Venezuela occasionally features in world news in connection with its rich oil resources, its obsession with beauty pageants, its outspoken and colourful president, Hugo Chavez, 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.
Venezuela
Description
Table of 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
Author Description
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.