Venezuela map & highlights

Venezuela map & highlights

Venezuela is composed of four distinct geographical regions. Snow-capped mountains, part of the Andes chain, descend to the Caribbean coast, and most Venezuelans live in the valleys between the peaks. The skyscraper-steepled capital, Caracas, is here too. To the south-east are the Guyana Highlands, forested and dotted with tabletop mountains known as tepuis. Although Canaima National Park in this region is remote and hard to reach, the breathtaking sight of Angel Falls – the world’s tallest waterfall – rewards the intrepid. Flat and grassy, the central plains of the Llanos are rich in wildlife, while the Maracaibo Lowlands in north-west Venezuela are rich in hydrocarbons – this is oil country.

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1. Angel Falls
2. Canaima National Park
3. Caracas
4. Henri Pittier National Park
5. The Llanos
6. Los Roques
7. Merida
8. Pico el Aguila

Angel Falls

1. Angel Falls

The tallest uninterrupted waterfall on Earth, Angel Falls is located in Canaima National Park, and flows over the edge of Auyan-tepui mountain for a drop of 979m – that’s 19 times the height of Niagara Falls. May to December is the best time to see it. The rainy season sees more water volume in the waterfall and allows boats to reach the base of the falls for a thunderous reception.

Angel Falls

Canaima National Park

2. Canaima National Park

Located in south-east Venezuela, where the country’s borders meet Brazil and Guatemala, Canaima National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the spectacular Angel Falls. The remote park’s Amazonian landscape is dominated by tepuis, tabletop mountains that the local Pemon people believe hold the spirits of the dead.

Caracas

3. Caracas

The Venezuelan capital is a reflection of the country’s oil boom and subsequent economic turmoil. Some of the tallest skyscrapers in South America glitter across its skyline, symbols of immense wealth. Yet on the outskirts of the city, slums proliferate. There are several historic points of interest, such as the birthplace of political leader Simon Bolivar, that make it worth spending a day exploring.

Caracas

Henri Pittier National Park

4. Henri Pittier National Park

If you’re in Venezuela for birdwatching, then Henri Pittier National Park is one of the absolute ‘must’ destinations. Located in the north of the country, and named for a Swiss botanist, the park is a biodiversity hotspot with hundreds of tree species that are home to approaching 600 species of birds, not to mention 140 mammal species, along with reptiles and amphibians.

The Llanos

5. The Llanos

A vast expanse of flat grasslands that stretches across Colombia and Venezuela, with the Andes towering above it to the west, the Llanos is prime wildlife-watching territory. You can stay on a working cattle ranch while exploring the region on foot, by boat and by jeep. Dolphins, caimans, tapirs, giant river otters and capybaras can be seen, along with a colourful cast of bird species.

The Llanos

Los Roques

6. Los Roques

Just off the north coast, Los Roques is a Caribbean archipelago where you can unwind after a week of wildlife watching in rainforest and mountains with, er, a few more days of wildlife watching in the sea. These waters, their uninhabited islands, and the pristine barrier reef below are a magnet for divers and snorkellers who can share the depths with manta rays, sharks, turtles and dolphins.

Merida

7. Merida

With its mountain views and Spanish colonial-era architecture, the Andean city of Merida makes a scenic setting for high-altitude high jinks like trekking, mountaineering and skiing. Artisans from mountain communities gather in the markets to sell woollen cloaks, candied fruits and fresh produce. An ice cream parlour here once held the record for most numbers of flavours on sale: 800!

Merida

Pico el Aguila

8. Pico el Aguila

The Pico el Aguila is the highest point of the Trans-Andean Highway – itself the highest road in Venezuela. The occasional condor can be seen soaring on air currents in these chilly heights, with a reintroduction program underway to save a bird that occupies a significant role in South American culture. Our holidays also visit a project nearby that’s helping to protect spectacled bears.