Venezuela

Eco-friendly travel guide to Venezuela advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Venezuela, South America.

View of the tepuis, Kukenan and Roraima, in the Gran Sabana. Canaima National Park. Tepuis are among the attractions of the park, these mountains are among the oldest exposed formations on the planet

Air quality: 3.5 / 5

Bus connections: 3.5 / 5

Train connections: 2.0 / 5

Hitchhiking: 2.0 / 5

National parks: 3.5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4.0 / 5

Locals' English level: 3.0 / 5

Safety: 2.5 / 5

Accommodation: US$20 - $100

Budget per day: US$35 - $150

Responsible Travel

The country of Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America. It is the 33rd country in the world with an area of 916,445 sq. km and several islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. The Caribbean sea borders the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Atlantic Ocean in the north, Colombia on the west, on the South by Brazil, northeast by Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana on the east. The country has 23 States, a capital District, and federal dependencies consisting of several offshore islands.

Venezuela is one of the most urbanized countries in Latin America. In 2019, Venezuela's estimated population was 28 million, and 96 percent of the country's population is Roman Catholic. For a long time now, Venezuela has been one of the world's leading oil exporters with its largest known oil reserves.

However, Venezuela is gifted with an amazing geographic position. And because of that, one can experience a variety of landscapes, mesmerizing waterfalls falling from the great mountains, a richness in wildlife and plants, and a tropical climate here in Venezuela. Due to this aesthetic scenery, Venezuela is a very famous tourist destination. According to a survey held in 2017, the estimated number of tourists in Venezuela per year is 429 thousand!

In 2015, the country was declared the most dangerous country because one person used to be murdered every 21 minutes. today after taking several measures, the scene might have changed quite a bit, but still, you need to be very brave and responsible while traveling to Venezuela.

While moving around Venezuela, you need to be very conscious about some crimes and scams that are reported quite often in the country, such as, Kidnapping, Carjacking, ATM theft, Airport Tax Scam, Pickpockets, etc.. Nowadays, the country might take several steps against excessive crime in Venezuela, but you never know! So, the precautions are very important. However, no matter what, as a responsible tourist, you have to keep doing your jobs.

Don't throw garbage here and there

Keep your trip as sustainable as possible

Support local businesses and buy locally produced products

Try to ignore vehicles that do not contribute much to the country's economy

Volunteer when there is an opportunity

Remember you are going to visit the country and might stay only for a few days. So, try not to create any negative image unless there is a situational demand.

Air Quality and Pollution

According to Works Health Organization's guidelines, Venezuela's air quality was pretty unsafe for the last few years. Massive deforestation and irresponsible mining are some of the main reasons why Venezuela's pollution was increasing rapidly. However, Venezuela has 43 national parks and several forests— overall, the amount of greenery the country has is much more than lots of countries in the world. Today the AQI of Venezuela is 9, which is actually pretty good.

Respect the Culture

Most people refer to Venezuela as a cultural mess. Venezuelan culture consists of Caribbean, Amazonian, Andean, Latin American, etc. More than the Venezuelans are identified as 'mestizo,' which means they share a mixture of Amerindian, European, or Afro-Caribbean ancestry.

The Spanish colonization greatly shaped Venezuelan society; this introduced the Spanish language and Roman Catholicism. Therefore today's dominant culture of Venezuela presents an amazing blend of indigenous and Spanish customs. The people here are mostly known for being friendly and warm. They greet people with a hug or sometimes a kiss and shake hands with strangers. Spanish is the official language here in Venezuela. French, English, German, and Portuguese can also be heard from some specific sections of the community. Overall, Venezuelans are familiar with about 40 languages.

The city of Caracas is home to several Venezuelan traditions. Festivals began here from 16th December through various church activities every day in the morning. The Catholic Venezuelans are followers of Jesus and celebrate the 25th of December as Jesus's birthday in churches. A ritualistic tradition in Venezuela includes falling to trances in order to connect with Lonza. This tradition is widely practiced throughout Venezuela.

