Once you get beyond the headlines generated by and about firebrand leader Hugo Chavez and his long-running feud with the United States, you'll find Venezuela a varied and virtually undiscovered destination. From snowcapped Andean peaks to white-sand Caribbean beaches, from the Orinoco river basin to the skyscrapers of Caracas, there's an astounding range of places to visit and things to do. Adventurous types can climb Roraima, among the mysterious mesas of the Gran Sabana, or fish for piranha and wrangle anaconda on the flooded plains of Los Llanos.
Venezuela is exceptionally rich in biological diversity and pure natural beauty. With 43 national parks and a score of other natural monuments and protected areas, it's a fabulous destination for nature lovers, bird-watchers, and adventure travelers. There's great windsurfing, scuba diving, fishing, mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking, trekking, and river rafting. Venezuela has the world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls; the world's highest and longest tramway in the Andean city of Mérida; and miles and miles of white-sand Caribbean beaches.
Venezuela has the richest oil reserves in the Western Hemisphere. Thanks to the oil, it is one of the most modern and industrialized countries in Latin America. Still, some 70% of the population lives below the poverty line. Widespread unemployment, underemployment, and crippling poverty spur high levels of crime and violence.
Venezuela is the closest South American country to the United States, with some of the most frequent and affordable air connections to both the United States and Europe, and is thus easily accessible to international tourists. Most of the country is connected by an excellent network of paved roads and a good internal commuter air system. This chapter covers the principal tourist destinations -- Caracas, Isla de Margarita, Los Llanos, Mérida and Los Andes, Los Roques, and Canaima and Angel Falls -- and will guide you to some unforgettable experiences.
