Regions for the regional trip Driving through Venezuela

THE CARIBBEAN – Choroni– Maracay

With over 3,000km of coastline, the longest in the Caribbean, and a myriad of islands, islets, keys and coral reefs, the Venezuelan coast is home to a rich diversity of marine flora and fauna. Its countless white-sand beaches fringed with palm trees are paradise for those who just want to relax, sunbathe, swim and enjoy water-based activities.

There is so much scenery to discover: sea caves, underwater cliffs, coral reefs covered in colourful sponges, multi-coloured fish, sea urchins, sea anemones and several wrecks of old ships, some dating back to the 17th century.

Even though the deep sea fishing here has an international reputation, there are other vital species near the coast such as Sabalo, Barracuda, raton or macabi fish, Robalo, Anjova, Carite or Sierra, Peto, Jurel and Yellow-fin tuna.

Mangrove swamps grow all along the coast as well as in the river deltas. The mangrove swamps are home to a huge number of sea birds such as Tijereta de Mar, Gannet, Flamingo and the Borrega and Marron Boba.

The Venezuelan Caribbean is equally as interesting culturally and historically. The region was the scene of many important Venezuelan historical events and here there are many restored colonial fortifications and some of the oldest and best preserved churches in the country. In addition, there is a huge variety of traditional festivals that take place all along the coast. The blend of religions in Venezuela is highlighted in the elaborate traditional festivals, many with their roots in indigenous and African religions.

CHORONI

On the other side of Caracas, Choroni is a very popular destination. Located between the mountains of the Henri Pittier National Park, covered in cloud forest, and the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean, this colonial town takes you back in time.

Many of the pastel-coloured houses in this fishing village have been completely renovated and designed to a standard to accommodate visitors.

There is a delightful local beach and many others that can be reached only by small boat. Even though it is peaceful and sleepy during the week, the town comes to life at the weekends when party lovers from Caracas and Maracay arrive to have fun on the beaches and join in the ‘drum nights’ – dances accompanies by drummers.

Nearby Ocumare de la Costa isn’t so pretty and is less visited, but it has a small area, only accessible by small boat, where you can go snorkelling, as well as get to other places of interest in the national park. Only 4 hours from Caracas by road, a stay in Choroni is an excellent idea for 3 or 4 days.

MARACAY

Founded by Spanish colonialists at the beginning of the 18th century, Maracay has a long history of religion as well as cacao and tobacco production. Much later, Maracay became well known for  producing and exporting indigo, which brought about big changes for life in the town, from thatched roof houses to business centres. During the last 20 years Maracay has been transformed into a modern city, with high-rise buildings and apartment complexes.

THE ANDES – MERIDA

The Andes

The Venezuelan Andes belong to the northern section of this mountain chain. In Venezuela the Andes are divided between the Merida range and the Perija range, the latter mainly shared with Colombia. Because of the changes in altitude, the Merida range has two distinct ecosystems, namely the Andean mountain forests and the plateaus. The Venezuelan Andes have a wide variety of endemic species, both flora and fauna. We invite you to appreciate the stunning landscapes and to join us in observing the unspoilt ecosystems.

Merida

Merida, a city of around 300,000 inhabitants, is located in the shadow of the Venezuelan Andes in the west of the country. Home to the University of the Andes and many tourist attractions, for most Venezuelans Merida has a reputation as the country’s most peaceful city. Often called ‘A city of Gentlemen’, Merida is well-known for its commitment to its traditional culture and the history of Venezuela. One out of every six inhabitants in Merida is a student giving the city a feeling of youth and fun.

The Llanos

Venezuelans love the wisdom of the Llanos (plains). They claim that the Llanero, or the Venezuelan cowboy, is ‘a very adaptable man who walks without transition or difficulty from floods to drought and from the solitude of the desert to the tumult of the festival’.

The Llanos, the vast savannah region in Venezuela, has an incredible variety of wildlife and this is defined by the dichotomy of the two seasons, wet and dry. The fauna of the Venezuelan plains revolves around the two extreme cycles of flood and drought, where seemingly endless rivers and vast plains turn to dust in the dry season (December-April) and are abundant and luxuriant in the wet season (May-November). The biodiversity is truly plentiful.

More than 400 species of colourful birds can be seen in the grasslands, such as white, crimson, yellow, blue, orange and black, providing another excellent opportunity for birdwatching in Venezuela. You can see the Colorado Corocoro, Maracana, Garzon Soldado, Colorado sparrowhawk, Bacchus bird and the prehistoric Chenchena (Water Guacharaca).

The habitat of the llanos is also home to a huge variety of animals such as giant anteaters, wild horses, armadillos, iguanas, howler and capuchin monkeys, capybara (the world’s largest rodent) and thousands of caimans. The rivers and streams team with freshwater dolphins, piranhas, anacondas and turtles.

The Venezuelan plains are a strange mix of American Wild West and African safari where the locals  go hunting and grow crops in the traditional way and where dusty cowboys try to tame a land so wild and as untamed as the creatures that wander across it .

Barinas

Barinas is the largest city in the llanos region. Barinas has a population of more than 200,000 people and is the main transport hub outside of the Andes and Caracas. There is a domestic airport and a bus terminal as well as museums, historical buildings and public parks. There is plenty of accommodation for tourists and visitors.