However, festivals here are far beyond any religious aspects, rooted deeply in the mixture of traditional influences. Venezuelans celebrate festivals like Fiesta De San Juan on 2nd January, Carupano Carnival on 23-25 June, a music festival, Semana Santa or Holy Week on 29th June, and many more. Venezuelans are colorful and creative people, and their festivals are all unique. On top of all, people here are proud of their country, and every event and festival has a deep cultural value.

So, if you want to enjoy your trip here, then respect their Culture and join them in their cultural celebration. You will see how interesting your trip will be.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Venezuela is recognized as one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the whole world. A vast array of ecosystems and habitats can be seen in the country. The country's ecosystem consists of rainforests, mountains, savannas, coral reefs, and many more. On the other hand, Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, is the center of modern architecture in the region. So you see, Venezuela is one of the most rewarding places for a traveler. Check out the following list to find out the top 10 places must-visit places in the country:

Merida: This progressive city of Venezuela is indeed an affluent city consisting of great mountains and a beautiful cultural vibe. Because of the University here, the town is always full of energy and youthfulness. Even the climate here is absolutely suitable for outdoor activities. If you are one of those who enjoy wildlife trips, this town is the perfect place for you to stay in Venezuela.

Coro: This town of Venezuela is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town's colonial architecture is exactly what attracts visitors, but somehow, the town is deteriorating. The city has lots of museums and a beautiful Cathedral. It's a small town, perfect for walking. Zamora is a very spot in the town for the Historical mansions here.

Angel Falls: Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall, which is why this is one of the most popular destinations in Venezuela. The waterfall offers really some mesmerizing sight with its 1-kilometer drop. You can find it in the nearly isolated jungle in the Canadian National Park. If you visit Angel Falls during dry seasons, you will see the water disappearing into a mist before touching the bottom but if you want to witness the water in its plentiful, rainy seasons is the best time to come here.

Roraima: Roraima is like an island in the sky. The highest tepuis in Canaima National Park, Roraima is a popular hiking destination with its fantastical Rock formations, meat-eating plants, and waterfalls. This tabletop mountain was also the inspiration of one of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous novels, The Lost World. If you are a nature lover or an adventure-seeker, this place is the perfect destination for you in Venezuela. However, the place is easily accessible, but Roraima is often misty, cloudy, or raining, so you need to be prepared as a hiker.

National Pantheon of Venezuela: It is rather an important attraction in Caracas. The original church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1812, and the building you will see was constructed after it. Today, the National Pantheon of Venezuela is the country's most sacred church and one of the few houses that remained from prominent Venezuela.

Ciudad Bolívar: The place has a rich history from the period of struggle for the country's independence. Simon Bolivar, a liberator and a political leader who played a significant role in freeing several countries, including Venezuela from the Spanish Empire, set up his military base in Ciudad Bolívar and began their final campaign, Independence. It is Venezuela's historic center and the capital of the largest state of the country. Most travelers pay a visit here on their way to Angel Falls.

Barquisimeto: This place is known as the capital of the state, Lara, and pretty famous as the musical center of Venezuela. Barquisimeto or the 'City of Twilight' is the most lovely and charming place you can ever visit. The energetic cultural vibe of the city attracts thousands of visitors across the world. Apart from the famous museum, Museo de Barquisimeto, the city also houses the country's very first cathedral, Iglesia de la Concepción.

Los Llanos: Los Llanos or the plains is a grassland region located on Venezuela and Columbia's border. When it is the summer months, the plains flood and make it the perfect destination for bird lovers; on the other hand, Los Llanos becomes the best place for wildlife sightings during the dry seasons. Several animals gather in the few water areas. This is the reason why Los Llanos is also called by the name Serengeti of South America.

