Is Venezuela Worth Visiting? 7 Reasons to Travel
Venezuela is rarely included on most South American travel itineraries, simply because of the perceived safety situation over there.
However if you look past this (and take a leap of faith) you’ll actually find this country to be one of the most spectacular and beautiful.
From unbelievable beaches to a thriving and warm culture, Venezuela was overall a great experience for me (George) and could be for you too!
In this article we’ll list the seven best reasons to visit Venezuela, as well as cover any other important information you’ll need to know.
Is Venezuela worth visiting?
Quick answer: Venezuela is an incredibly beautiful country and is full of memorable experiences – however it’s not for everyone and below we’ll cover why.
Still gripped with political and economic instability, traveling around Venezuela is not as easy as others such as Colombia or Brazil which are known to have similar traits.
This includes dealing with the currencies, as well as safety issues in parts. For this reason we recommend travelers who are thinking of backpacking Venezuela to at least have some Latin America backpacking experience prior, or to include it near the end of your current trip once you’re used to how things are in this continent.
However, once you’re ready to step into Venezuela – you won’t want to leave!
The beaches here are hands down the best in the entire continent, where you won’t be swamped with other tourists. You can head to Mérida to ascend the world’s largest gondola up a snowy mountain, and also trek deep into the jungle of Canaima to visit Angel Falls and the towering Tepui mountains.
Where is Venezuela?
Venezuela is located in the far north of South America. Colombia borders to the west, with Brazil in the south as well as the wild Guyana to the east. Given its proximity to the Caribbean Ocean and Equator, Venezuela is quite a hot country year-round.
However it’s also important to know that it can be cold in parts. The towering Andes also pass through Venezuela, meaning we can find snow-capped peaks and incredible hiking opportunities (around Mérida in the east of the country).
Is Venezuela Safe?
In general things are made to look a lot worse than they actually are in Venezuela. That’s going to sound quite contradictory since I myself (George) was handcuffed and detained by corrupt police.
However these incidents are isolated and usually happen in remote areas, and are of course our fault for venturing off without having prepared properly (which was certainly the case with me). Throughout Venezuela we’ll find many safe destinations to visit.
Some of the safest places in Venezuela include:
- Mérida
- Choroní
- Margarita Island
- Los Roques
- Canaima
- Certain areas of Caracas (such as Chacao)
If only heading to these areas then you will be fine, but we’d still suggest backpacking around another South American country before to get some experience in.
There are of course many areas which aren’t safe. They of course do have their own advantages or touristic value, but should be visited with caution. These include Maracaibo, Barquisimeto and Caracas (areas such as El Silencio).
Avoid crossing land borders into Venezuela whenever possible too, given corrupt police regularly steal from both travelers and nationals who make the journey over.
Venezuela Travel Insurance
Are you planning to visit Venezuela soon? It can be difficult to find a reputable provider who will cover you in this country. SafetyWing is a solid choice who provide a monthly renewable plan, which includes medical cover and multiple home visits during your trip.
7 Reasons to Travel to Venezuela
Are you still wondering whether to head into the promised land of Venezuela? Here’s 7 awesome reasons why you should visit this underrated country on your next trip to South America.
1. Eat Your Way through a Really Delicious Cuisine
One of the very best things about Venezuela has to be the food, and I (George) actually found it to be one of the very best in the entire continent.
Arepas of course are the most famous which you can try in both local food stalls as well as in nicer restaurants, however there are more things worth trying. These include Tequeños, Cachapas as well as Pabellón.
You’ll also want to drink a refreshing Papelón con Limón, which is perfect for a cool-down by the beach. Whilst Caracas is king for street food (best spots are around El Silencio), you’ll also find each region has their own specialities too such as in Mérida and Maracaibo.
As always when eating street food in Latin America – always choose busy locales and follow our usual food safety tips.
2. Visit The Tallest Waterfall on Earth
Usually a staple on most South American bucket lists, Angel Falls is one of the main reasons most travelers come and explore Venezuela.
Standing at a giant 979m, this towering single-drop fall is a really spectacular site. Actually getting here is just as memorable too, given its remote location. You’ll first need to fly into Canaima from Caracas, where you’ll then join an organized tour to reach the site by boat.
