Trips to Venezuela

TRIPS TO VENEZUELA

Venezuela, favored by its geographic location and its differences of relief, presents/displays landscaping mosaic varying that includes from the most barren and warm zones to high snow-covered summits of The $andes, happening through paradisiac tropical beaches, the forest and the savannah with its majestic tepuys.

This diversity prints manifolds shades to the vegetation and the climate and constitutes an attractive important part of the tourist one of this wonderful earth.

GENERAL PERFORMANCES

Oficial name: Bolivariana republic of Venezuela

Surface: 916. 445 km ² belonging the 16% to National Parks

Population: 24.170.000 million inhabitants, approx

Capital: Caracas.

Political system: Democratic Presidentialist republic. It obtained the independence of Spain in 1830.

Head of the State and the Government: President Cold Hugo Chavez (from 1999)

Language: The official language is the Spanish. There is a 2% of Indigenous Language

Official currency: Bolivar (change by dollar aprox.1920 Versus.)

Religion: 90% of the population are catholic Roman. Freedom of cult exists. In the country there is also protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and monsones.

National celebration: 5 of Julio, Day of Independence

Main Airport: Airport Simon Bolivar - Maiquetía (to 30 minutes of Caracas)

Standard time: GMT - 4 HOURS (- 5 in Summer)

International telephone code: 00 58

Electricity: 110 volts CA, 60Hz. The plugs of 2 flat pins, of American type, are used.

Climate: In Venezuela the tropical climate predominates, which turns into tourist destiny all the year.
There are only two stations to the year: The dry station or summer (of December to May) and the rainy station or winter (of May to November).
The dry station is most suitable to generally make trips to Level or the Great Savannah and for the observation of birds and fauna, since the animal are concentrated in the little water sources to drink. However, the rainy season is the best one to visit Salto Angel, who increases much his volume. In order to enjoy beaches any station it is good.
The highest points of The $andes have eternal snows; in this region the nights are always cold and the warm days.
The states of Bolivar, Delta Amacuro and Amazon are rainiest.
Annual average temperature: 24º C, although depends on the altitude.

GEOGRAPHY

Venezuela is located to the north of South America. It limits the northeast with the Atlantic Ocean, the east with Guyana, the south with Brazil and the west with Colombia. It has 2,000 km of coasts and it owns more than 70 islands between which it emphasizes Island Daisy by his tourist activity.

Territorial political division: 23 States, a Capital District and 72 federal dependancies in the Caribbean Sea.
Geographic division: Venezuela is divided in four geographic regions with a variable relief and injuring that goes from level the tropical one of uneven flat relief to encumbradas Andean perpetual snow mountains, happening through the guayaneses plateaus:

• Mountain range of the $andes: it includes the states Táchira, Merida and Trujillo. In this region of the southwest are the highest tips of the country, emphasizing the Tip Bolivar with 5007m of height, to which it is possible to be acceded through cableway of Merida, highest and long of the world.

• Guyanés bulk: to the south of the Orinoco river. It is the oldest region of planet - twelve billions of years with rocks of 2700m of height. It owns a unique flora and fauna in the world. Here is Salto the Angel, highest of the world, and their entrails lodge the majors and more abundant mineral wealth: iron, bauxite, gold and diamonds.

• Center-western region: it is colonized. In her are the main cities of the country that concentrate the commercial and enterprise activity, as well as the best beaches in their 2000 km of coast.

• The Level ones: plain region in center of the country where it is developed to great part of agriculture and the cattle ranch.


BRIEF HISTORY OF VENEZUELA

History: Numerous towns of Caribbean origin (cumanagotos, tamaques, maquiritares and arecunas, among others) inhabited the North end of South America when Cristóbal Columbus arrived at those coasts in 1498. The local constructions on pillars remembered to the Spaniards those of Venice and for that reason they gave to the country the name of Venezuela.