Valencia's Aquarium: From 1975, Valencia's Aquarium has been a famous tourist spot. Apart from being the biggest and absolute perfect Aquarium in Venezuela, it is also one of the few aquariums in the world that shelters Amazon River dolphins! There is a huge collection of various fish species, including an unparalleled and beautiful river and freshwater fish. The aquarium also houses a zoo, an aviary, and a serpentarium. Tourists can see monkeys, jaguars, turtles, pumas, and much more in the zoo.

The Drowned Church of Potosi: The city Potosi was the residence of more than 1200 residents before it was intentionally drowned in order to create a hydroelectric dam. During that time, though the whole city was drowned, its church's 85-foot steeple was stroll unharmed as it was later used as a watermark for the water reservoir. Around 26 years later, El Nino lessened the water with a drought in order to reveal the remaining of the city. Today, tourists can watch the entire exposed front part of the church, the remains of a few homes, and the town square's configuration.

Angel Falls in Venezuela

Explore

Even though Venezuela is struggling right now because of the rising time and inflation, this tropical country has an amazing beauty that can make anyone fall in love with it. The green beauty and biodiversity make it rewarding for any traveler. Venezuela is the birthplace of Simon Bolivar, land of oil exports, several beauty pageant winners, and a rich, interesting past. Take a look at the following list and find out what is there to explore in Venezuela.

City Parks

Most of the cities in Venezuela have hundreds of things to offer, and the city parks are the most impressive ones among them. There are several beautiful parks in the country. Some have them and have a little bit of history, while others are the perfect examples of modern creation. Here are some of the famous city parks of Venezuela:

Vereda Del Lago

El Cardenalito Park

Dracula Square

Parque Los Cabos

La Llovizna Park

Parque Municipal Campo

Suniland Park

Aguamania

La Llovizna Park

National Parks

Venezuela is the land of vast natural beauty. There are 43 National parks in the country, occupying more than 20 percent land of South America. But nowadays, the National Park System of Venezuela is struggling due to some forbidden Activities like road-building, mining, deforestation, etc. Even some of the national parks are also becoming the perfect cover for drug traffickers and guerilla groups. On the other hand, some parks are suffering from "extreme ecocide."

There are several other conflicts nowadays that are interrupting the fate of the national parks'. But still, there is no reason to lose courage. You will be able to see 350 mammal species, 1500 bird species, around 3300 plant species here in Venezuela's national parks. Please look at the following list, where we have mentioned a few of the country's 43 national parks.

Yurubi National Park: This national park was created to protect the Yurubi River Basin. The freshwater from the river is essential for the city of San Felipe, located in the Sierra de Aurora mountains. Apart from giving protection to the Yurubi River, the park also protects low Montane forests as well as the cloud forests and contains a high range of biodiversity.

Henri Pittier National Park: Henri Pittier was a Swiss geographer, ethnologist, and botanist who came to Venezuela in 1917. He serialized more than 30,000 plants in the country and spent most of the years in his life studying flora and fauna of Venezuela. The park's geographic system is divided into two parts: A coastal area with several beaches and resorts and A steep mountainous area where you will find around 500 bird species and 22 endemic species.

Guatopo National Park: This park is located in the southeastern part of Caracas. It includes deciduous and conifer forests that house 10 endemic bird species and more than 59 species of bat.

Canaima National Park: Located in the Southeast of Venezuela in Bolivar state, the 12000 sq. mile park is just at trazil and GGuyana's border. The park is enriched with wildlife and endemic plant species. In Canaima National Park, you will find Giant anteater to Jaguar and Red-shouldered macaw to Harpy eagle.

Sierra Nevada National Park: In the Western half of the country, between the States of Merida and Barinas, Sierras. Nevada National Park is located. The park was established in 1952 in order to protect the Sierra Nevada de Merida in the Andes. This national park carries great importance as it is responsible for protecting a large ecosystem in the country. Inside the park, there is the tallest mountain in the country, Pico Bolivar.

