Backpacking in VenezuelaBackpacking in Venezuela is not an ‘easy’ stop on a tour of South America, and with an unenviable reputation for political unrest, Venezuela is often passed over by backpackers. When you consider that it has some of the most dependable weather, some of the nicest beaches (it's coast is all Caribbean) and some of the liveliest cities in South America though, you would be quite right in thinking that you might well find your own little slice of ‘off the beaten track’ paradise when backpacking in Venezuela. If you’re time rich on your travels, then it could be just the place to kick back for a month or two, while the rainy seasons dog the rest of the continent. Plus you’ve got the world’s highest waterfall, cosmopolitan Caracas, and did we mention the beaches?! Where is it and what’s thereVenezuela is the inverted triangle sat on the top of South America. It shares borders with Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and Columbia to the east. You need to exercise caution if you’re heading anywhere near the Colombian border (see Colombia page for details). The country has typically diverse landscapes, with the country ticking pretty much all geographical boxes. The Venezuelan highlands, in the North and the West of the country, are mountainous - with some peaks having snow and skiing year round. Many of the larger cities are nestled in the highlands – where temperatures are comfortable year round.To the south, much of the country is in the Amazonian rainforest, and is sparsely inhabited. Angel Falls is in the south-eastern quarter of the country. The climateAlthough Venezuela is entirely in the tropics, due to its mountainous topography it isn’t particularly easy to generalise about the weather. Caracas – despite its tropical location, is at an elevation of around 3000ft, so has a pleasant year round average in the mid 20s. If you’re heading further south, then the rainy season runs from May to September, and if you’re hitting any of the beaches, then it’s sunny all year round, and daytime temperatures rarely drop much below 25°.Return from Backpacking Venezuela to the Home Page Getting there and visasGetting to Venezuela through any means other than air is difficult. If you’ve worked your way down through Central America, then you may want to go straight through Colombia and hop into the west of the country, or just fly over from Costa Rica or Panama.Similarly, although Venezuela borders Brazil, it is almost 3000 miles from Brasilia - the northernmost Brazilian city for most backpackers - to Caracas. This said, if you’re heading up to the Amazon, then you’re much closer to Venezuela, but it is still quite a mission... Venezuela is well served by air routes from all over South America, and if there’s one country that it’s worth putting any of your ‘internal flight’ budget towards, then it’s probably Venezuela. A free 90 day visa is issued on entry, providing you have proof of your onward journey. Getting aroundBackpacking in Venezuela is generally pretty straightforward. There are good roads between all of the major cities, and – if you stick to the main companies – buses are generally very comfortable. If you’re off the beaten track and on more minor roads, then things can get pretty bumpy.Caracas has an excellent transport infrastructure, including the Metro – the cities pride and joy. There are also Metrobuses which travel to destinations that the Metro doesn’t get to, and plenty of taxis - there are no meters so agree a fare beforehand: haggling is expected! Things to do while backpacking in VenezuelaThe likelihood is that you’ll have ticked (or are planning to tick) a lot of the ‘classic site’ boxes on the rest of your South American travels, and the fact that a Venezuelan stop doesn’t really suit an ‘in one side and out the other’ backpacking tour, means that you’re best off just taking the best bits that Venezuela has to offer. Here are some ‘easy’ stops, and a few ideas if you are feeling a bit more adventurous.Caracas. The country’s capital is a microcosm of Venezuela. The incredible poverty in the ‘barrios’, jars with the overt wealth in the richer districts. You do (as with elsewhere) need to be careful of where you go, particularly after dark (take a taxi), but the city really does have a lot to offer in terms of great food and great entertainment and Caracans are generally friendly and keen to show off their city. You can also catch the Teleférico - the world’s highest and longest cable car - into the mountains, where you can see Caracas as a dot in the distance, and the Caribbean Sea beyond the mountains. Cueva del Guácharo National Park. On the Eastern side of the country, the cave network within the National Park is home to thousands of ‘oilbirds’, which feed on the fruit of the oil palm. You can go into the caves and listen to the cacophony as the birds nest and navigate their way around. Margarita. Yes, home of the original sunset cocktail! The Isla de Margarita has over 100 miles of beaches and some world-class seafood restaurants. More expensive than beaches on the mainland, but worth treating yourself for a couple of days. You can catch a ferry there from most of the main ports. Angel Falls. Named after an American pilot (Jimmy Angel) who spotted the waterfall and – investigating more closely got his plane stuck – Angel Falls, at almost 1000m, is the highest known waterfall in the world. You can get there by plane, or by boat and it is a fantastic site – this said it can work out to be quite an expensive trip (flying there is the most straightforward option), so you may want to weigh it up against other priorities. Henri Pittier National Park. See hundreds of exotic birds, and plenty other indigenous wildlife. Various tours are available and you’re guaranteed to see some of the best wildlife in South America (Ok, apart from the Galapagos Islands). Backpacking in Venezuela may be better suited to the ‘time-rich’ traveller, but it is definitely worth getting here if you can. Although more ‘developed’ than many of its South American counterparts, the country has plenty to offer the adventurous backpacker and is a worthy addition to any South American backpacking itinerary.
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