San Fernando de Apure

San Fernando is Apure State’s largest city, located on the southeastern bank of the Apure River, and one of the most important cattle breeding areas in Venezuela. The city is the usual starting point for tours to the ranches or eco-lodges on the surrounding plains.

National parks for the regional trip Driving through Venezuela

Nationals Parks

Venezuela is one of the ten most biologically diverse countries in the world. Pioneers in environmental protection, Venezuela has introduced many laws concerning the use and enjoyment of these national treasures. As a result of these laws there are 43 national parks and 22 nature reserves (around 21% of the country), 2 bio-reserves, 7 sanctuaries and 5 wildlife reserves. This fantastic combination of boundless and raw beauty makes it exceptionally good for the tourism industry.

Henri Pittier National Park was established on 13 February 1937. Originally called ‘Rancho Grande’ it was renamed in honour of the Swiss botanist, Henri Pittier, who came to Venezuela in 1917 to classify more than 30,000 plants. The park takes in 107,800 hectares of the coastal mountain section of the Andes range. Henri Pittier is a popular tourist destination as it is particularly well known for its birdwatching (they make up 43% of the known birds in Venezuela). There are many coastal villages near the park along the Caribbean coast.

The Sierra Nevada National Park was created on 2 May 1952 in the heart of the Venezuelan Andes. Most of the park is located in Merida’s Sierra Nevada and it is here where the highest peaks are found including Pico Bolivar (5,007m) and Pico Humboldt (4,942m). There are many places of interest and activities for visitors to the park, such as hikes and climbs to the magnificent peaks,  looking for flowers and visiting the tiny villages, surrounded by stunning scenery, and learning about their fascinating culture. You can also have a go on the longest and highest cable car in the world.

The Sierra de la Culata National Park was established on 7 December 1989 and is home to a slightly smaller range of mountains which run almost parallel to the Sierra Nevada. The park is made up of two separate regions: the lofty area with the highest glacier, the meandering river and the valleys dominated by rivers that supply the water for Merida. The park is particularly well known for its plateaus which are covered in endemic frailejon shrubs. It is home to the Frontino Bear (or Spectacled Bear), which is in danger of extinction, and the Andean Condor, which is almost extinct.

The Santos Luzardo Cinaruco Canaparo National Park was decreed in 1988 and covers an area of 584,368km2. Here you can find around ten species of endemic plants in its cinaruco gallery forests, savannahs and rivers. The land is very flat, its only elevation being the Cinaruco Hills.

The river basins encourage the presence of pabon fish, Arrau Turtles and caimans. In addition there are three endemic bird species and more than 20 migratory species and you may also see jaguars, deer and capybaras.

The tour includes:

• Car rental
• All necessary maps for your route
• Mobile phone
• 24-hour assistance
• Accommodation in hotels

We recommend that you bring with you:

• Warm clothes for the mountains
• Waterproof jacket or poncho
• Walking shoes/boots
• Sunglasses
• Suntan cream
• Insect repellent
• Camera and film

How to get to Venezuela

Below you will find information on travelling from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States. Almost all international flights arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport, which is located in Maiquetia (28km north of Caracas). A few flights go to Maracaibo, a city in the west of the country.

Natoura Travel & Adventure Tours became an IATA international agency in February 2010 and our IATA number is 95-502945. We can help with competitive prices for international flights for both single and round-trip flight tickets. Please contact us for help in finding the best flight for the start of your adventure.

From Australia and New Zealand: Flights from Australia and New Zealand to Caracas go via Los Angeles. Below is a list of airlines that offer this service.

• Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.com)
• Qantas (www.qantas.com)

From Canada: There are several companies that operate flights to Venezuela from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver via Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Below is a list of these airlines with their respective places of departure and arrival.

• American Airlines (www.aa.com)

From Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Caracas via Miami or Dallas-Fort Worth.

• Continental Airlines (www.continental.com)

From Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Caracas via Houston.

From Europe: Other airlines also have regular flights to Caracas; below is a list of these airlines as well as flights from cities across Europe which have services to Venezuela.

• Air Europa (www.air-europa.com)
• Air France (www.airfrance.com)
• Alitalia Airlines (www.alitalia.it)
• Iberia (www.iberia.com)
• Lufthansa Airlines (www.lufthansa.com)

European cities which have direct flights to Venezuela: Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Lisbon.

From the United States: Many of the flights from the United States leave from Miami and arrive into Caracas. Some companies also have direct flights from New York, Atlanta, Newark, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Orlando. The Grupo Taca airline flies from Los Angeles to Caracas via Mexico City and San José, Costa Rica. Below is a list of these airlines with their respective places of departure and arrival.

• American Airlines (www.aa.com)

From New York, Miami or Dallas to Caracas or Maracaibo.

• United Airlines (www.united.com)

From New York, Chicago or Miami to Caracas.

• Continental Airlines (www.continental.com)

From Newark (New Jersey), Houston, Orlando, Chicago, Miami or New York to Caracas.

• Delta Airlines (www.delta.com)

From Atlanta to Caracas.

• Grupo Taca (www.grupotaca.com)

From Miami to Caracas; from Los Angeles to Caracas via Mexico City or San José.

Note: If you have any questions about timetables or availability, please call or email us and we will do our best to help you.