Some other parks include:

Guatopo National Park

Yacambú National Park

El Ávila National Park

Los Roques Archipiélago

Morrocoy National Park

Henri Pittier National Park

Beaches

Beaches are such simple locations consisting of just sand and sea but can be so much more! Beaches can provide us with a massive amount of joy, whether we need some time off from our daily stressful life or want a sunny spot to spend some time or planning for a madness filled party— the beach is our one-word solution! Venezuela has several beautiful beaches, but they are too popular to cope with the crowd as a popular tourist destination. However, here are five top beaches you might like:

Mochima National Park

Cayo de Agua

Playa El Yaque

Madrisqui

Isla El Faro

Mochima National Park

Landmarks

Venezuela is particularly famous for its massive natural areas with several natural wonders. The country has a high biodiversity, and that is one of the main characteristics of the country. You will find such jaw-droppingly beautiful Landmarks here that you may have never seen in your life; here are some of them:

Coromoto Ice Cream Shop: It may seem silly to you to see an ice cream shop on the top of the list of landmarks, but it's not just a local shop. The Heladeria Coromoto has a Guinness World Record for providing customers with 869 flavors of ice creams in their parlor. More than 60 of them are made with seasonal flavors based on the seasonal favorites. In 1989, the ice cream shop was established by Manuel De Silva Oliveira. It is said that the founder used to work in much higher ice cream corporations but always dreamt of making different and unusual flavors, and here you are!

Casa Natal and Museo Bolivar: Simon Bolivar is a political hero and a very important person for Venezuelans. He played an essential role in founding Venezuela as a sovereign country. However, Casa Natal and Museo Bolivar is the residence dated back to the seventeenth century and Simon Bolivar's birthplace. His house is an excellent example and one of the few remains of colonial times. Tourists can also see the chamber where the hero was born, along with his artifacts and stuff.

Bararida Zoological and Botanical Park: Bararida Zoological and Botanical Park are some of Venezuela's famous family-friendly spots. It is a joint park of a zoo and a botanical park that offers some of the country's most fabulous flora and fauna. There are more than 8222 animals in the zoo and more than 150 diverse species of international and native plants in the Botanical Park.

Isla Margarita: It is the largest island located on the northern coast of Venezuela, in Caracas's capital city. Isla Margarita is called the Pearl of the Caribbean. You will be able to see the most amazing beaches here, with white sand spread across and some Tropical beaches combined with tranquil seawater. Apart from the beach experience, several adventures are also waiting for you, such as wind and kite surfing. And also, if you are searching to experience the exotic beach-side nightlife, well, Isla Margarita will fulfill your desire.

Sima Humboldt and Sima Martel: Sima Humboldt and Sima Martel are two enormous and deep holes located at the mysterious forested table top mountain of Sarisariñama Tepui. The name Sarisariñama is straightly related to the legend of Ye'kuana Indians. In the mysterious forest-covered mountain, they say there is a cave, and there lives an evil spirit. He loves the human flesh, and when he eats, the sound, "Sari...Sari…." can be heard. However, the Mountain is located in a remote area in South-Eastern Venezuela, and the caves were undiscovered until in 1961, Harry Gibson, a jungle pilot, spotted the simas or sinkholes. Later in 1974, several explorers set foot to research the place. During their expedition, they found out the Sima Humboldt has a depth of 314 meters and a volume of 21 million cubic meters, and Sima Martel is 248 meters deep.

Catatumbo Lightning: Catatumbo Lightning is the world's most persistent thunderstorm. You can observe the sight above the wetlands of the southwest of Maracaibo Lake. You will see a continuous and very powerful thunderstorm here with nearly 20,000 lightning flashes. The lightning event is nothing unusual, but the fact that it can be seen for 140-160 nights per year is quite unusual. The event can be even 10 hours long. The lightning can be seen from very far away, in the Caribbean. Therefore, the thunderstorm was named Maracaibo Lighthouse. In 1595 and again in 1823, the thunderstorm prevented two severe Spanish attacks. However, even after several pieces of research, the source formation of the lighting remained mysterious, but they are created by specific chemistry, and that is for sure.

