Venezuela Overview Country Overview Venezuela is bounded by the Caribbean, Guyana, the Atlantic Ocean, Brazil and Colombia. Venezuela offers the tourist a great variety of landscapes – tropical beaches, immense plains, enormous rivers, forests, jungle, waterfalls and great mountains. Nestling in a long narrow valley, Caracas, the capital, is typical of the ‘new Venezuela’, despite being one of the oldest established cities in the country (founded in 1567). The 4000km (2800 miles) of Caribbean coastline represents the major tourist destination in the country. The area has numerous excellent beaches and resorts ranging from the comparatively luxurious to the unashamedly opulent, which stretch along the coastline. The coastal regions to the north of the Guyana Highlands have some fine tourist beaches and resorts. These include Higuerote and Lecheria. The Guyana Highlands lie to the south of the Orinoco River and constitute half the land area of the country. The Gran Sabana National Reserve is the largest of the Venezuelan plateaux and has an extraordinary array of wildlife. Some local specialities are tequenos (thin dough wrapped around a finger of local white cheese and fried crisp) and arepas (the native bread). There are many nightclubs and discotheques in the major cities of Venezuela. General Information Area: 912,050 sq km (352,144 sq miles). Population: 23,706,000 (1999). Population Density: 26 per sq km. Capital: Caracas. Population: 1,975,787 (2000). GEOGRAPHY: Venezuela is bounded to the north by the Caribbean, to the east by Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Brazil, and to the west and southwest by Colombia. The country consists of four distinctive regions: the Venezuelan Highlands in the west; the Maracaibo Lowlands in the north; the vast central plain of the Llanos around the Orinoco; and the Guiana Highlands, which take up about half of the country. Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1830. Head of State and Government: President Hugo Chávez Frías since 1999. Language: Spanish is the official language. English, French, German and Portuguese are also spoken by some sections of the community. Religion: 92 per cent Roman Catholic. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. US-style two-pin plugs are the most commonly used fittings. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 58. Outgoing international code: 00. Mobile telephone GSM 900 network. Operators include Corporación Digitel (website: www.digitel.com.ve), Digicel (website: www.digicel.com.ve) and Infonet. Coverage is limited to around Caracas and major cities. Fax Available at the larger hotels. Internet ISPs include CantvNet (website: www.cantv.net), Internet Venezuela (website: www.internet.ve) and Compuserve Venezuela (website: www.csi.com.ve). E-mail can be accessed from Internet cafes in most urban areas. Telegram Services are available from public telegraph offices. Post There is an efficient mail service from Venezuela to the USA and Europe. Airmail to Europe takes three to seven days. Internal mail can sometimes take longer. Surface mail to Europe takes at least one month. Press The English-language daily newspaper is The Daily Journal, published in Caracas. Spanish-language dailies include El Nacional, El Universal, Meridiano and Ultimas Noticias. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.79 15.19 12.10 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No/1 Yes Australian Yes No/1 Yes Canadian Yes No/1 Yes USA Yes No/1 Yes OtherEU Yes No/1 Yes Japanese Yes No/1 Yes 1: Visa required if not entering the country by air. PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months (if entering with a visa) or for the duration of stay (if entering with a Tourist Entry Card) required by all. VISAS: Required by all except the following, who do, however, require a Tourist Entry Card (TEC) issued free of charge by an authorised air carrier on presentation of valid air tickets (including return or onward ticket) for stays of maximum 90 days: (a) nationals of countries mentioned in the chart above; (c) nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Hong Kong (SAR), Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, San Marino, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago and Uruguay. Types of visa and cost: Tourist Entry Card: Free of charge. Tourist: £22 (multiple-entry). Business: £42 (multiple-entry). Transit: £22. Validity: Tourist: 90 days. Business: 180 days. Transit: up to 72 hours. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Tourist Entry Cards are available at the airport check-in desk prior to departure. Application requirements: Tourist visa: (a) Completed and signed application form. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Valid passport. (d) Fee. (e) Airline ticket for return or onward journey. (f) Self-addressed, stamped envelope for postal applications. (g) Reference from employer with start date, salary and position held, and last bank statement. Business visa: (a)-(f), and (g) Employer’s reference and letter confirming purpose of visit. (h) Reference from company to be contacted in Venezuela. Working days required: Two. Temporary residence: Special authorisation is required from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Caracas. Money Currency: Bolívar (Bs) = 100 céntimos. Notes are in denominations of Bs50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Bs500, 100, 50, 25, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 céntimos. Currency exchange: Banks will change cheques and cash, and cambios will change cash only; as will hotels, although often at a less favourable rate. Credit & debit cards: Visa, American Express and MasterCard are widely accepted; Diners Club has more limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and for other facilities which may be available. Travellers cheques: Widely accepted, although one may be asked to produce a receipt of purchase when changing them in Venezuela. Exchange is more difficult in some places than others. Some kinds of travellers cheques are not accepted; seek advice before travelling. