Things to see and do Venezuela

This island serves as a refuge for many seabirds during the rainy season (November to February). Ideal for watching the aerial ballet of red-gorge albatrosses who come to their love parade there.

Before you arrive, it is also interesting to make a stop in a shallow water sector where large sea stars proliferate.

If you want to observe them, beware of keeping them more than a few minutes away from the water. They would not survive.

This former colonial house dating back to 1741 was chosen by UNESCO for its religious heritage. It is home to the country's first synagogue and one of the oldest in the continent. Amazing particularity, the soil consists of sand from the Médanos médanos. The building also houses art exhibitions.

The square is a witness of a historic event when August 3, 1806 Francisco de Miranda arrives at the Vela de Coro. He then took the fort and raised the Venezuelan flag for the first time.

The favourite of Venezuelans and most tourists - and not for nothing. Both sides of this elongated island lend themselves to bathing and to idleness, while coconut trees offer a welcome shade. Three small restaurants prepare grilled fish and squid throughout the week (70 Bs. F). You can also camp at 25 Bs. F per night, but avoid absolutely the Holy Week!

Important: as the prices of lanchas are the same as you are alone or eight, it is advisable to anticipate and arrange to share costs with other tourists. Needless to say, the costs of lancha were day.

Only a small entrance is virgin of dead coral and therefore conducive to bathing. The island is therefore often deserted. Good snorkeling. Provide a cap, because it has no shadow to offer.

A walk to Yapascua is required. After a good walk of 2 hours (preferably in the morning due to heat), you will meet a virgin beach embracing a dream lagoon.

Avoid weekends: it is rather unpleasant to stand up and rush to embark. However, in week the island belongs to you. For diving, the site is interesting with a few sunken épaves of corals to explore. They are not very deep and even lovers of snorkeling can enjoy it (see below for more details).

There are plenty of good beaches, including Huequito, Rincón del Pirata, Bahia de Patanemo and Quizandal. Beware, avoid the beaches of the west, renowned for their insecurity. They belong to San Esteban National Park.

It recalls the memory of the 10 American officers executed by royalist during the failure of the Miranda landing on 21 July 1806. As can be seen, the American flag included only 16 stars…

This beach is interesting for fans of strong sensations. It is possible (at high tide!) to dive cliffs from a height of 8 to 10 m that border the beach.

The second most popular island among the Venezuelans. It's perfect for bathing and it's pleasant in the week, but it's even more so if not everyone left its waste there.

Here you can dine (for 120 Bs. F). There is also a small chapel on the island of Virgen del Valle. If you are lucky enough to be on September 8 th, you will admire the procession of the decorated boats. A procession is organised to the cueva of the virgen.

The nearest island is, of course, also the most popular. The shallow water is ideal for families with low-age children and for tanning enthusiasts who love to bask in water. A restaurant, nice and not bad (especially the squid), satisfies tourists every day of the week for 150 Bs F.

Literally "Garden of Rêveuses Marine Stones". A mystical atmosphere in this park created by Gonzalo Barrios Pérez, a nature lover, who defines his work as the world's first museum of ecological art. Three steps make it possible to develop public sensitivity to the natural energies of stones. For this purpose, certain rules must be respected:

Men must come accompanied by a lady, because the garden places a cult on women.

Enter barefoot to be in direct contact with nature.

Don't wear a watch because the museum is looking out of time.

In a maze of cayos that cerclent red mangroves where frégates and pelicans abound. The water is crystal clear and this weekend fishermen sell freshly prepared fish. Just before this happens, you will see the houses of Mayorquina belonging to rich families who acquired these lands before the declaration of the area in the national park and thus could not be expropriated.

A beautiful beach with stunning white sand. On the weekend, a restaurant offers food that will not leave you on hunger. Ban on camping.

Near Pueblo Nuevo, after Cabure, this waterfall is one of the most impressive in Sierra.

Also called cima, it is a 350 m deep hole located near Curimagua.

The beach closest to the village is not the best. Long chairs and a fish restaurant extra.

A busy beach, probably because it is not far away and because the very good restaurant El Embajador serves excellent seafood dishes. Sun loungers for rent. For the night, you can hang your hammock in the hut of the restaurant.

Probably the most beautiful beach, but bring water and what to survive because there is a restaurant open only in season.

The monument, with New Moorish style, hosts the body of this dictator, an admirer so convinced of Libertador that he died, like him, on 17 December, but a century and some later.