El Guamache Bay, Margarita island, Venezuela

Museums

Venezuela has an extensive network of National Museums that pays attention to the various aspects of arts and helps you know about the country's rich heritage. These Museums are your best option if you learn about Venezuela even more closely. So, here are a few museums you would like to visit.

Museum of Contemporary Art Caracas

Jesus Soto Museum of Modern Art

Children's Museum of Caracas

Aeronautics Museum of Maracay

Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Jesus Soto Museum of Modern Art

Eat

After Venezuelan Natural beauty, Venezuelan cuisine is also quite famous. The rich cuisine is influenced deeply by Spanish, Native American, and West African cultures. Venezuelans have the ability to prepare unique and tasty foods out of very simple ingredients, such as plantains, corn, meat and black beans, and some amazing flavors. Pabellon is the national dish of the country, which is made with tender and flavourful beef, rice, and black beans.

Here are some Venezuelan dishes you have to try:

Arepas

Tequeños

Pabellon Criollo

Hallaca

Perico

Cachapa

Empanadas

Tres Leches

Traditional and Local Restaurants

Here are some of the best restaurants in Venezuela that can offer you some amazing traditional food:

El Rey de Las Arepas

La Guyana Verde

Alto

Cachapera Doña Inés e Hijos

El Aranjuez

Tarzilandia

Vegetarian and Vegan

It's not that easy to find a good veg restaurant in a country where the National dish is beef preparation. But as days are passing, people are relying more and more upon vegetarian food, therefore, today you will find a number of high-quality veg restaurants in the cities of Venezuela. Here are some of them,

El Gigante Verde

El Cine

PRANA Juice Bar

Sabas Nieves

La Isabela

Restaurante Del Canalito Natural

Mokambo

Street Food

Arepas is the most famous street food in Venezuela. It is a small pita made with cornflour and stuffed with various ingredients like Cheese, Rice, Beans, Pork, Eggs, etc. However, the filling depends on a particular region and, of course, the cook. Here are some of the other famous street foods in Venezuela:

Street Burgers

Salchiquesos

Tumbarranchos

Agüita de Sapo

Pepitos

Drink

Here are some of the popular drinks you can find in Venezuela. Venezuelans love to drink fruit juice; hence they have created some amazing drinks out of simple fruits. On the other hand, Rum and Wine are two other drinks, very popular among Venezuelans. In Carora, wine has been produced since 1990. Check out the following list to find out what should you drink in Venezuela:

Batido: thick, fresh fruit juice

Frescolita: Popular Red soft drink

Cocada: Milkshake made with coconut milk

Chicha: A famous juice made with milk, boiled rice, and sugar

Merengada: A refreshing drink made out of fruit, milk, sugar, ice

Ponche Crema: Cream-based liquor consisting of eggs, sugar, milk, nutmeg, rum, and vanilla

Rum

Wine

Tap-water

Venezuela is currently suffering from a water crisis. The reason is mainly political and economic. The situation is deteriorating every day, and somehow it is triggering power outages, resulting in a regular shut down in Venezuela's water treatment plants. This is why, today, every 8 out of 10 Venezuelans are unable to get continuous access to clean drinking water. Even getting bottled mineral water can be pretty hard in this situation.

Activities

Venezuela has everything that an adventure lover can ever want. From exotic islands to lush rainforests, large limestone caves, to mesmerizing waterfalls— Venezuelan nature is waiting for you in the wings. Every kind of traveler, adventure lovers would feel blessed to spend some time in the lap of Venezuelan nature; there are lots of outdoor activity opportunities available in the country.