During the colonial dominion, Venezuela was organized like Post of captain-general of the Virreinato de Nueva Granada. Century XVIII, one became the more important agricultural colony, cradle mainly in the cacao. A Creole aristocracy formed - mantuanos- that used African enslaved manpower; thus the browns arose that happened to constitute the immense majority of the population. In the Captainship two great leaders were born from the American revolution: Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar (whose name honor the currency of the country). The 19 of April of 1810 began the independentista process of Venezuela that culminated with the Declaration of Independence the 5 of April of 1811. Simon Bolivar, the Liberator, the Father of the Mother country for Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Panama, was chosen president of Venezuela in 1819 and their mortal rest rest in the National Pantheon Caracas. Of him Miter said: “Of less more Never took control, in so vast space and so brief time”. Bolivar the irrational operation of the treasures of the new continent ended, the slavery was abolished and the extermination of the native races and took step to a new American identity.

A century later oil companies in the Maracaibo lake settled in the country important international, with the support of Juan Vicente Go'mez, the dictator who governed during 17 years. This period was characterized by a fast economic growth.

Between 1936 and 1937, Venezuela had democratic elections for the first time.

The 6 of December of 1998, the leader coup participant Hugo Chavez was chosen constitutional president with 56.5% of the votes. In spite of the disrepute that undergoes the politicians, Chávez conserves a great popularity, mainly between the worked against classes more of the society.


ECONOMY

Main industrial products: petroleum, natural gas, iron, bauxite, cereals, fruits, sugar, coffee, tourism, hydroelectricity.
Until beginnings of the decade of 1980 Venezuela it had a high oil rent enjoying a high standard of life and a remarkable improvement in the services of health and education.
Later a maintained fall of the oil entrance took place, being reduced to a third in 1993. This, next to the strong payments of external national debt and one maintained financial pressure by exit of monetary resources, culminated in 1994 in one serious crisis from which it raised the corruption level and it lowered the quality of life.
Agriculture: One mainly harvests sugar cane, banana, maize, rice, coffee, sorghum, tapioca, orange and nut of the Coco.
Cattle ranch: The bovine, pig and goat cattle operates itself mainly in the Level ones and to the east of the Maracaibo lake.

Fishing: It is a sector of much commercial importance, especially the one of the shrimps (prawns), the tuna and the sardine. Important fish markets of Rep them are around Island Daisy.

Petroleum
The proven petroleum reserves surpass, at present, the 64 000 million barrels, number that to him the sixth place in the world grants.

The present production is located in about 2.000.000 of daily barrels, occupying the seventh place like world-wide producer.

The one in charge to manage, to administer and to center the petroliferous resources of the country is the State, through Petroleums of Venezuela (PDVSA), third oil company of the world.


CURRENCY CURRENCY AND CHANGE

Currency: Bolivar 1 (Versus.) = 100 pennies.
There are bills of 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 2,000 bolivars.
The currencies are of 500 and 100 bolivars, and 50 and 25 pennies.

Credit cards: All the cards in the main cities and tourist places are admitted.

Travel checks: They are accepted in great number of commerce and the majority of the banks.

Types of change: Next they appear the types of change of the bolivar in front of the Euro and the dollar of the USA, according to the quote of currencies to 31 of March of 2005.
1 Euro = 2,838, 30 bolivars
1 dollar = 2,150, 00 bolivars

Currency change: It is possible to be changed to money in banks and houses of change (changes). Some hotels also change although the result of the operation is not so advantageous.

During the past few years a black market has arisen from parallel change to the more beneficial official and, although he is not authorized.

SOCIETY

Around 67% of the Venezuelans they are racially mixed and near 20% it is of European origin. The rest of the population is made up, in its majority, of black; a little percentage is amerindian. The majority of the population is concentrated in high territories of the north or in the coastal regions and a minority inhabits the vast zone located to the south of the Orinoco river.

The Venezuelan is a abierto being, cheers, free of prejudices and makes honor to the proverb: “He does not matter where one is born, but where he lives himself”, expression that of some form unites to the country and governs the coexistence of its heterogenous population.

Music is omnipresent, as well as the good humor and popular imagery.

An advice: To take with good disposition the jokes and the phrases from felt double, very habitual of the Venezuelan.

Indigenous groups: In the country they live near 17 indigenous groups that represent 1% of the total population.

The indigenous communities are:
Guajiros and Yukpas in the north of Maracaibo, Baris to the south of the great lake, Yaruros and Guajibos in the State of Worry; Pioroas, Puinaves, Curripacos, Yanomamis, Yekuanas, Barés and Hotis in the State of Amazon; Panares and Pemones in the state of Bolivar, Waraos in the State Delta of the Orinoco and Kariñas in the states of Bolivar, Delta Amacuro and Anzoátegui.



