the length and breadth of the country as a travel reporter for Venezuela's English-language newspaper.