Go for a safari in the Amazon region

Climb Mount Roraima

Witness Angel Falls

Explore the capital city of Caracas

Find out what are things, the oldest city Coro is storing in it

Ride one of the world's tallest car, Mukumbari

Ski-in the tallest Andean Peaks

Spend your time watching birds in the national parks of Venezuela

Accommodation

Venezuela is a beautiful place, hence no matter where you are staying, every accommodation in the country can offer you spectacular views. Take a look at the following list and decide where you are going to stay in Venezuela:

Green Hotels

Here are the top Green Hotels in Venezuela:

Renaissance Caracas La Castellana Hotel

JW Marriott Hotel Caracas

Hotel Plaza Meru

Posada Piano y Papaya Los Roques

Hesperia Eden Club

Hostels and Guest Houses

If you want to maintain sustainability in your trip, choose one hostel or guesthouse from the following list:

Hostel Nova Colonial

Gurkha School

Hotel Caribana

Posada Amor Patrio

Posada La Langosta

Posada Movida

Posada Villa Del Carmen

Apartments

Venezuela is one of the most developed countries in South America. There are lots of apartments available here in different price ranges. In this era of the internet, it is even easier to find an apartment. Therefore, getting an apartment here is nothing to concern, but the question is about safety, and there is no guarantee.

Venezuela is a country that is amazingly beautiful from the outside, but the inside is filled with crime, low health infrastructure, and economic crisis. So you see, it's okay to search for an apartment where you are planning to stay here for a longer time, but the question is, should you stay here for a longer period?

Couchsurfing

You will find an online community, namely, Couchsurfing.com, where people worldwide gather to find their Couchsurfing companions.

On the other hand, Venezuela is not at all a safe place. Crime is a regular thing here. Couchsurfing is a concept that makes you think twice before agreeing. Even if local people agree to let you sleep on their couch in a crime-filled place like Venezuela, how is a traveler supposed to put their trust in a stranger? In conclusion, you can choose Couchsurfing to stay in Venezuela, but you should think twice.

Camping

There are several tourist spots in Venezuela that are dedicated to campsites, such as, Henri Pittier National Park, Gran Savanna, Santa Elena, and Isla Margarita. Beaches are also available for camping, but safety is always the biggest obstacle in Venezuela. However, in the following list, you will find some of the best campgrounds in Venezuela:

Cabanas Mucuambi

Orinoco Delta Lodge

Pasada la Fuente

Posada Finca La Huerfano

Posada La Calceta

Churump Camp

Campameto Bernal

Regions

Venezuelan regions are divided into two groups, Natural Regions and Administrative regions. The natural geography of the natural regions differentiates them from the administrative regions. On the other hand, the administrations are divided based on the purpose of the Regional Administration.

There are eight Natural Regions in Venezuela:

Caribbean Mountain System Natural Region

Andean Natural Region

Guyana Natural Region

Lara Falcon Hill System Natural Region

Insular Natural Region

Los Llanos Natural Region

Orinoco Delta Natural Region

Lake Maracaibo Lowlands Natural Region

There are currently nine Administrative Regions in Venezuela:

Capital Region

Andean Region

Central Region

Eastern Region

Central Western Region

Guyana Region

Llanos Region

Zulian Region

Insular Region

The group of Venezuelan Administrative regions includes Venezuela's federal dependencies, neighboring states, and the capital district with the purpose of regional administration in the regional development system.

Cities

The country of Venezuela is made of around 195 cities and towns. Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo, San Cristóbal, Barquisimeto, Puerto la Cruz, Ciudad Guayana, son las mejores ciudades. Here are the other top cities in Venezuela:

Canaima

Catia La Mar

Ciudad Bolívar

Choroni

Coro

Los Roques

Margarita Island

Paraguana peninsula

Merida

The lovely country, Venezuela, has been suffering from a major loss in tourism. However, it is picking up gradually, and the Venezuelan people make sure that the political situation can no longer affect the country's tourism. The country is filled with great cities, and every city has something to offer to its visitors and their ancient history.

Getting There and Moving Around

Venezuela has an extensive transportation system. There are several ways to move around the city and getting to the city is also quite easy. However, Venezuela is a vast country, and the cities here are also located at a significant distance. This is why walking can be pretty tiring except if you want to visit crowded places.