GASTRONOMY - RESTAURANTS

Venezuela is an ideal place for the lovers of the good food. In spite of being a country with American influence, equipped with a good network of restaurants of fast-food, it offers an ample variety of really delicious regional specialties.

Breakfast: The breakfast be served early and consists of a cup of coffee, small piece (small bread with served ham hot), pastelitos (buns) and sometimes fried eggs. This it is the best moment to prove the delicious ones and varied juices of tropical fruits. There are them of banana, papaya, orange, guava, maracuyá, mill. Also the palate can be delighted with a Creole, consisting of breakfast: round maize loaf, cheese, cream, fried banana (sweet) and caraotas (runner beans), with the corresponding natural juice and white coffee.

Food: Like in the rest of countries of Latin America, the maize is the base of the feeding. The majority of plates is accompanied by round maize loaves, the bread of the Venezuelans: tortilla species with maize flour and cooked directly on a plate to the Mexican style. In many zones there are denominated establishments “loutish” where stuffed round maize loaves use as cheese, meat, ham, avocado, sauce or egg. Cachapa, another version of the round maize loaf, uses with cheese or pig ham, whereas casabe, much more thin and with flour of bitter yucca does the times of bread in the rural areas and the region of the Great Savannah.

As first plate advises some of the varied soups, like olleta of rooster or head of cattle, the cruzados, pisca Andean, the soup of turtle, the consomme of chipi-chipis and clams, to which aphrodisiac virtues are attributed, or the boiled one, that are a consomme of meat or chicken with vegetables.

For more consistent plates sancocho is recommended popular, a species of vegetable spanish stew, yucca, cassava, pieces of fish and meat of chicken or cow; or mondongo, another one of the specialties of the country, preparation with cooked vísceras of cow with tender maize, potatoes and vegetables.
From second plate it is essential to prove the Creole pavilion, national plate, preparation with meat, rice, pinto beans, black kidney beans and cheese.

Another alternative is the barbecues of meat or fish of Argentine origin.
Usually they are accompanied by sausages, sharp, avocado, pieces of yucca and hallaquitas, graze of maize coiled in a leaf of the same plant. The pig is estofado pig and roast that is accompanied by rice. The mature and fried banana uses like trimming.

If it is preferred “to itch” is necessary to show preference for the pasties with maize, fried and stuffed of white cheese, tuna, meat and kidney beans or, by the famous tequeños, white cheese in it grazes fried.

As far as products of the sea, the list can be interminable, especially in Island Daisy, that enjoys an excellent reputation. The rich variety of crustaceans and fish is prepared generally to the plate or in sancocho. The most common fish are pargo and the mere one. They are possible also to be found smooth, seas bass, sardines, red mullet and choir-choirs, the fish papagayo. Between the crustaceans they emphasize the prawns and the shrimps (prawns), preparations to the chopped garlic. It is not possible to be stopped proving a good lobster or a fresh crab.

In order to finish, a delicious dessert: the candy of quesillo (pudding), bienmesabe (an exquisite cream cake), mousse of parchita, the cakes of jojoto (maize), cheese and soursop (similar to the cherimoya). Or if it is preferred is possible to be chosen some fruit like plum, medlars, handle, cambur (banana), guava, sideburn (watermelon), fruit of the passion or parchita (maracuyá).

Drinks: He is recommendable to drink bottled water to avoid possible upset stomach. Another alternative is the varied Juice (juices) of fruits, very popular in all the country. They serve them in the Loutish ones or the Sources as soda water, where they prepare without water or dangerous with water or merengada milk.

The Venezuelan coffee is prepared to the express style. It is necessary to request black coffee for the black coffee, brown coffee, for measured equal of milk and coffee and white coffee, if it is preferred that milk prevails.

The most popular beer is the “Polestar” in tins or small bottles, but other marks like the “Regional one”, “Cardinal” or “National” exist. The wines are not recommendable since the production is little and of low quality. Finally, as far as espiritosas drinks the Venezuelan rum is recognized world-wide by its flavor and quality; it is obtained from the distillation of the cane, takes a process of artisan elaboration that turns the sugar cane into molasses, soon into alcohol and later into rum; this one empty in barrels of oak for their aging and removes rones there from different classes.