He rests with his family. Man distinguished himself by his despotism and power without sharing, imprisoning and methodically torturing all opponents. Some see him as one of the bloodiest Dictators in Latin America. The arc of triumph is quite grandiose, probably because he ordered himself the construction of the book dedicated to his own person in 1919, almost sixteen years before his death.

These ruins have been classified as historic monument since 1960. In 1647 Don Juan Sedeño Albornoz was relieved from his duties as field master in Barcelona del Cerro Santo (Barcelona has not yet been founded). It gives the ground of the present casa fuerte to the missionaries. 68 years later the Franciscans began building a convent. In December 1816, Simón Bolívar organizes the headquarters of his military operations. To do this it transforms the convent into a species of citadel, dotted with trenches where it increases holes in walls for cannons. This is how Le could withstand General Pascual Real when he took Barcelona on February 8, 1817 with his army of 4 500 men, and thus waiting for General Francisco Bermúdez's reinforcements for a historic victory. On the Bolívar Bridge, we still imagine the accolade of the two men and famous sentence of Simón Bolívar: " You are the liberator of the liberator! " On 5 April 1817, the Bloody Spanish Colonel D. Juán Aldama took a position at the strategic locations of the city pending heavy artillery. On the morning of 7 the "casa" falls. General Pedro María Freites heroically resists wounded arm, but must order the retirement, accompanied by Governor Francisco Esteban Ribas. Both men fall into the hands of enemies. Prisoners are taken to Caracas and executed on Plaza Mayor (present Plaza Bolívar) on the 17 th of the same month. The wicked royalist the massacre of 1 600 supporters (men, women and children!).

This is one of our favourite beaches. Turn your head at 180 ° to contemplate the Pico of San Francisco, the highest point of Macanao which reaches 850 m. For bathing, the right side - when you look at the sea - is safer (less backwash!).

Located east of Chuao, you can also reach Cepe from Puerto Maya. Probably the most beautiful beach, but also the most expensive to go to Lancha from Puerto Colombia.

A small desert beach with a lagoon formed by a coral wall. The water is calmer and you can swim there peacefully, especially when you are alone.

Good for children. There is a small bamboo veranda to soak up the sun, but take your sunscreen. The boats departing from Puerto Colombia ask about 300 Bs. F, to several things!

From Puerto Colombia to Maracay, take the first road to the right after a bridge towards Hacienda El Portete (15 or 20 minutes from Puerto Colombia); extend it and continue to the graveyard, then take the (picturesque) trail on the left. Follow for half an hour (mounted, then descent on the creek). Don't forget to take supplies because the beach is deserted. If you continue on the road that runs along the coast for about 1 hour, you arrive at AROA beach, even more quiet than the previous one, where the river of the same name flows.

Investi's staff have been in place for some time with a tourist route in the park of Las Cocuizas to spread the flora and show the petroglyphs after a walk accessible to all 45 minutes. For a special permit request or any kind of information, visit the regional direction of Inparques.

The largest Arenas in Latin America, after Mexico City, host fabulous bullfighting (for lovers of course!), in March and November in particular. It dates from about 1930.

It's an opportunity to finally see what a guácharo looks like, learn a little more about the German scientist, and the cave in general. So as you are on the spot, why not?

Every morning on the right of the village beach, one déballent of fruits and vegetables, some of the freshly caught fish, but also copies of CD and DVD. It is a pleasant stroll where a speciality of the region can be tasted in the pig offal: …

This well-restored colonial house houses maps, coats of arms, colonial furniture, the bed of which slept the liberator and even préhispaniques ceramics. It was also in these walls that Bolívar signed, on 15 June 1803, the Decree of War at Death, which ordered independence officers to kill royalist.

In 1999, the new government deposed the former Corpoturismo agency. In February 2005, the Vice-Ministry of Tourism gave its place to a real ministry responsible for promoting tourism, consisting of three directorates: the Directorate-General for Tourism Policy, Promotion and Development. For you, it is in the first direction that the information will be given to you. Charming girls welcome you warmly; There are various maps of Caracas, but also nice brochures (in Spanish, English or German and with a little luck in French) featuring the country's main sights, with good bonus cards.

You receive a smile, and booklets on various information, the services and services offered in the region, will be issued. The cards they offer are not excellent but rather promotional.

Aratur also has a yacht to tour the Caribbean: day out on the beaches of Henri Pittier National Park, La. It is also possible to schedule trips with them, for example to the Roques. Prices are quite competitive. Example: visit of Mochima and Margarita from 2 300 Bs. F per person every three days understood; for the combination Los Roques-Margarita, count from 5 400 Bs. F.

