Things to see and do Caracas

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.

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.

Its thousands of books gradually move into new premises, on the square of the Pantheon.

This post-colonial building houses, apart from the personal objects of Bolívar and its family, the weapons of the founding families of Caracas. You will learn everything about Libertador: its genealogical tree, its letters, its military victories… Note, in this connection, the presence of the newspaper Correo del Orinoco, which traces, particularly in French, the legendary battle of Carabobo (24 June 1821). It, let us remember, sealed the true independence of the country. For once, the collection is well placed, thanks to the explanatory terminals that guide the visits.

Before venturing into Grande Sabana, it is always interesting to admire all the species (rare!) of Venezuela snakes like the boa esmeralda, rainbow. A total of about specimens are presented. The founder Saúl Gutierrrez Eljuri ([email protected]) is currently the largest "biologo" in Venezuela. Terrario is not limited to snakes: there is also, in the family of arachnids, scorpions and; in the amphibians family, the cornu toad; and even in the turtle family, the rare matamata turtle (Chelus fimbriatus). The possibility to organize an interactive one hour tour is very rewarding, especially if it is with Saúl.

Founded in 1967 by the first Venezuelan speleologists, this scientific institution recorded over 500 caves in the national cadastre. In total, the registry contains 600 topographiées caves, placed and described according to international standards. Contact Enrique Bolón, who should be able to inform you about the possibilities for exploring caves in Venezuela.

For further information on the website of the Ministerio del Poder Popular para el ambiente - www.www.minamb.gob.ve -

So, as a good citizen, do not hesitate to assert your rights to obtaining documentation! Inatur is installed right next to the department (MINTUR) and VENETUR since flooding damaged the old premises of Torre Oeste in downtown. For specific information on other Venezuelan regions, it is more fruitful to direct directly to local tourist offices mentioned in cities.

The children's museum, divided into several rooms (ecology, telecommunications, physics…), explains the science in a playful way thanks to many experiences of children… and their parents. You can play the sorcerer's apprentice, make television, see pousser, make paper, or play with our friends. Very recommended. Their cafeteria offers latte, coffee, drinks and confectionery.

At the outset, educational, cultural and environmental programmes were set up, today this cultural centre focuses on activities for the promotion and development of the Venezuelan traditional Culture through publications, groups of projections, concerts, programmes for TV, photographs and production of discs. With its popular culture workshop, the foundation contributes to the training of many students.