Look into the following list and know how you can get to Venezuela or move around the country:

Air

Distance between the cities in Venezuela is relatively long, so Venezuela created an extensive airline network around the country and all the major tourist destinations.

Simon Bolivar International Airport is the international airport here in Venezuela, located at a 30 min distance from Caracas. The national airport in Venezuela connects all the major countries and continents in work. However, always beware of false airport taxes and thefts.

Inside the Simon Bolivar International Airport

Bus

Buses are the cheapest way to get around the country. The bus network here has been spread across all the terrestrial Venezuela. If you can spend some extra dollars, you can choose one of the two reputable luxury lines. Terminal La Bandera and Terminal del Oriente are the two main bus terminals in Caracas.

Venezuelan roads are linked with Colombia and Brazil, and international bus services are available from both countries.

A bus in Caracas

Train

Since the 1990s, Venezuela has had a single route of the public railway network. It is 173 km in length and connects Puerto Caballo and Barquisimeto. However, in the 21st century, several other railway projects have started to get in shape. But the railway network in Venezuela does not have any international rail links with the surrounding countries.

Hitchhiking

Venezuela is connected only with Brazil and Columbia by road. So if you are looking for Hitchhiking options, then you have reached any of the two countries at first. Again, Venezuela is not a safe place. That is why Hitchhiking is quite risky around here. Besides, it is not an act of any intelligent person to trust a stranger and ride his car. And hitchhiking to Venezuela or moving around the country with Hitchhiking is even riskier at night.

Others

If you choose to drive to Venezuela then it is not worth the effort. You have to go through lots of paperwork and on the other hand, you will get around several locals who drive pretty aggressively. Besides, rental cars are way more expensive for exploring tourist destinations. There are several other cheaper ways to travel around such as taxis or buses. You can also move around some places in Venezuela by cable car.

La Guaira, Maracaibo, and Puerto Cabello are the main ports in Venezuela. Note that ferries between Trinidad and Venezuela were suspended.

Sustainable Shopping

Nowadays, Sustainability is much more than just a trend. Several brands are working towards their sustainability goals and making everything from their production to the supply chains more eco-friendly. On the other hand, as a responsible tourist, you should know how important it is to shop for sustainability in a foreign country.

Food markets

Here are some of the food market where locals love to shop:

The beach market

Guiria Market

Mercado Quinta Crespo

Club Social Chino de Caracas

Mercado Municipal de Capacho

The food chain in Venezuela is breaking; as a result, the shoppers on the streets are doubling all the prices. Venezuela is suffering from massive inflation since 2017. This is why now food Markets and grocery shopping is a nightmare for locals. According to some reports and analytics, if Venezuela does not keep their monthly inflation below 50%, then it will get harder to escape the circle of hyperinflation.

Flea markets

Here are some of the popular flea markets in Venezuela:

La Senza Flea Market

Playa El Agua Flea Market

Valencia Flea Market

Caracas Flea Market

Second-hand stores

The marketing of Second-hand stores in Venezuela is not going very well. That's why the second-hand store market is quite down, nowadays. Here are some of the second-hand stores in Venezuela where you can still find some second-hand products,

Victor Boutique

Repuestos Detroit 2004

Atuendos

Eco-fashion

The fashion industry in today's world finally understood how Eco-fashion could help the people and the environment; it can also help a brand earn even more profit. As a result today the fashion industry is playing a major role as a contributor to the pile of waste. Following in the footsteps of the fashion industries around the world, Venezuela is also shifting gradually towards sustainable clothing and trying to produce less waste, as much as possible. Here are some of the eco-fashion brands that are spreading their wings across Venezuela:

Susana Colin's

Vanguards

Vania

Aurai Swimwear

Recycling

Venezuela might be a comparatively poor country, but it is rich in natural resources, and every day it is becoming even more industrialized. Along with that, the country faces several consequences, such as producing an increasing amount of waste. People are getting more money in their pocket, at the same time; the surrounding environment is getting nothing but garbage.