Inaugurated in 1911 by Bishop Antonio Ramon Silva Garcia to celebrate the first centenary of the Declaration of Independence, the Diocese Museum moved in 1941 in this beautiful basilica, which contains a small collection of religious art, a mummy, a bell dated 909 and the portraits of successive bishops of Mérida.

Six slides, a quick, a Jacuzzi and a children's playground. A new attraction "Aqua Racer" to race against Daddy or friends.

A chapel was built in the centre of the giant patio at Caridad Hospital, dating back to 1918. The museum presents works by local artists, but also temporary exhibitions of the best collections of the country, or even foreign collections. Here you can see a creation of the founder Juan de Villegas. Concerts and theatre-club sessions are given every week in the chapel.

Transformed into a museum of the Tachira, the residence offers an exhibition on folklore, archaeology, history and crafts of this state which was Colombian until 1777.

This beautiful house owes its name to one of its owners (in 1839), Colonel Celis. In June 1821, the house improvised in hospital to treat the wounded in the battlefield of Carabobo. Today, it is one of the most representative museums of the colonial era. There is also a small collection of religious art as well as rooms dedicated to local artists: painter Antonio Herrera Toro and sculptor Andrés Pérez Mujica.

Located in the old market of Maracaibo, this art centre opened its doors after a major renovation in November 1993.

It presents a photographic collection on the history of the market and a very good art gallery.

In addition, temporary exhibitions generally devoted to the state of Zulia or the Caribbean are also in the catalogue. The show room is unique, the light light gives a symbolic dimension to a dance show, a concert or a feria of ganado (cattle), it has 1 700 nice armchairs!

A sheltered wooden balcony, from which the owners (the Arcaya) could see the fighting during the civil wars of the th century, characterizes this beautiful ochre house of two floors. We owe this pleasant residence to the Rossillo family, and his name to Don Ignacio Luis Díaz de Arcaya, born in Spain in 1714, married to Coro in 1752, and whose grandson, Mariano, presided over the Union of Notables in 1821. Now restored, it has become a museum that houses, ceramics from Portugal (Berardos), Spain (Seville) and even De! As well as tiles from the pre-prehispanic era to nowadays, archaeological remains such as fossils and Chinese porcelain.

During the visit of the Bolívar family, the guide outlines a history of the Libertador family. Simón de Bolívar Ibarque (1532-1612) was born in Bolívar (the Basque word designating the mill of the mill) in the province of Vizcaya. He came to the service of the King in 1557 in Santo Domingo, where he married Doña Ana Hernández de Castro. In 1559, his son Simón said El Pozo. In 1589, Philippe II appointed him as Attorney General in Venezuela, where he was assigned close to 65 000 m ² of land. His first house was more south of the property. So we owe the current hacienda to Simón El Pozo; originally it had a straw roof.

In 1702, Lieutenant-General Don Juan de Bolívar y Villegas built the first refinery on its land, which - in the passage - reduces the manual work of the Indians. In 1750, the mill works through the water of Aragua and the Bolívar family employs more than 120 people.

In 1786, on the death of Colonel Don Juan Vicente Bolívar y Ponte, Libertador's father, copper mines, the hacienda and houses in Caracas returned to his older brother. Upon his death at sea, off the coast of Bermuda, Simón will administer the hacienda and other family property. Some historians say that the Libertador was born in the family hacienda. His birth extract indicates that he was born in Caracas, but no one knows whether it was the city or state of Caracas which was then part of San Matéo.

Simón spends much of his youth in this cocoa and cane hacienda, with his tutor. He then goes to Caracas. He will return only to his wedding in August 1802 with Maria Teresa Rodriguez of Toro.

The love story will not last long, since his fresh wife dies 8 months later from yellow fever.

Property is confiscated during the war (as of 1814). Finally, in 1827, Bolívar ordered rehabilitation of the roof burned during the explosion… (see «Museum of Military History»). It will shortly be bought by the Gumersindo family and then by Gómez in 1924, which will make it a museum.

That said, if the story is interesting, the visit should not give you an indelible memory. Two museums are now in the hacienda:

This park (7 130 ha) does not hold its name from the political party but the large amount of copey, this yellow and white flower that thrives there. It is also a natural drainage centre that collects the waters and distributes them in neighbouring villages. This is the peak of the island (950 m). The road in Sierra to access is splendid. A huge ficus welcomes you at the entrance. A barbecue is available. Its microclimat, gentle and misty microclimate will make Porlamar's suffocating heat, where the temperature can reach 35 ° C.