The most known they are the Pampero, Santa Teresa and Cacique, who emphasizes by his artisan elaboration: it is distilled in “pots” and stills of copper to temperatures never inferiors to 40 degrees Celsius and settle in barrels of oak, which confers an unforgettable flavor and aroma to him. It is not necessary to stop buying a bottle of Aged Rum Anniversary Pampero, without doubts, the best one.

The “Miche” is a strong brandy that gets used to drinking in the Andean region; it is obtained by the fermentation of panela sweet (pure integral sugar), soon distilled.

The Andean Chicha, famous drink in Venezuela, prepares with maize and fermented guarapo of pineapple. Also he is chicha of rice, sweet and smooth drink made with cooked rice and milk, that the Venezuelans begin to take to early age.

Ponche cream is a sweet and creamy drink that is prepared generally for the Christmas celebrations: one is made up of milk, eggs, sugar and rum, perfumed, in some cases, with vanilla and nut nutmeg.

CELEBRATIONS AND TRADITIONS

Venezuela is a country in perpetual celebration. Been born from the encounter between the different indigenous, African cultures and Hispanic, the celebration and the celebration they are permanent. The majority of the mainly catholic festivals is of religious character and reason why they are subject to the calendar of the Church.

Each town has at least one celebration that honor to its protective employer. During these celebrations, that can last several days, the places become a glut of people and of peculiar, they appear the markets of meals and the positions of entertainment. There is music and it dances everywhere. If the trip agrees with some festival, is necessary to take advantage of the occasion to taste a special food.

January: 1 of January. A celebration where the hope is the predominant emotion. In January the Paradura of the Boy takes place, in the state of Merida.

February: it emphasizes the Day of the Candlemas when the Danceros of the Candlemas executes their dances in honor of the Virgin.
The Carnival is one of the most important celebrations and even, Mondays and Tuesdays before Wednesday of Ash are holidays. Those of Carúpano and Callao are recommended, where the celebration is explosive.

March: During the Easter, in each town of Venezuela processions in are realized which, to the rate marked by popular orchestras, devotee barefoot and the dresses of Nazarene sings and says while they carry out the ritual steps. Most impressive they take place in Merida, Caripito and Tostos. During the Holy days, the majority of the inhabitants of the country travels towards beaches and coasts.
19 of March: in Island Daisy, Elorza (been It worries) and diverse towns of the zone of the Level ones, it is the Day of San jOse. It is the Celebration of the Joropo, dances national with rate of vals, interpreted by orchestras composed of ARPA, cuatros - small “guitars” of four cords, maracas and mandolinas.

April: In the month of April the Festival takes place the International of Theater in Caracas. Day 19 the Declaration of Independence is commemorated.

May: The month of May begins with the Day of the Work which the day 2 follows the Velorio to him de la Cruz of May and that is celebrated in all the country. From the 3 to the 10 of May in many towns one venerates San Judas Tadeo and to San Isidro and at the beginning of the month of June the Dancing Devils in San Francisco de Yare make their presence; the celebration of the day of Corpus Christi is very famous.

June: They emphasize the Celebrations of San Juan, especially in Curiepe, Choroní and other towns of the coast, in the states Miranda and Aragua, where the dance of African rates makes formal appearance. This celebration extends until the end of month. The 24 of June Batalla de Carabobo is commemorated. They are very attractive celebrations.

Julio: the 5 Day of Independence, the 24 the commemoration of the natalicio of Simon Bolivar, the 27 the festival of the Virgin of the Carmen and the 31 Batalla de Matasiete.

August: The Virgin of Daisy Asuncio'n, day 15 of August, is one of the most important celebrations of the island.

September: In the month of September, from the 8 to the 15 in Valley of the Spirit Santo, Island Daisy, the celebration of Our Lady of the Valley, lived with great devotion and joy takes place. Day 8 of this month in Guanare the celebration of the Virgin of Coromoto is celebrated.

October: The 12 of October, like in the rest of Latin American countries, the Day of the Discovery of America is commemorated.

