venezuela

Balmed Out

A friend and i heading there at the end of july, me for a month and himself for 3 weeks. anyone got suggestions on where to go etc.
cheers

muletide

When you land get your baggage and get out of the international terminal. Turn Left and sprint the 300 metres to the national terminal, avoid the taxi drivers who will offer to drive you there it is only a short run, from there go anywhere you like most internal flights cost between 50 and 150 dollars. Be prepared for some shaky palnes and shakier pilots

Forget about Caracas I had three of the worst nights of my life there I am sure there are safe areas but I failed to find any.

The best town I found was Mérida about a two hour flight from Caracas. It is one of the main university towns in the country and has a great nightlife. It is also stuck on top of a mountain range so the scenery is amazing wait till you see the runway cut into the side of a mountain. The other great thing about this town is adventure sports canyoning, mountain climbing, trekking, White water rafting etc. There are lots of companies but the best one is beside the cable car station I cant remember the name but it is run by an aussie guy and is a good set up.Also there are some svage nightclubs and salsa bars there - you have never seen women move like these ones.

If you want the Carribean expierience head for Los Roques about two hours N of Caracas. Full of unbelievable little golden Islands and blue seas. Great spot for diving and deap sea fishing - a little bit expensive but worth it.

You have to be careful out there dont do the paddy thing and walk home drunk and singing from clubs and bars. Either the cops or the locals will get you. Just use some common sense.

Having said that it was the best three week holiday I have ever had I still have all the scars. If you have any specific Q feel free to ask.

man1

Was in Venuzuela about 8 years ago now and it was great.

Was only there for 3 and a half weeks but it was worth it.

We spent a couple of days in caracas, not much there for tourists or to see so stay away unless you know someone there. There is a lot of unrest there at the moment aswell, I think chavez tried to close down a private tv or radio recently and there have been protests and riots there in the last week or two. Funny how you can turn from hero to villian in a few years. (he was actually voted in the week we were there in 1999 and was seen as a savior for the poor and working class). They all turn out the same after a while. Once they get power it goes to their heads.

We spent a week in isla margarita which is a beautiful small venezuelan island off the coast and is seen as a caribbeen style island. The people are very friendly there and we were invited to have dinner a few of the evenings with them in their homes. I made a few friends there who I still keep in contact with.
There are some fantastic beaches there too, if you explore a bit you will find some breathtaking isolated beaches, where there will be no-one around for miles. Surf, Palm trees, White sand etc what more could you ask for.

We also went down south to the amazon rainforest area and visited all the 100's of waterfalls in canaima of which angel falls is one of them (highest waterfall in the world), named after american pilot jimmy angel who crashed there. It is the most beautiful place in the world in my eyes.
I have been all over the world and have experienced loads but nothing compares to seeing all those falls, we went under one and crossed it from one end to the other, it was nearly half a km across.
The noise is deafening and you get soaked as you walk along a little edge, you have to wear a safety harness which is connected to the person in front and behind you and so on. It was truly amazing.
I was there with a few germans and one american. One of the guides told me I was the first irish man under the falls. Not many people are brave enough to go under the falls. (although he probably says that to everyone).
We also swam in some of the lagoons there, crystal clear unpolluted waters.

We flew over all the rainforest area and you can see where they are cutting down large areas, such a shame. Although the canaima area is safe for now.

The ladies there are probably some of the most beautiful in the world:p and regularly win miss world (they have won it more times than any other nation).
They speak spanish there obviously and we found it hard to find any good english speakers, but you can get by with a phrase book and sign language.
(if you dont speak spanish).

It is one of the most friendliest countries I have ever been to and would love to go back again but I think my wife and kid would have something to say about that.

Ahhh! for the days of travelling..........