Access. Take the Road road in Asunción towards La Sierra. You are only 950 m above sea level but, from here, your gaze can kiss 80% of the island at the peak Palma Real, 15 minutes from the park entrance.

It is a tradition that it is! You are in the fourth house in Barcelona, built in 1671. These colonial traditions (religious objects, a spur of Boves) but also Indian (crafts) tell, with other authentic documents, the history of the city. Let us also note that, during the colonization, slave sales were held every Sunday in this building. Around the patio of this well-restored colonial house is exposed a collection of firearms and white weapons covering a period from conquest until the beginning of the th century. You can also enjoy the painted works of Honofre Frías, Harold Tobías, Giovanni Aquino and Justo Osuna.

The presentation is not fantastic, however, and doesn't want to look at it to decipher the interesting explanations in Spanish. Nevertheless, aware of this weakness, the authorities are studying many projects, including the one to incorporate an aquarium presenting the different fish of the Amazonian rivers. Right of symbolic entry.

The most beautiful park in the city is secluded, if you did not descend to the Orinoco Venetur, you can also admire the falls of the Llovizna. A staircase allows to descend at the foot of the waterfall, and then to the lagoon you can always feed the fish, guaranteed show. It is not served by bus, a taxi from Puerto Ordaz takes 40/50 Bs. F.

There is a new dam (represa). The park and the dam are now only one. Pedal rental, kayak, sale of food for fish. A train system (two trains of 42 seats) for the visit is operational, the complete course lasts about minutes. Accessible for persons with reduced mobility.

These lands were once administered by Hacienda Ibarra, which grows sugar cane at the beginning of the th century. The garden was created in 1944 by the doctor and botanist Tobías Tired in collaboration with a Horticulture Augusto Braun. It opened its doors in 1958. Today, vegetation comes from all horizons (both national and international). More than 100 species of palm trees, a arboretum where thousands of trees grow at different stages of evolution, 4 greenhouses for orchids, bromeliaceae and fat plants. The Botanical Institute, located inside the garden, has a laboratory, library and over 100 000 Venezuelan dried, pressed and identified Venezuelan plants. The only problem is that most of the facilities remain private: you can only see as a public the orchid collection.

A haven of peace in the middle of the city and traffic. Many students come to cram their courses in the shade of palm trees. If you didn't know that trees lose their leaves during dry periods to keep water, and on the contrary they fill leaves during wet periods to capture solar energy, then maybe you should join Venezuelan students!

On weekends, this green space is the classic rendezvous of the Caraqueños who come to the family. This very, very lively park - where you can find lizards, turtles, snakes, parrots and giant reeds, offers an excellent promenade. A small zoo where you can see Orinoco inlet and some monkeys. Don't miss the terrarium, especially. You can avoid going to the Humboldt Planetarium, of poor quality (meetings at on Saturdays and every hour on Sundays, from 14 am to 17 pm), unless you want to admire the reconstitution of Caracas sky, invisible at night due to pollution. In 2011, the government built a replica of the Leander, the boat with which Francisco de Miranda landed to the Vela de Coro. It is on this privileged site for a capital that the students of French Lycée come through the test of endurance bin (poor choux!).

The gallery, inaugurated in 1938, began its functions in a neoclassical building designed by the great local architect Carlos Raul Villanueva. Since 2009, it has moved between Mexico City and Bolivar avenues to strengthen the new cultural centre dear to President Chávez. Designed by Carlos Gomez de Llerena, the gallery offers three levels of a total area of 30 000 m ² and houses a permanent collection of more than 6 000 Venezuelan works covering the four centuries of history and a large quantity of artistic movements represented by the pre-Hispanic period, the portraits of the colonial period, representatives of the th-century academic painting, members of the Cercle Artes Circle and a large quantity of the Artistiques Artes.' contemporary artists '. Historical research on Venezuelan art is organized here through the National Information and Documentation Centre for plastic arts. You will also find a bookstore and a shop.

In the midst of the buildings is this adorable park: a truly peaceful and well maintained oasis. To ask yourself in the shade of the trees is simply delicious, while the sandwiches that you can eat are of great finesse, placing them among the best in Caracas (albeit a bit expensive). Excellent coffee in addition.

As the name suggests, this park, a former café of coffee, contains beautiful patios and has five halls with exhibitions, while concerts or free shows are sometimes on Sundays. It is also a place of culture and knowledge, since many actions are developed thanks to the support of the oil foundation.

Built in 1945 under Medina Angarita. Declared museum in 1974. The neo-colonial style is predominant, with a central patio. The old city council houses the relics of Sucre, the mock-ups of battlefields, etc. The museum presents cultural events.