Whilst you can do a flyover of Angel Falls, it’s pretty expensive – and to be honest the multi-day tour that most companies offer is a really good experience. Here you’ll stay in a lodge close to the falls, where you’ll go hiking through the Venezuelan jungle, visit indigenous towns, see the Tepui mountains and also explore the surrounding rainforest.
3. Enjoy an Atmospheric Culture
The people of Venezuela are really friendly, and you’ll find that whether inside the country or out.
And when traveling around, the locals will always be willing to lend a helping hand if needed. So for this reason it’s best to at least learn some Spanish basics, given this will make it much easier to communicate with them.
As well as being helpful, the locals are also really warm and love life – making everything much more enjoyable. Even walking in the streets you can find locals dancing or joking over a street arepa, and are also warm towards travelers.
For this reason it’s a must to meet locals when in Venezuela, as they can also introduce you to new experiences that you wouldn’t otherwise have found alone.
4. Go Hiking through the Venezuelan Andes
When we think of the infamous Andes, we tend to think about the mountains within Chile, Peru and perhaps Bolivia. However you may also be surprised to learn that this formidable mountain range also runs as high up as through Venezuela.
The city of Mérida is the perfect place to explore these, where we can visit towns such as San Rafael de Mucuchíes as well as the Mucubají Lake. We’ll also find this region to be really safe for tourists too.
Even better is the fact that the world’s longest gondola is just a 10 minute walk from Merida’s historic center. Here we can ride up to a total of 4765m, passing glacial lakes along the way and having a breathtaking view of the Andes from the top.
It goes without saying that you’ll want to bring a jumper, but also be sure to put on sunscreen too since the sun can get really intense here.
5. Learn about the Colorful History of Caracas
Before the economic crisis hit, Venezuela was actually once one of the most affluent countries in the world.
Although things have turned south in recent decades, much of the colonial architecture still remains (as well as other unique buildings and sites).
Firstly we’ll want to head to El Silencio, which is the historic center of Caracas. Here we can visit sites such as El Panteón, the Plaza de Bolívar as well as the impressive Teatro Municipal, which are all of your usual types of Spanish-influenced architecture.
However we can also visit other unorthodox buildings in Caracas too, such as the Tower of David – which was once a banking empire but has since been left to ruins. After it closed squatters then occupied the windowless tower, however it has now since been under government control.
6. Relax on some of South America’s Most Beautiful Beaches
The beaches throughout Latin America really are stunning, and especially so if you’ve ever been to countries like Mexico and Brazil.
However after a while of seeing these we can start feeling like we’re seeing the same kind of beaches (even though they are still really beautiful). However in Venezuela the beaches were truly next level, and especially so given they’re not filled with too much tourism.
The beaches in Aragua (such as Choroní) are some of the best on the mainland, whilst it’s also worth heading to the cays of the Morrocoy National Park.
Although more expensive to get to, you also head to the stunning beaches of Los Roques and Margarita Island too which are renowned for their snorkeling and diving conditions.
7. Visit the Colonial Town of Ciudad Tovar
If you’ve ever traveled through South America before, then you may have already visited one of these “Central European” towns.
Popular ones include Oxapampa and Pozuzo (both in Peru), however the Ciudad Tovar in Venezuela is just as memorable. Found within the mountains of Aragua, this town has deep German roots where travelers arrived here and decided to settle.
This can be seen with their classic white and black striped buildings, as well as locals still wearing typical Bavarian clothing.
You can easily visit this town on a day trip from either Maracay or Caracas, where you can enjoy the intimate atmosphere, try typical German foods as well as walk around a really unique town.
Is Venezuela worth visiting? Final Words
And that’s all for our guide on why you should visit Venezuela.
This South American nation is home to arguably the best beaches on the continent, and also has a fantastic culture full of warm people and delicious food.
Whilst many will be hesitant about visiting Venezuela, with just a little more preparation and know-how you can also have a really memorable time here.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Venezuela Itinerary for more ideas on how to organize your own trip around this spectacular nation.
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