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Currency restrictions: The import and export of local and foreign currency is unlimited. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Bolívar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 1460.94 2115.95 2106.89 2544.42 $1.00= 1002.50 1391.25 1332.30 1598.00 Note: The above rates are the official rates for non-commercial transactions. ‘Essential Import’ and ‘Preferential’ rates are also used. Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1530. Duty Free The following items may be imported into Venezuela without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes and 25 cigars; 2l of alcoholic beverages; 4 small bottles of perfume; new goods up to a value of US$1000. Prohibited Items: Flowers, plants, fruit, meat and meat products, live plants and birds or bird products. Public Holidays Dec 25 2002 Christmas Day. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Mar 3-4 Carnival. Apr 17 Holy Thursday. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 19 Declaration of Independence. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 24 Battle of Carabobo. Jul 5 Independence Day. Jul 24 Birth of Simón Bolívar. Oct 12 Columbus Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 23-24 Carnival. Apr 8 Holy Thursday. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 19 Declaration of Independence. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 24 Battle of Carabobo. Jul 5 Independence Day. Jul 24 Birth of Simón Bolívar. Oct 12 Columbus Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve. Note: There are some additional regional holidays; enquire at the Embassy or the Corporación de Turismo de Venezuela (see Contact Addresses section). Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever Yes 1 Cholera 2 No Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is not required as a condition of entry but vaccination is advised for all travellers over one year of age who intend to travel outside urban areas. Europe and some Caribbean islands require a vaccination certificate for visitors arriving from Venezuela. 2: Cases of autochthonous cholera were reported in 1996. Visitors are advised to take necessary precautions. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information. 3: Vaccination against typhoid is advised. 4: Malaria risk in the benign vivax form exists throughout the year in rural areas of Apure, Amazonas, Barinas, Bolívar, Sucre and Táchira states. The malignant falciparum form is restricted to certain jungle areas of Amazonas, Bolívar and Delta Amacuro states and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine. Food & drink: Mains water is not drinkable, and should be boiled or filtered. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present in north-central Venezuela. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools that are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Paragonimiasis (oriental lung fluke) and dengue fever have been reported. Hepatitis A also occurs; hepatitis B and D (delta hepatitis) are highly endemic. Cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis occur in rural areas. Visceral leishmaniasis is rarer. In the southeast, some deaths have been caused by mercury in the river water. Dengue fever is increasingly common and there are epidemics of viral encephalitis at times. Rabies has been reported. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: The best-equipped hospitals are in the state capitals. Emergency treatment is free and well catered for; most hospitals have intensive care units. Some private hospitals have an agreement with foreign embassies to provide medical care. Health insurance is not mandatory but it is recommended. Travel - International AIR: Venezuela’s national airlines are Aeropostal (Alas de Venezuela) (VH), and Avensa and Servivensa (which no longer flies to Europe) (VC). Other airlines serving Venezuela include British Airways, Lufthansa and United Airlines. Approximate flight times: From Caracas to London is 9 hours, to Los Angeles is 9 hours and to New York is 5 hours. International airports: Caracas (CCS) (Simon Bolívar) is 22km (14 miles) from the city (travel time – 30-45 minutes). There is a coach service to the city every 60 minutes (0530-2359). Buses (littoral) are available to the city every 60 minutes (0600-1800). Taxis to the city are available on ranks. Airport facilities include duty-free shop, bank/bureau de change (0800-1800), bar/restaurant, tourist information and car hire (Avis, Budget and National). Departure tax: Bs26,400 from Caracas, Valencia and Maracaibo airports. Transit passengers and children under two years are exempt. The Visit South America Pass: This must be bought outside South America in country of residence and allows unlimited travel to 36 cities in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines include LAN-Chile (LA), Aer Lingus (EI), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Cathay Pacific (CX), Finnair (AY), IBERIA (IB) and Qantas (QF). A minimum of three flights must be booked, with no maximum; the maximum stay is 60 days, with no minimum, and prices depend on the amount of flight zones covered. For both air passes children under 12 years of age are entitled to a 33 per cent discount and infants (under two years old) only pay ten per cent of the adult fare. For further details contact one of the participating airlines. SEA: The principal Venezuelan ports are La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Maracaibo, Guanta, Porlamar and Ciudad Bolívar (on the Orinoco River). The principal shipping lines operating to Venezuela are, from the USA: Venezuelan Line, and from European ports: French Line, the Spanish ships ‘Cabo San Juan’ and ‘Cabo San Roque’, Polish Ocean Lines, Columbus Line and Hapag Lloyd. Cunard offers Caribbean cruises from San Juan that include a stop in Caracas. Other cruise lines include Costa and Celebrity Cruises. Departure tax: There is a tax on all sea departures, regardless of nationality, of Bs13,200. RAIL: There are no international rail links with neighbouring countries. ROAD: Road access is from Colombia (Barranquilla and Medellin) to Maracaibo, and from the Amazon territory of Brazil (Manaus) to Caracas. Travel - Internal AIR: Almost all large towns are connected with scheduled services operated by domestic airlines including Aeropostal (website: www.aeropostal.com), Aerotuy (website: www.tuy.com), and Avensa and Servivensa (website: www.avensa.com). There are various discount tickets offered by Avensa and Servivensa including special student and family prices. For further information, contact your local travel agency. Air travel is the best means of internal transport but services are often overbooked and even confirmation does not always ensure a seat. Travellers are advised to arrive at the airport well before the minimum check-in time in order to obtain confirmed seats. Schedule changes and flight cancellations with no advance warning are also likely. Departure tax: Bs600. SEA: Ferries link Puerto La Cruz with Margarita Island (travel time – 2 hours 45 minutes). RAIL: The only railway runs between Barquisimeto and Puerto Cabello, with no air-conditioning. There are plans for a considerable extension to the rail network. There are ambitious plans in progress for a 1400km (870 mile) national network to be constructed in the near future. ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. Internal roads between principal cities are of a high standard, with 17,050km (10,595 miles) of paved motorways, 13,500km (8400 miles) of macadam highways and 5850km (3635 miles) of other roads. Bus: There are fairly cheap interurban bus services; quality of travel varies a lot, however. Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at the airport and in major city centres but are expensive. Documentation: National driving licences are valid for one year. International Driving Permits are also valid. URBAN: Caracas has a 35-station metro, which is comfortable and inexpensive. Conventional bus services have badly deteriorated in recent years and there has been a rapid growth in the use of por puestos (share-taxis). These are operated by minibus companies and tend to serve as the main form of public transport in Caracas and major cities. Fares charged are in general similar to those on the buses, although they are higher during the evenings and at weekends. Taxis in Caracas are metered but the fare can nonetheless be negotiated with the driver. It is customary not to use meters after midnight; the fare should be agreed before setting out. Taxi fares double after 2000. Taxi rates are posted at the airport. Motorcycles may not be used in Caracas after 2200. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Caracas to other major cities/towns in Venezuela. Air Porlamar 0.45 Los Roques 0.50 Mérida 1.00 Canaima 1.15 Cumana 0.45 Maracaibo 1.00 Ciudad Bolívar 0.50 Accommodation HOTELS: There are many excellent hotels in Caracas. Numerous smaller hotels are open throughout the country but it is essential to make reservations at both these and the larger international hotels well in advance. It normally follows that the more expensive the hotel, the better the facilities. Hotels do not add a service charge, and generally there is no variation in seasonal rates. Hotels outside the capital tend to be cheaper and the standard may not be as high. A useful guide is the Guía Turistica de Caracas Littoral y Venezuela, published by the Corporación de Turismo de Venezuela, available at local tourist offices. Grading: Hotels in Venezuela have been graded into three categories; 3-star (65 hotels), 4-star (22 hotels) and 5-star (15 hotels). YOUTH HOSTELS: For further information, contact: Hostelling International, Av Lecuna Partque Central, Edif. Tajamar, Nivel OFC 1, Of. 107, Caracas (tel: (212) 576 4493; fax: (212) 577 4915; e-mail: hostellingven@cantv.net); or Idiomas Vivos s.r.l., Res. La Hacienda Local 1-4-T, Final Av. ppal. Las Mercedes, Apdo. 80160, Caracas 1080 (tel: (2) 993 6082; fax: (2) 992 9626; e-mail: info@ividiomas.com; website: www.ividiomas.com). CAMPING/CARAVANNING: Camping in Venezuela can involve spending a weekend at the beach, on the islands, in the Llanos or in the mountains. Camping can also be arranged with companies who run jungle expeditions. As in much of South America, however, good facilities are not widespread and camping is not used by travellers as a substitute for hotels on the main highways. No special campsites are yet provided for this purpose. Introduction Venezuela