November: The 18 of November in Maracaibo the Fair of the Chinita is celebrated, with mechanical games, music, dances and drunk.

December: it is the month of Christmas. The houses are decorated with trees and numerous mangers. The bagpipes, especially maracuchas, are for the Venezuelans which the carols for the Spaniards. Everywhere the sounds of the Christmas sets are listened to that are singing of house in house. The year finishes the night of the 31 when the Venezuelans celebrate with great joy the arrival of the New Year.

Official holidays: The official holidays are: 1 of January New Year, previous Mondays and Tuesdays to Wednesday of Ash, Thursday and Good Friday, 19 of April Day of Independence, 1 of May Day of of the Work, 24 of June commemoration of Batalla de Carabobo, 5 of July Day of the Declaration of Independence, 24 of Natalicio July de Simon Bolivar, 12 of October Day of the Discovery of America and 25 December Day of Christmas.

USEFUL INFORMATION FOR THE TRAVELLERS

Flights Spain - Venezuela
Frequent flights exist from Spanish cities to Caracas. Between the air lines that cover the passage with direct flights are Iberia, Air Europe and the air line Venezuelan Santa Barbara. Other options with scales exist that offer APT, Air France, Lufthansa or Alitalia.

It pays duty on and Documentation
The majority of the European does not need visa. The “card of Tourist” is only required, with a validity of 60 days and that can be transacted in the consulates or in the international airports at the time of the arrival.

The civil servants of Customs will ask for the passenger abrir their suitcases for the inspection strictly speaking. The product introduction derived from milk and the pig is prohibited; sometimes usually they happen if they are packaged to the emptiness and they have the corresponding permission of the producing country.

It is prohibited the introduction of seeds, flowers, fruits and plants, except for if they go accompanied of the respective sanitary permission of export-import. The alive animal must be protected by the effective sanitary certificate in the country of origin plus a vaccination certificate.

Luggage

Anyone is the zone to visit is necessary to include light and fresh clothes, bathing suit, chanclas, short and long pants, caps or hats, indispensable solar and repulsive protection of insects for the trips to the forest, as well as a rain-cape with hood. In order to visit the Andean zone it is necessary to include shelter articles less since the temperature can be of 5 degrees or. Not to forget comfortable and dull slippers trekking.

HEALTH, EMERGENCIAS AND POLICE

Vaccines:
They do not exist bovine obligatory for Venezuela unless it is come from zones with danger of yellow fever. It is necessary to take the habitual medicine kit and to carry far the precautions when eating fruits with skin.

One recommends the travellers to have to the day vaccines against the tetanuz, yellow fever and hepatitis, as well as some treatment antimalaria. If the prophylaxis is had predicted to remain a time prolonged in the sylvan zones is recommendable antimalaria and in some cases and certain zones, quimioprofilaxis. It consults in his Center of Health on the necessary precautions. In the countryside of the states of It worries, Amazon, Barinas, Monagas, Sucre and Táchira is malaria risk.

Water:
The water in the main cities is potable, but it is advised to drink prepared water or water that previously has been purified.

Precaution with the height (Merida):
In the Andean Region they are gotten to reach considerable altitudes that can what is called cause Badly of the Desert or altitude sickness. In order to avoid it, the best thing is a gradual acclimatization. If not outside the case and the evil persist or it worsens, the solution is to request in center nearer oxygen or to lose altitude as soon as possible.

Pharmacies/Hospitals/Surely
The main populations count on a good number of pharmacies, some abiertas 24 hours of the day.
As far as hospitals, Venezuela has a good network of private clinics and hospitals public. In the countryside they exist clinical where are offered first aid. An Insurance of Trips is recommended.
The telephones for the police, firemen and ambulance, vary from a city to another one. In Caracas the 169 for the police, 545-45-45 for ambulances and 483-70-21 for medical aid. In case of loss or robbery of his documents, it póngase in contact with the police and its nearer consulate.

Commercial schedule
The schedule of offices is of 8:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00 of Monday through Friday. The public offices usually close to the 16:00 or 17:00 hours.
The commerce usually is open of Monday to Saturday of 9:00 to 19:00 and the commercial centers until the 20:00 hours; some abren Sundays.
The banks abren of Monday through Friday of 8:30 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 16:30.

