Venezuela
South America · Caracas · VE
Venezuela is the dramatic country of the north of South America, the land of the towering tepuis, the world's highest waterfall and the vast, extraordinary landscapes that exist nowhere else, from the table mountains of the Gran Sabana to the islands and the reefs of the Caribbean coast. The Angel Falls, dropping nearly a kilometre from the top of the great plateau of the Auyan, is the highest waterfall in the world, and the national parks of the country, the Canaima, the archipelagos of the Los Roques and the cloud forests of the Andes, hold some of the most beautiful scenery of the whole continent. Caracas, the capital, sits in the dramatic valley of the coastal mountains, and the current conditions of the country, its politics and its shortages, require the traveller to read the situation with the greatest care before any journey. Extraordinary to look at, Venezuela is currently challenging to travel, and the official advice of one's own government is the first and the essential word.
Overview
Venezuela is a country in South America. Its capital is Caracas and the international dialling code is +58. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Spanish. Local currency is the Venezuelan Bolívar (VES). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Simón Bolívar International Airport. We also list 1 city in Venezuela: Caracas.
The Falls of the Angel and the Canaima of the Highlands
The Angel Falls, on the great table mountain of the Auyan Tepui in the far south of the country, is the highest waterfall in the world, its water dropping nearly a kilometre from the top of the immense plateau in a plume that appears before the viewer from the river below. The national park of the Canaima, the enormous wilderness that surrounds the falls, spreads the jungle, the rivers and the great tepuis, the sandstone mountains that rise in sheer walls from the forest, and the classic visit follows the canoe trips up the river and the short jungle walks to the viewpoints. The flights over the falls give the true scale of the region, and the indigenous communities of the park, the guides of the rivers, run the trips of the whole area. It is among the greatest landscapes of the earth.
The Tepuis and the Strange World of the Table Mountains
The tepuis, the enormous flat-topped mountains of the south that rise abruptly from the forest of the Gran Sabana, are among the oldest landforms on the earth, isolated worlds of the flat summits where their own endemic plants and creatures evolved in the millions of years of isolation. The summit of the Roraima, the most famous of the tepuis, spreads its alien landscapes of the black rock, the quartz fields and the strange plants of its plateau, and the multi-day trek to its summit, the classic climb of the region, runs through the forests and the rivers of the approach. The smaller tepuis of the surrounding area and the viewpoints of the great massifs frame the otherworldly scenery of the south. The Gran Sabana, the sweeping savannah that lies between the giants, is the great open view of the country, and the whole region is a geological fantasy.
The Islands of the Los Roques and the Sail of the Caribbean
Off the coast of the central part of the country, the archipelagos of the Los Roques unfold a chain of the cayes, the sandbanks and the reef flats that the sailors and the divers of the region count among the most beautiful island groups of the entire Caribbean. The national park of the archipelago, the great protected marine area of the country, holds the turquoise shallows, the teeming reefs and the sea grass beds of the region, and the sailing between the cayes, the kitesurfing and the snorkelling of the reefs fill the days on the water. The small settlement of the Gran Roque, the main island with its pastel houses and its sandy lanes, is the base of the park, and the fishermen and the guides of the island run the boats to the cayes. The islands are the purest Caribbean of the whole mainland.
The Highlands of the Merida and the Cables of the Andes
The far west of the country, the highlands of the Merida, holds the Venezuelan share of the Andes mountains, the green, cool, coffee-growing slopes that rise to the highest peaks of the country. The city of Merida, the university city of the mountains, runs its trams and its plazas beneath the summits of the Sierra Nevada, and the cable cars of the city, among the highest of their kind in the world, climb the great peak above it with the views over the whole valley and the ranges beyond. The walking of the region, the trails of the high peaks and the lagoons of the glacial valleys, is the great adventure of the Venezuelan Andes, and the coffee of the region, the beans of the high slopes, is among the best of the country. The highlands are the green, cool, peaceful face of a troubled land.
The Capital, the Coast and the Reality of the Country
The capital of Caracas, set in the dramatic valley of the coastal mountains a short distance from the Caribbean shore, is the enormous, complicated, hard-pressed city at the centre of the country's present difficulties, and its history, its museums and its dramatic setting must be weighed against the careful reality of the current moment. The conditions of the country, the shortages, the insecurity and the political situation, mean that the travel advice of one's own government is the essential first and last word of any plan, and the practical realities of the payments, the transport and the safety must be considered with the greatest care. For those who understand the risks, the natural wonders of the country, the waterfalls, the mountains and the islands, remain among the most extraordinary on earth. The country deserves both respect for its grandeur and great caution for its present.
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- Capital
- Caracas
- Currency
- Venezuelan Bolívar (VES)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +58
- Internet TLD
- ve
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Venezuela.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Venezuela?
Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, and the country sits in South America.
What currency is used in Venezuela?
You pay with Venezuelan Bolívar (VES) in Venezuela. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Venezuela?
The languages we list for Venezuela are Spanish. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Venezuela?
The dialling code for Venezuela is +58 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Venezuela?
Simón Bolívar International Airport (CCS) in Caracas is the airport we cover for Venezuela.
Which cities in Venezuela do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Venezuela: Caracas (capital).