offers a great variety of landscapes – tropical beaches, immense plains, enormous rivers, forests, jungle, waterfalls and great mountains. Unfortunately, the flash floods and mudslides which hit Venezuela in 1999 severely damaged the country’s infrastructure; some of which may still not have been fully restored. Travellers should check prior to departure, particularly if planning to visit Vargas State. Caracas Nestling in a long narrow valley in the coastal mountain range 16km (10 miles) from the north coast, Caracas is typical of the ‘new Venezuela’, despite being one of the oldest established cities in the country (founded in 1567). The city is constantly growing and changing but, among the new developments, there are still areas of the old towns intact – San José and La Pastora, for example. Other periods of the country’s history have left substantial monuments; these include the Plaza Bolívar, flanked by the old cathedral and the Archbishop’s residence, the Casa Amarilla and the Capitol (the National Congress) building, erected in 1873 in just 114 days, which has a fine mural depicting Venezuelan military exploits. Other places worth visiting include the Panteon Nacional (which contains the body of Simon Bolívar), the Jardín Botánico, the Parque Nacional del Este, and, for recreation, the Country Club. Museums in the capital include the Museo de Bellas Artes, the Museo del Arte Colonial, the Museo del Arte Contemporáneo, the Museo de Transporte and the Casa Natal del Libertador (a reconstruction of the house where Bolívar was born; the first was destroyed in an earthquake). Next door is a museum containing the liberator’s war relics. There is a large number of art galleries, as well as daily concerts, theatrical productions, films and lectures. The city also has a wide range of nightclubs, bars and coffee shops, especially along the Boulevard de Sabana Grande. Excursions: Mount Avila gives a superb view across the city and along the coast. There are several beaches within 30km (20 miles) of the capital, with excellent ‘taverns’ and restaurants. For further information on these and other coastal resorts, see the following section. The North Coast The 4000km (2800 miles) of Caribbean coastline represents the major tourist destination in the country. The area has numerous excellent beaches and resorts ranging from the comparatively luxurious to the unashamedly opulent, which stretch along the coastline. Maiquetia is one of the best and most popular, offering wide beaches, an extensive range of watersports and some of the best fishing (including an international competition for the giant blue sailfish). There are daily air-shuttles from Maiquetia to Porlamar, on Margarita Island, a popular tourist resort with beautiful beaches, good hotels and extensive shopping centres. Also to the west of Caracas are Macuto, Marbella, Naiguata, Carabelleda, Leguna and Oriaco, all of which boast excellent beaches. To the north of Maiquetia are the idyllic islands of Los Roques. La Guaira is the main port for Caracas. Although now heavily industrialised, the winding hilltop route from the city and the old town are worth visiting. Further west along the Inter-American highway is Maracay with its opera house, bullring and Gomez Mausoleum. Excursions run to Lake Valencia and Gomez’s country house, the Rancho Grande. The coastal resorts of Ocumare de la Costa and Cata can be reached by way of the 1130m (3710ft) Portachuelo Pass through the central highlands. The coastline is dotted with fine beaches and islands, many inhabited only by flamingoes and scarlet ibis. Most can be reached by hired boat. Morrocoy, off the coast from Tucacas, is the most spectacular of these – hundreds of coral reefs with palm beaches ideal for scuba diving and fishing. Palma Sola and Chichiriviche are also popular. Ferries run from La Vela de Coro and Punto Fijo to the islands of Aruba and Curaçao. Journeys take about four hours and delays are to be expected. Puerto la Cruz is a popular coastal resort with bars and restaurants and good beaches. It is also a good centre for travelling to remoter beaches. There is the Morro marina development in the Lecherías area adjacent to Puerto la Cruz, and the attractive town of Pueblo Viejo with ‘old’ Caribbean architecture and a Venetian lagoon layout – boats are the only means of transport. The attractiveness of the Puerto la Cruz area means that there has been an increase of foreign investment here in recent years. Central & Western Venezuela The Llanos is an expansive, sparsely populated area of grassland east of the Cordillera de Mérida and north of the Orinoco, reaching up to the north coast. The area is the heart of the Venezuelan cattle country and the landscape is flat and only varied here and there by slight outcrops of land. It is veined by numerous slow-running rivers, forested along their banks. The swamps are the home of egrets, parrots, alligators and monkeys. The equestrian skills of the plainsmen can be seen at many rodeos throughout the Llanos, as well as exhibitions of cattle roping and the Joropo, Venezuela’s national dance. Barquisimeto, one of the oldest settlements in Venezuela, is now the country’s fourth-largest city and capital of the Llanos. Its cathedral is one of the most famous modern buildings in the country. Along the Colombian border is the Cordillera de Mérida and, to the east of this range, the Cordillera Oriental. Set in the area between these two ranges are the city of Maracaibo and Lake Maracaibo. Windless and excessively humid, the city and its environs are dominated by