Purchases
Venezuela counts on a rich one and varied popular crafts. Although each region has a specialty, the majority of products can be found in any city or tourist center. It does not let “#***a-refl mng” some hammock, canvas shoes, carpet of wool, musical necklaces of seeds, instruments or something of basketwork, statures of wood or ceramics.

If it has space in the luggage and it is become fond of to the equestrian one acquires one of the made and precious chairs to mount. In the populations of the states Delta Amacuro, Bolivar and Amazon will be pieces to very accessible prices.

If what looks for are wool articles, blankets and ponchos, nothing better than the towns of the Region of the $andes, where in addition it will find beautiful pieces of wood and delicious inlays cured to the air. The towns of the coast this distinguish themselves by their fine production of musical instruments of cord.
The jewelry shop is famous, especially in gold and diamonds. It does not forget to ask for the currencies of the caciques, very appraised by the collectors.

PRICES AVERAGE

Meals: (prices by person)
• The fast premises of food: US$ 7-10
• Basic restaurant: US$ 7-10
• Regular restaurant: US$ 15-25
• Elegant restaurant: US$ 60-100

Hotels:
Price average by room. The cost depends on the city of Venezuela in which it decides to lodge:

• Hotel TWO stars U.S. $ 40-50
• Hotel THREE stars U.S. $ 60-100
• Hotel FOUR stars U.S. $ 120-160
• Hotel FIVE stars U.S. $ 200-400


OTHER PRICES

• A refreshment bought in the street costs U.S. $ 0.75

• A coffee served in bar costs between U.S. $ 0,50 and 1

• The cost of a beer varies according to the premises and the city, but it is between U.S. $ 1 and 1.50

• A mineral water bottle hill between U.S. $ 0,50 and 0.75

• An entrance to the cinema is between U.S. $ 4 and 5

• The cost of a taxi is between U.S. $ 5-10 (following the distance that is going away to cross)

• The cost of a meter ticket (in Caracas) is between U.S. $ 0,50 and 1. The calls can be acquired tickets integrated (that include 10 trips) by U.S. $ 5

Gratuities
In the majority of the stores 16% for tax are received. The basic medicines and foods are free of this tax burden.
In the restaurants an additional 10% by the service of the waitresses are received.
The gratuities are left personal criterion and usually occur to carriers of luggage, waitresses, tour guides, conductive, and to those who fill the gasoline tanks. It is recommended to leave a 10% additional of the cost of the service.


Lodging
In the zones of Daisy, Morrocoy, Port the Cross and Dairy have the system of “Everything Including” in their Hotels.

The supply of lodging is ample in the zones of Choir and Maracaibo. The most attractive hotels are in the Natural Parks protected and their environs, such as the Roques, Morrocoy or Henry Pittier and in the Peninsula of Pariah. In the Delta of the Orinoco it is possible to be enjoyed the indigenous essence in special campings. There is for all the tastes in the zones of Great Sabana and Canaima, existing the possibility of spending the night in tents or hammock.

TRANSPORT

By highway
:
Bus:
There are services of interurban buses. In all the populations there is a Terminal of Buses.

Car rental:
They are possible to be rented in the airports or the cities, but generally is an expensive option. If one goes away in group the advantage exists of which the gasoline is very economic; a gasoline tank can cost of 3 to 5 Euros. It is recommended not to leave articles of value in the car.

Documentation:
The driving license of the origin country is valid by a year. Also they are worth the international permissions.

Urban transport:
It is not recommendable. The conventional services of bus have in the last deteriorated to years being increased the use of taxis.

Taxis:
They do not count on taximeter but there are lines of taxis that have fixed tariffs, as it is the case of the passage to and from the Airport Simon Bolivar. The use of taxis, if it negotiates, usually is not expensive, even if the passage is interurban.

Meter of Caracas:
The Meter of Caracas is one of average the more trustworthy expresses and of Venezuela. It is pride of Caracas by his functionality and cleaning. Account with three lines and more than 30 stations. It covers great part with the city. The entrances to the meter can be identified by a color letter “M” orange.

