Welcome to Venezuela – the ‘Little Venezia’ of America and a country of staggering variety. For its exotic natural beauty and easy access from different parts of the U.S.A., Venezuela has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Just combine a splash of light, the aroma of Life, a shade of color and a pinch of contradiction and you’ll have Venezuela. Here we have piled up some of the best tourist attractions in Venezuela that you and your family will want to see and experience while on vacation.
Angel Falls
One of the top reasons to visit Venezuela, Angel Falls – the highest waterfall in the world (979 meters), is a nature lover’s paradise with much to offer its visitors. Surrounded by remarkable wilderness, varied ecosystems and fabulous rivers of the Canaima National Park, Angel Falls offers scenic beauty found in few places on Earth. In the western part of the park one can find the Auyantepuy, one of the largest and better known tepuy (a flat top mountain ending with vertical walls), from where the Angel falls are formed.
Believe it or not, Angel Fall was unknown to Venezuelans until the early 1930s. It was discovered in 1937 by the American aviator James Angel, hence its name. Angel Falls is difficult to reach; it is accessible only by boat or aircraft because of the steep slopes and thick jungle surrounded it. To have a majestic view of the site, tourists are recommended to go there during rainy season. Get ready to indulge in hiking, swimming and canoeing while visiting the awe-inspiring Angel Falls.
Mochima National Park
The northern coast of Venezuela is home to the fascinating Mochima National Park, another top tourist site in Venezuela, offering great habitat diversity, from small coral reefs to mangrove and wet forests teeming with endemic flora and fauna. The park is best known for its gulf, inlet, beaches and villages. In the nearby islands of the park, there are some perfect areas to spot dolphins and whales living in these waters, as well as flocks of pelicans and other seabirds perched on the coral outcrops drying their wings. In the Caribbean coast, within the National Park Mochima visitors will find a dreamscape getaway, Playa Colorada (Reddish Beach in Spanish) with stunning mountain scenery and endless variety of watersports, including snorkeling, fishing, kayaking and diving.
The park covers around 95,000 hectares and is considered Venezuela’s second marine park. Its western section is almost entirely a marine area and includes the Mochina Bay and Gulf of Santa Fe.
La Gran Sabana
La Gran Sabana or the great plain, also known as ‘The Lost World,’ is a unique place found inside Venezuela’s biggest national park, Canaima, promising breathtaking views you will not see anywhere else in the world. The entire savannah is filled with numerous rivers and waterfalls, some as large as Kaietaeur, as well as ancient rocks, generally metamorphic, formed out of blocks of granite. The climate in the Gran Sabana is evergreen with rain forests and more than. Due to this spectacular beauty La Gran Sabana was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1994. A trip to Gran Sabana will bring you to a land where you can still feel the divine breath of creation.
Margarita Island
Located at the northeast of Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, Margarita is a Caribbean Island and a great a place to go around. The pleasant tropical climate of the island is a favorite among the tourists; add to it, miles and miles of beautiful beaches, offering facilities for scuba diving and windsurfing, cosmopolitan cities and quaint villages with their customs and traditions still intact. One of the island’s best attractions is the Lagoon of La Restinga National Park, a must-see for any visitor to this charming hotspot. The east end of Margarita Island has considerable resort development with noisy nightlife and a wide range of accommodation options to suit any budget and preference.
Los Roques Archipelago
In the Caribbean Sea, around 176 km north of Venezuela’s capital is situated the National Park of the Archipelago of Los Roques with a very unique flora and fauna, crystal clear turquoise waters fringed by white sandy beaches and teeming with colorful coral reefs, abundant species of fish and other marine live sure to leave diving fans breathless.
Comprising 350 small islands, each with its own charm and beauty, Los Roques Archipelago, described by Columbus as ‘heaven on earth,’ never fails to amaze visitors from around the world with its unspoiled splendor. The park was created in 1972 to protect a marine ecosystem of exceptional beauty and ecological value dominated by coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds. Today the archipelago attracts water sports lovers who come to indulge in sailing, kayaking, sport fishing, snorkeling and windsurfing, as well as those who truly appreciate sunbathing and beach life.