the machinery of oil production from the largest oil fields in the world, discovered in 1917. Sightseeing tours are available from here to the peninsula of Guajira to the north, where the Motilone and Guajiro Indians live. Their lifestyle has changed little since the days of the first Spanish settlers. Their houses are raised above the lake on stilts and are in fact the original inspiration for naming the country Venezuela, or ‘Little Venice’. The Cordillera de Mérida are the only peaks in the country with a permanent snowline. Frosty plateaux and lofty summits characterise the landscape and many cities have grown up at the foot of the mountains, combining tradition with modern ways of life as well as diversified rural and urban scenery. The scenery in this area is extremely varied – lagoons, mountains, rivers, beaches, ancient villages, historical cities, oil camps, sand dunes and Indian lake dwellings on stilts. The Sierra Nevada National Park offers opportunities to ski between November and June but, at an altitude of 4270m (14,000ft), this is recommended only for the hardiest and most dedicated. Mérida, to the south, is today a city of wide modern avenues linking mainly large-scale 20th-century developments, although, wherever possible, relics of the colonial past have been allowed to stand. A university town and tourist centre, it nestles in the Sierra Nevada, overshadowed by Bolívar Peak (5007m/15,260ft) and Mirror Peak (where the world’s highest cable car climbs to an altitude of 4675m/14,250ft). Mérida has modern and colonial art museums and much more worth seeing, including the Valle Grande, the Flower Clock, Los Chorros de Milla, the lagoons of Mucubaji, Los Anteojos, Tabay, Pogal, Los Patos, San-say and the famous Black Lagoon. A mountain railway runs from the town to Pico Espejo. The view from the summit looks over the highest peaks of the Cordillera and the Llanos. The Andean Club in Mérida arranges trips to Los Nervados, the highest village in the mountains. Again, this is only recommended for the hardy. Other excursions from Mérida include San Javier del Valle, a relaxing mountain retreat, and Jaji, which has some fine examples of colonial architecture. Eastern Venezuela The coastal regions to the north of the Guiana Highlands have some fine tourist beaches and resorts. These include Higuerote, La Sabana and also Lecheria where the San Juan Drum Festival is held during late June. The Guiana Highlands lie to the south of the Orinoco River and constitute half the land area of the country. Their main value is as a source of gold and diamonds. The Orinoco and its delta have been developed as major trade centres. Ciudad Bolívar, formerly known as Angostura, and the home of Angostura bitters, is an old city on the south bank of the Orinoco and still bears traces of its colonial past, although it is currently the centre of modern developments. The Gran Sabana National Reserve is the largest of the Venezuelan plateaux and has an extraordinary array of wildlife. Santa Elena, Guri Dam (a hydroelectric complex supplying electricity to most of Venezuela) and Danto Falls are all worth a visit. Santa Elena de Uairén is a rugged frontier town which holds a Fiesta in August. Mount Roraima, suggested as the site of Conan Doyle’s Lost World, can be climbed on foot. A fortnight’s supplies and full camping equipment should be taken as the trip can take up to two weeks. The nearest village to the mountain is Peraitepin. Tepuy Peak is also worth a visit. Trips can be arranged to the diamond mines at Los Caribes. In Icaban, after a heavy rainfall, it is common to see children searching the slopes for gold nuggets washed down from the slopes. It is possible to arrange trips by boat up the Orinoco River delta to La Tucupita. Canaima (one of the world’s largest national parks, comprising 7,400,000 acres/3,000,000 hectares) is the setting for the spectacular Angel Falls, which carry the waters of the Churum River into an abyss. At 979m (3212ft), they are the highest in the world, a sight no visitor should miss. Trips can be arranged which take in the waterfalls and other nearby attractions, including many rare plants – Canaima has over 500 species of orchid alone. Overnight accommodation is available on the shores of the lagoon. Other national parks in Venezuela are to be found in Bolívar State and the Amazonas Federal Territory, for example, El Cocuy and Autana. Sport & Activities Hiking and trekking: Venezuela has 42 national parks and around 20 nature reserves (monumentos naturales) which, together, cover some 15 per cent of the total land mass. All types of walks, ranging from signposted trails to mountain climbing and jungle paths, are possible. Visitors should note that a permit, issued by central or regional Inparques offices, is required to visit the parks. The well-developed tourist facilities at the Parque Nacional El Avila include around 200km (125 miles) of fairly easy, signposted trails, as well as numerous camping grounds. Most serious trekkers head up to the Venezuelan Andes, stretching some 400km (250 miles) from Táchira on the Colombian border north-eastwards, and offering everything from snow-capped peaks to lush rainforests. The most popular area for mountain trekking and rock climbing is the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, where several of the country’s highest peaks (such as the Pico Bolívar or the Pico Humboldt) and the magnificent Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada are located. Experienced guides (who are strongly recommended for mountaineering) and