It owns an integrated ticket system that combines the route of the Meter with the offered ones by the Metrobus, service of buses that the Meter of Caracas also lends and that arrives at other zones of the city with the same quality. The Meter system works of 5:30 to 23:00 hours.

By air:
Venezuela counts on airports in almost all states. He is recommendable for great distances. In some cases usually it is the unique option to arrive at remote places.
Companies for the domestic flights exist: Rutaca, Aerotuy, Avior, Airmail, Servivensa, Santa Barbara.
Besides regular lines, there are airtaxis and agencies with own airplanes.

By sea:
The country counts on ports that make the transfer in trasbordadores, that also admit cars.
In zones like Delta of the Orinoco, Amazon and Canaima the use of local typical boats is required to realize some excursions or transfers.

INTEREST DIRECTIONS

Venezuelan corporation of Tourism: Avenue V. Lecuna, Central base, Tower the West, Floor 37, Caracas, Venezuela tel: (212) 574 1968. Fax: (212) 574 2220.

Embassy of Venezuela: Captain Is 1, Building Euro center, 13ª plants, 28020 Madrid, Spain tel: 91 598 1200. Fax: 91 597 1583.
Email: 2

Embassy of Spain: Mohedano avenue, between 1ª and 2ª cross-sectional, Fifth Small marble column Embassy of Spain, Urbanization the Castilian, Caracas, Venezuela
62297 post office box Chacao. Tel: (212) 263 2855/3876/Fax: (2) 261 0892.
Email: embespve@correo.mae.es

General consulate of Spain in Caracas: Bancaracas building, 7º floor, Place the Castilian, Caracas, Venezuela
Post office box of Altamira 69394
Tel: (212) 266 0222/0377/1241/1368/1641. Fax: (212) 266 5745.
Email: consespcar@correo.mae.es

Center of vaccination the International: C Francisco Silvela, 57 1ª plants. Madrid. Telephones: 91-309.56.03/91-309.56.23


ADVENTURE AND SPORTS IN VENEZUELA

An ample supply of multi-adventure exists: Rapel, Long walks, Montañismo, Trekking, Senderismo, Scaling, Montanin Bike, Bicycle, Diving, Cañonismo, River navigation, Kayak, Rafting, Espeleología (caves), Fishing, Surfing and Windsurf, Excursions in 4x4, Observation of Birds, Flora and Mineralogy, Cavalcade, Hang-glider, Ultraliviano, Ikaros, survival, campings of summer, photo-safaris and expeditions generally.

For the lovers of the eco-tourism, Venezuela is closely together of the paradise. Who like of the long walks and trekking, the country makes its available more than 40 National Parks and diverse Natural Monuments and Reserves. They emphasize the different routes that can be realized in Sierra Nevada, in the Merida state.

And for most bold, this same state welcomes the best sites for the practice of the high mountain, besides having experience guides and all the necessary equipment. And continuing with the heights, in the valley of Merida hang-glider can be practiced, existing diverse companies specialized in the zone.

Another possibility for the lovers of the scaling is to approach the National Park Henri Pittier and to face the Tip Bolivar, of 5007m or the Tip Humboldt, 4942m. He is recommendable to make it accompanied of guides, good connoisseurs of the land.

The mountains of The $andes, besides beautiful tips and colorful towns, offer the possibility of realizing circuits in mountain bicycle.

For those who like of the observation of birds recommends the region of the Level ones. The trip can be done in boat or vehicle 4x4. Other sites that deserve a visit to this end are the National Parks Henri Pittier, Morrocoy and Yacambú.

Continuing with the sport or alternative activities, for those who enjoy the depths is possible the practice of the espeleología in some of the numerous caves of Venezuela. The Cave of the Guácharo, most spectacular is distinguished and for which it is necessary to have a special permission.

In the zones of the Amazon, Great Savannah or Delta of the Orinoco, the adventure activities is guaranteed. Everything will depend on the boldness and imagination of the traveller.

The best places to realize passages by rivers and fresh water fishing are the savannahs of the Level ones of Worries, Barinas and Portuguesa; and in the Merida state, the lagoons Victory, Mucubají, Black and the Ducks. It is had to ask for information on the permissions of fishing and the seasons of prohibition in the delegations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Young or in the offices of Inparques (National Institute of Parks).