For the past few years, the government has taken several measures to reduce Venezuela's crime rate. Along with that, the government uses educational programs to teach people the necessity of recycling and how to preserve the natural resources they have here in Venezuela.

Until now, one of Venezuela's largest recycling successes is MAJORCA. It is one of the most modern recycling sites in Guacara city, Venezuela.

On the other hand, University students in Venezuela have launched an initiative, "Protect Paradise . Their prime motive is to remove recyclable waste and clean around 200 kilometers of coastline belonging to Caribbean countries. They have successfully cleaned 6 tons of plastic bottles within just one day, and the volunteers also picked up other recyclable wastes.

However, Venezuela is taking several measures and moving towards success slowly but gradually. And as a responsible tourist, you must keep the environment as clean as possible and act accordingly to throw trash in the designated and volunteer in the local recycling programs.

Waste

Venezuela was suffering from a huge waste problem, and the only waste disposal method the locals knew was only the open garbage pits. Poor people even used to go to the pits and try to salvage materials and sell them to unscrupulous traders and earn money. Such people used to control the local drug trade and come with different conflicts, every time a recycling site was opening.

As mentioned before, the country is very rich in natural resources, for example, steel, aluminum, and gold. That is the reason why the waste produced from these industries is just left untreated after dumping. But within just a year, a $15 million plant opened, and the waste problem is improving drastically. Today more than 6 lakh people live in safe conditions and far more sanitary. On top of that, 60 new jobs were opened at the plant.

The less waste is produced, the more it impacts Environment and pollution is always far less than it was. Along with that, the chain of selling things from the garbage pits illegally has also been reduced.

Work and Study Abroad

The top nine Universities in Venezuela are:

Universidad Simón Bolívar

Universidad Catolica Andres Bello

Universidad De Los Andes

Universidad del Zulia

Universidad de Carabobo

Universidad Metropolitana

Universidad Catolica Andres Bello

Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela

National experimental University of Sur del Lago

Universidad Metropolitana And Universidad Catolica Andres Bello are in the private sectors, unlike the other public universities. And Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela and the National experimental University of Sur del Lago are two of the new 13 Universities that have opened in the last 15 years.

Basic education is free here in Venezuela, and Secondary education only takes 2 years, but they are not compulsory. On the other hand, Venezuela has lots of Job opportunities to offer. The average nominal monthly wages here revolve around 10174.48 VEF per month.

Exchange Student

Venezuela's government is eager to increase investment in higher education, and exchange student programs are one of the best ways to promote Venezuelan education. Within the past few years, Venezuela has completely lost its reputation, and people call it the name of the most unsafe country in South America. Though nowadays, the crime rate has reduced dramatically, programs like Exchange Student have become a necessity for the country.

Venezuela is a tropical, Spanish-speaking country and more than 150 American students visit Venezuela every year to study. Besides, every student would love to visit such a beautiful country and learn to stay in the lap of mesmerizing nature.

Au Pair

The concept is quite new for the locals of the country; at the same time, it is not something people have never heard of. So if you ask locals about this matter and do some research online, you may find a few people interested in Au Pair. In the end, no matter what, put your safety and security first.

Volunteering

No matter what rumor you hear about Venezuela, you become a responsible tourist of the country when you are going on a trip to the country. So, as you expect the people to care about you and act friendly, and treat you as one of them, you should give them something back. In this situation, Volunteer programs are the best opportunity to do something for the country.

Venezuela has a large number of poorest citizens, and through the volunteer programs, you can provide the necessary social services. You can also volunteer in wildlife Protection and Environmental conservation activities.

In the following list, you will find some volunteer opportunities in Venezuela:

Fundacion Reconstruction

Colegio de Sociólogos y Antropólogos de París

Teaching, Conservation, and Expedition

Propose alternatives to the problems that affect the country

Work with locals and contribute to the nature protection

Help locals to save the National Park system

Join AFRA, an NGO devoted to conserving wildlife