equipment can be hired in Mérida, the regional tourist hub. Other popular trekking destinations in the area include Los Nevados (reached via an easy trek along a beautiful mountain track); Pico El Aguila (accessible from Valera, which can be reached on a bus ride from Mérida along Venezuela’s highest road); and the Sierra de la Culata (particularly known for its desert-like landscapes). The Mérida region is also noted for its cable car (teleferico), the world’s longest and highest, which runs for 12.6km (7.9 miles) from Mérida to the top of Pico Espejo (4765m/15,629ft), and provides easy access to starting points for mountain treks. Another popular trekking destination is Guyana, in the southeast, a region dotted with Venezuela’s characteristic tepuis (flat-topped mountains with vertical flanks) and home to the country’s most famous natural attraction – Angel Falls (called Salto Angel in Spanish), the world’s highest waterfall (with an uninterrupted drop of 807m/2647ft, which is about 16 times the height of Niagara Falls). Access to the falls is fairly difficult (there is no road link) and involves a flight to Canaima (the main tourist base, some 50km/31.5 miles northwest of the falls), followed by either another scenic flight in a light aircraft, or a motorised canoe trip to the foot of Angel Falls (which only operates from June to November, the rainy season, and takes approximately two days). Watersports: One of the most popular destinations for water-based activities is the Isla de Margarita, which lies some 40km (25 miles) off the mainland north of Cumaná (from where a twice-daily ferry provides access to the island), and whose Caribbean climate and 167km- (105-mile) long shoreline (with white sandy beaches) draw increasing numbers of swimming, surfing, snorkelling and diving enthusiasts. These activities are available all along the Caribbean coast (in the northeast of the country), with one destination, the Parcque Nacional Mochima, standing out: it consists of a wealth of islands and islets some of which, such as the Isla de Plata (the most developed), are surrounded by coral reefs. In the northwest, the coastal strip and the numerous offshore islands and coral reefs forming the Parque Nacional Morroy provide ideal snorkelling and diving. Boat trips through the mangrove caños (channels) and to several of the park’s islands (notably to Cayo Sombrero and Chichiriviche, two of the best known) are available. The fishing, both fresh- and salt-water, is good. Other: Mountain biking and paragliding are widely practised in the Mérida region, while caving enthusiasts may head to the Cueva del Guácharo, the most spectacular of Venezuela’s many cave systems, located three hours by bus from Cumaná. Caracas has South America’s largest and most modern horseracing track – La Rinconada – open Saturday and Sunday. Horse-riding can be arranged at most tourist spots. Boxing, baseball and football are the most popular spectator sports in Venezuela and can be seen all year round. The indigenous lucha libre wrestling is a weekly event. Note: All forms of hunting are prohibited. Social Profile Food & Drink: Cumin and saffron are used in many dishes but the distinctive and delicate flavour of most of the popular dishes comes from the use of local roots and vegetables. Some local specialities are tequenos, a popular hors d’oeuvres (thin dough wrapped around a finger of local white cheese and fried crisp); arepas (the native bread), made from primitive ground corn, water and salt; and tostadas, which are used for sandwiches (the mealy centre is removed and the crisp shell is filled with anything from ham and cheese to spiced meat, chicken salad or cream cheese). Guasacaca is a semi-hot relish used mostly with grilled meats. Pabellón criollo is a hash made with shredded meat and served with fried plantains and black beans on rice. Hallaca is a local delicacy, eaten at Christmas and New Year; cornmeal is combined with beef, pork, ham and green peppers, wrapped in individual pieces of banana leaves and cooked in boiling water. Parrilla criolla is beef marinated and cooked over a charcoal grill. Hervido is soup made with chunks of beef, chicken or fish and native vegetables or roots. Purée de apio is one of the more exotic local roots (boiled and puréed, with salt and butter added, it tastes like chestnuts). Empanadas (meat turnovers), roast lapa (a succulent, large rodent) and chipi chipi soup (made from tiny clams) are excellent. Table service is the norm and opening hours are 2100-2300. There is no good local wine, although foreign wines are bottled locally. There are several good local beers, mineral waters, gin and excellent rum. Coffee is very good and a merengada (fruit pulp, ice, milk and sugar) is recommended. Batido is similar but with water and no milk. Pousse-café is an after-dinner liqueur. Bars have either table or counter service. A lisa is a glass of draught beer and a tercio a bottled beer. Most bars are open very late and there are no licensing laws. Nightlife: There are many nightclubs and discos in the major cities of Venezuela. The National and Municipal Theatres offer a variety of concerts, ballet, plays, operas and operettas. There are other theatres, some of which are open-air, in Caracas, as well as several cinemas. Shopping: There are many handicrafts unique to Venezuela which are made by local Indian tribes. Good purchases are gems and jewellery, cacique coins, gold, pearls, pompom slippers, seed necklaces, shoes and handbags, Indian bows, arrows, mats, pipes and baskets, alpargatas (traditional local footwear of the Campesinos), chinchorros (local hammocks) and many other Indian goods. