Best Places To Visit In Venezuela

Venezuela is a land that’s often overlooked on the tourist trail, which is great news if you’d like to range across huge, fertile plains that lack people but are teeming with a diversity of birds and wildlife. Or you want an uninterrupted view from the world’s highest cable car. Or want to sail gently through the backwaters of the Orinoco Delta to see wonderful creatures in an unspoiled, natural habitat – and meet the people who dwell unmolested in the forest. Or chill on an empty beach. Here are the 5 best places to visit in Venezuela.

5 best places to visit in Venezuela

1. Angel Falls

In the heart of the country, where table top mountains rise up like giant monoliths from the surrounding landscape, is Angel Falls. Dropping 979 meters, it is the highest waterfall in the world and one of the highlights of South America.

This stunning site in Canaima National Park is remote and difficult to access, but flights over the falls are easily arranged.

The best time to see the falls is during the rainy season, between May and November, when water is plentiful and the falls do not disappear into a mist before reaching the bottom as they do in the dry season. During the dry season, the falls may be little more than a trickle and you will want to check in advance to see if there is enough water to make the trip worthwhile.

The falls are usually visited by either a sightseeing flight or a three-day boat trip beginning in the town of Canaima. The boat trip, which also includes a hike through the jungle to the base of the falls, is not a luxury tour by any stretch, with basic accommodation along the route. The boat trip may not be possible during the dry season due to low water levels in the river.

2. Los Roques Archipelago

Sun-drenched beaches, turquoise waters, coral reefs, and modest development with no high-rise hotels, are what draw travelers to this beautiful chain of islands 160 kilometers north of the central coast of Venezuela.

The archipelago is Los Roques National Park, but most people refer to the area simply as Los Roques. This is one of the best places to visit in Venezuela. The small seaside fishing village of Gran Roque, on the island of the same name, is the main settlement, with single-story homes painted in the typical bright colors seen throughout Venezuela.

The buildings stretch out along the beachfront, which seems to go on forever. One of the highlights is the little island of Cayo de Agua. Reached by boat, this is one of Venezuela’s most beautiful beaches, with shallow turquoise waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

The islands are usually reached by aircraft from Caracas, there is no ferry service from the mainland. The airport is located in Gran Roque. Boats can be chartered from the town’s waterfront area for those interested in visiting some of the surrounding islands, diving, or taking a snorkeling trip.

3. Isla de Margarita

Isla de Margarita is one of the more developed beach destinations in Venezuela. Lying approximately 40 kilometers north of the mainland, this is one of Venezuela’s major tourist destinations for sun seekers. The island’s main attractions are the beautiful soft sand beaches, which are popular with both foreigners and Venezuelans.

Many charter flights fly directly to Isla Margarita from a variety of international destinations, but it’s also possible to take a ferry to the island from Puerto La Cruz on the mainland.

The main city on the island is Porlamar, but the numerous beaches are spread around the island, with some of the best on the north and east side. Many of these are developed, with hotels or restaurants. Some of the most popular beaches are La Playa El Agua, Playa Puerto Cruz, Playa Guacuco, and Playa Manzanillo.

4. Morrocoy National Park

Morrocoy National Park has over 32,000 acres of the protected island and marine preserve filled with island beaches, mangroves, and cays like Cayo Sombrero. The white sand beaches are spectacular and perfect for visitors to come and relax while enjoying water activities; the clear water coral reefs are home to sea turtles, fish, and dolphins, many of which are visible during a scuba diving trip.

Visitors can also explore the wetlands and see the rich birdlife in the area, including flamingos, which are a fun site to see for the entire family. Other animals people may come across include anteaters, opossums, sloths, howler monkeys, and various species of deer.

5. Bararida Zoological and Botanical Park

Having opened in 1967, the Bararida Zoological and Botanical Park is one of Venezuela’s most family-friendly day attractions. The combined park, zoo, and botanical garden give visitors an opportunity to see of the country’s most wondrous flora and fauna. There are over 8,222 animals at the zoo for visitors to get up close and personal with, with nearly 65% of them on the nearly extinct list.

There’s an extensive collection of native trees in the park, while the botanical garden has over 150 different species of local and imported plants for visitors to see.