Venezuela is a hard nut to crack. The land of baseball icons, beauty pageant queens, resorts, subsidized oil and one of the most infamous leaders at the moment, Hugo Chavez, has many faces. While the country may not display one consistent image on the international stage however, one factor is certain. Venezuela has wonderful allure as a world destination.
With that in mind, here is the best of what the Rep?blica Bolivariana has to offer.
The dominant figure in the sphere of architecture in Venezuela, the works of Carlos Ra?l Villanueva dot the capital of Caracas and many other urban areas in the country. Although dead since 1975, the late Modernist master has a veritable legacy in projects such as the City University of Caracas, the Museum of Fine Arts of Caracas, Plaza Bol?var in Maracay and Jes?s Soto Museum of Modern Art in Ciudad Bol?var. These fine works remain the proverbial tip of the vast Villanueva iceberg.
The former town of Angostura, with a population of just over 300,000, is a gem. With all of the requisite attractions one looks for in a post-colonial city in South America, from historic plaza to beautiful architecure, warm people and delicious native cuisine, Ciudad Bol?var is a must-stop.
Second city status is often the best harbinger of charm. Witness Melbourne versus Sydney, Montreal versus Toronto or Chicago versus New York City. Not to denegrate big city populations of course but as a result of a small stature by comparison, certain inevitable and abstract consequences arise. Next to the immense capital of Caracas, Maracaibo, even with over 3 million people, is like that. The prominent university town is alive with areas that boast the best live music in the country, superb food and drink and a wonderful preservation of native culture. The best way to discover Maracaibo is on foot.
With such a motley environment and a high rate of flora and fauna endemism, megadiverse Venezuela has a superb National Park program. A good 70% of the country is under some form of land conservation and as a result, there are 43 parks to choose from. With Amazon rainforest and the Andes on the doorstep, where do you start? Canaima National Park is one of the most popular by far. Home to Angel Falls, the park on the border of Brazil and Guyana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other than the record waterfall, most people come to Canaima for the spectacular vistas, courtesy of tepui – flat, low mountains native to the Guyana highlands and South America. Another bonus attraction of Canaima National Park is the fact that tribes of Pemon Indians still live here, as they have for eons.
A notable Andes outpost, M?rida is popular with locals and foreign visitors for myriad reasons. The town has a vast collection of colonial monuments which, thanks to diligent preservation, remain relatively pristine. In the area of parks and public squares, M?rida is famously supreme. The town has wonderful green space available for leisure and relaxation, not to mention epic strolls amid beautiful cathedrals and palaces.
Can you omit the capital city with a metro population of almost 5 million from your Venezuela itinerary? Of course. In fact, you may enjoy the country more without a trip to Caracas. However, since most forays into Venezuela begin here, why not take advantage and make the most of it? Principal attractions in Caracas revolve around Sim?n Bol?var, the most notable hero of South America, and include his birth home, a museum and Plaza Bol?var. East Park is the Central Park of Caracas, to draw a facile comparison, and Teresa Carre?o Cultural Complex is home to ballet, opera and theater performances. For a great random activity while in the capital, try to get out to see the Leones del Caracas baseball team play at Estadio Universitario.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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