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1300 and 1500-1900. Special Events: Every village and town in Venezuela celebrates the feast of its patron saint. It is during these provincial festivals that the tourist can enjoy the colourful folklore that is a mixture of the cultures of pre-Columbian Indians, African slaves and Spanish colonists. For further information on special events, contact the Corporación de Turismo de Venezuela (see Contact Addresses). The following is a selection of events taking place in 2003: Jan 14 Procesion de la Divina Pastora (religious procession), from Santa Rosa to Barquismeto. Mar 1-4 Carnival, El Callao. Apr 20 Burning of Judas (Easter ritual), throughout Venezuela. Jun 18-19 Los Diablos Danzantes (dancing in celebration of Corpus Christi), throughout Venezuela. Jun Festival of St John (religious festival celebrated with drumming), throughout Venezuela. Social Conventions: Shaking hands or using the local abrazo, a cross between a hug and a handshake, are the normal forms of greeting. In Caracas, conservative casual wear is the norm. Men are expected to wear suits for business, and jackets and ties are usual for dining out and social functions. Dress on the coast is less formal but beachwear and shorts should not be worn away from the beach or pool. Smoking follows European habits and in most cases it is obvious where not to smoke. Some public buildings are also non-smoking areas. Tipping: Tips are discretionary but in the majority of bars and restaurants ten per cent is added to the bill and it is customary to leave another ten per cent on the table. Bellboys and chambermaids should be tipped, and in Caracas tips are higher than elsewhere. Taxi drivers are not tipped unless they carry suitcases. Petrol pump attendants expect a tip. Business Profile Economy: Venezuela was a primarily agricultural country until the discovery and extraction of oil began in the 1920s. Oil is now dominant, providing one third of GDP, half of government revenues and 80 per cent of export earnings. The national oil corporation, PdVSA, is one of the world’s largest companies. Venezuela has some of the largest known reserves in the world, so little change in the basic structure of its economy may be expected in the near future. Agriculture’s share of the workforce has now fallen to five per cent of GDP, but the sector remains important by providing a non-oil export income in the form of its dairy and beef produce. Some cash crops – mostly rice, sugar and coffee – are grown. Most of the other farming activity is devoted to staple crops for domestic consumption. As well as oil, Venezuela has substantial deposits of iron and aluminium ores, plus gas, coal, diamonds, gold, zinc, copper, titanium, lead, silver, phosphates and manganese. The processing of these ores and the country’s agricultural products account for the bulk of the industrial sector. However, over-dependence on oil income has meant that Venezuela’s industries are suffering from a historic failure to modernise. During 2000, large-scale flooding caused considerable economic damage, especially to agriculture, although this has been partly offset by the rise in oil prices. Venezuela was a prominent founding member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the current president, Hugo Chávez, has played a leading role in the revival of the organisation’s fortunes since the late 1990s. Venezuela’s recent economic performance has been erratic, not least due to the currency crisis which struck in February 2002, coupled with the aftermath of the aftermath of the attempted coup two months later. The economy is expected to contract by six per cent over the current financial year. Venezuela belongs to the Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI), which seeks to promote a common market for Latin America, and to the Inter-American Development Bank. The USA, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Japan, and the UK are Venezuela’s principal trading partners. Business: English is becoming more widely spoken in business circles, particularly at executive level. Nevertheless, Spanish is essential for most business discussions. Appointments are necessary and a business visitor should be punctual. It is common to exchange visiting cards. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1800 with a long midday break. Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: CONAPRI, Consejo Nacional de Promoción de Invensiones (National Council for Investment Promotion), Av. Francisco de Miranda, Centro Empresarial Parque del Este, Piso 12, La Carlota, Caracas 1071 (tel: (212) 237 5486 or 237 5895; fax: (212) 237 6028; e-mail: conapri@conapri.org; website: www.conapri.org); or FEDECAMARAS, Federación Venezolana de Cámaras y Asociaciones de Comercio y Producción (Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry), Apartado 2568, Edificio Fedecámaras, Pent-House 2, Avenida El Empalme, El Bosque, Caracas (tel: (212) 731 1711; fax: (2) 730 2097; e-mail: sisfedecamaras@telcel.net.ve; website: www.fedecamaras.org.ve). Conferences/Conventions: Larger hotels have facilities. For further information, contact the Corporación de Turismo de Venezuela (see Contact Addresses section). Climate The climate varies according to altitude. Lowland areas have a tropical climate. The dry season is from December to April and the rainy season from May to December. The best time to visit is between January and April. History and Government History: Originally inhabited by Carib and Arawak Indians, Venezuela was claimed as a Spanish territory by Christopher Columbus in 1498. Spanish rule was administered from a distance, leaving the various regions to develop separately from the capital, Caracas, which was founded by Diego de Losada in 1567. In the 18th century, an attempt to inject a measure of unification by the Spanish was met with widespread resistance and uprisings led by Simón Bolívar (after whom the currency is named). In 1830, Venezuela became a sovereign state, led by José Paéz. The precise territorial limits were not, however, well defined and Venezuela’s borders have since been the subject of periodic disputes with its neighbours. The dictatorship of Juan Vincente Goméz, between 1909 and 1935, was a period of rapid economic development. This was largely driven by the exploitation of the country’s substantial oilfields, which began in 1918. Venezuela is now essentially an oil economy and the national producer, PdVSA, is one of the world’s largest companies (see Economy). In 1936 and 1937, Venezuela held democratic elections for the presidency and National Assembly for the first time but the experiment in pluralism lasted only until 1945. The first of a rapid succession of military dictatorships lasted until 1961. That year, the current Venezuelan constitution came into force. From then until the 1990s, Venezuelan politics were dominated by the struggle between the Partido Social Cristiano, known as COPEI, and the social democratic Acción Democrática (AD). Following the 1973 price hike, Venezuela had enjoyed the benefits of large oil revenues accruing throughout the 1970s, and ran up a substantial overseas debt (although not on the scale of those burdening other Latin American countries). The country’s oil wealth was far from evenly distributed – a relatively small section of the population enjoyed the benefits, while the vast majority was excluded. In the 1980s, successive governments struggled to stabilise the country and the economy in the face of persistent social and labour unrest, as well as external pressure from creditors pursuing scheduled loan repayments. At the turn of the 1990s, the government’s opponents found support from sections of the army, who considered themselves ill-equipped and badly paid. In February 1992, a number of army units launched a completely unexpected military coup. It was suppressed by the majority of the armed forces, which remained loyal to the government. However, the Perez government was fatally undermined and it was little surprise when he was removed from office by Congress the following year, before completing his term of office. Elections at the end of 1993 resulted in Rafael Caldera, who had served as president in the mid-1970s, assuming the post once again. Meanwhile, the leader of the 1992 coup attempt, Colonel Hugo Chavez, was seeking to establish himself as a national political figure, drawing on the support of millions of disaffected poor people, who had been disregarded during the oil boom. The established parties, dominated by wealthy and increasingly corrupt interests, held little attraction for them. In 1997, Chavez announced the formation of his own party, the Movimiento Quinta República (MVR, the Fifth Republic Movement), and his candidacy at the 1998 presidential election. He won, while his party – with the support of other smaller groupings – was able to take control of the national assembly. Further polls in July 2000 secured his position and, de facto, an endorsement of the constitutional changes that he planned to increase presidential powers. Chavez’s problems now began in earnest. Always a controversial figure, as a result of the 1992 coup attempt and his courting such heads of state as Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Cuba’s Fidel Castro, Chavez has attracted powerful enemies both inside and outside Venezuela. In April 2002, a right-wing alliance of dissident military officers and prominent businessmen led by Pedro Carmona launched a coup against Chavez. At first, it appeared to be successful but, within 24 hours, the plotters had been outmanoeuvred and Chavez returned to office. Many believe that the United States had a major hand in the plot and while that remain unproven, there is no doubt that the Bush administration would be happy to see the back of Chavez. The government was certainly shaken by the coup. The economy was already facing serious difficulties following a currency collapse in February 2002 and the country was now close to a serious recession. Then, in December 2002, the opposition tried a different strategy. With the support of key union leaders, especially in the all-important oil industry, Venezuela was brought to a virtual standstill by a general strike. By the end of February 2003, after more than two months of paralysis, the strike appeared to be petering out, while Chavez – who still has the backing of the army – has tried to stabilise the country. The final outcome, at the time of writing, remains uncertain. (Some observers have drawn attention to the similarities between the Venezuelan situation and the 1973 coup in Chile, which began in a similar fashion). Government: A ‘national constitutional assembly’ was convened in July 1999, to rewrite the country’s constitution. Executive power is vested in the president, who is popularly elected for a six-year term. The legislature is the unicameral Asemblea Nacional, whose 165 members are directly elected to serve a five-year term Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.