Venezuela travel note:
Recent U.S. activity in Venezuela has sharply escalated instability, and conditions (including transport and safety) can change with little warning. TBB cannot recommend travel to Venezuela right now. If you still plan to go, check your own government’s travel advice and your insurer before booking.
South America’s last remaining hidden gem has been off-limits for years. Venezuela consistently tops “world’s most dangerous countries” lists, and even locals may tell you that you can expect a gun to your head the moment you step foot inside cities such as the notorious capital Caracas.
But I have good news. Venezuela is making a comeback. By 2021, the crime situation became so bad that many dangerous people fled the country having run out of people to rob. Yes, really!
On top of that, ex-president Nicolas Maduro finally decided to crack down on crime, allowing police to use brutal force against the villains who made the country such a deadly place (and innocents, but that’s another story)…
Fast-forward to now, and Venezuela is relatively safe to visit. Look, it’s not quite Switzerland or Iceland, but it isn’t the one-time no-go zone it was in the recent past. The keyword here is “relatively“.
I’ve been to far dodgier spots in South America such as Colombian capital Bogota and Brazil’s Sao Paulo. Much of Venezuela is pretty chill nowadays in comparison to those cities, which remain very much on the backpacking circuit, Bogota especially.
Here I will share with you the best things to do in Venezuela which you can enjoy away from the gringo hordes hiking their way through the Peruvian Andes, or drinking the night away in Medellin.
Check out this incredible country before mass tourism catches up!
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18 Best Things to Do in Venezuela
Let’s get stuck into what to do in Venezuela here. There are so many cool places that you’ll never get bored.
Interesting cities, incredible mountains, sandy dunes, dreamy Caribbean paradise spots, breathtaking safaris, jaw-dropping waterfalls, and even the Amazon Rainforest. Venezuela has about as much to offer as entire continents (looking at you, here, Europe).
Throw in friendly people and an awesome culture, and you have all the ingredients you need to cook up the perfect backpacking destination in Venezuela.
1. Learn From Locals in Capital Caracas
If you think you’ve had it bad in recent years, spare a thought for the Venezuelans.
Hyperinflation got so out of hand that people required multiple giant stacks of cash for a single loaf of bread. Crime was so high that Monday morning office conversations would be “who got kidnapped or killed this weekend?” And the country (ironically with the world’s largest oil reserves) became so poor that pretty much all the infrastructure barely works these days.
And in no place is the impact felt harder than in Caracas. Learn from locals who have lived through these experiences within the last decade. You can even get a feel for it yourself, rather than listening to the rumours. Few places in the 100+ countries I’ve been to have left an impression like Caracas. To me, the pensioners earning $2 a month and families who had their life’s earnings stolen by socialists aren’t faceless new stories. They’re real people I’ve met.
Around 90% of the Caracas metro trains are no longer in operation, meaning the few that do remain often take 15+ minutes to arrive. Power cuts are frequent, buses often have cracked windows as they chug along with the dying remnants of their engines, and the majority of houses are crumbling, with repairs an unaffordable luxury for most.
Caracas is a truly eye-opening experience that really exposes you to how difficult life can be in some corners of the world.
2. Enjoy Cheap Beer at a Local Caracas Bar
If you really want to connect with the culture, go with a local to a bar in Caracas to grab a beer for just $1. Venezuelans are incredibly friendly and outgoing people, so it’s pretty easy to make friends here.
You’ll probably end up drinking Polar, the most common Venezuelan beer. Won’t lie, it kinda sucks, but after a few of them, you won’t care. And anyway, you’re going for the vibes rather than to become a beer connoisseur.
Wait until the salsa comes on, hit the dancefloor, and enjoy a memorable night in a bar with no signs at the entrance and a cashier who uses an old-school calculator and a piece of paper to calculate the bill.
It’s a lot of fun, and when it comes to prices in Venezuela, this is one of the cheaper activities! Be sure to go with a local however, as they’ll know the safe spots.
3. Dance With Locals in a Public Square
Remember when I said Venezuelans are outgoing? Well, they love to dance, and if you’re lucky, you can find hundreds of people dancing the night away in a Caracas square long after the sun goes down.
There’s no alcohol involved, just pure vibes. Events are often spontaneous, and one of my favourite spots for this is Plaza de la Juventud, where you can dance under the beady eye of Maduro, whose face is plastered all over billboards above the square.
Venezuelans haven’t had much to smile about in recent years, so when they do pursue happiness, they really go out of their way to maximise enjoyment over the simple things in life.
4. Experience German Culture at Colonia Tovar
Missing Europe, but you don’t fancy flying over the Atlantic when there’s so much of this beautiful country left to explore? Well, you’re in luck. Because just 1.5 hours from Caracas is the German-style town of Colonia Tovar. Honestly, one of the most surreal experiences of my time backpacking in South America.
The architecture, the food, the beer, the feel… everything except the weather feels traditionally German in this small town. Colonia Tovar was created by German immigrants who wanted to replicate their homeland in a place where the sun often shines.
Unsurprisingly, you can find the best beer in Venezuela here. Prost!
5. Ride a Boat Through the Waters of Choroni
Think about those mind-blowingly beautiful, crystal-clear waters you’ve seen on Instagram at some point, usually from somewhere like the Maldives or French Polynesia.
Now imagine those pictures in real life, in a place without filters or editing to make them look great in the first place.
That’s Choroni.
Take a boat ride through the waters along beautiful beach and hillside scenery. And because this is Venezuela, you probably won’t see another foreign tourist here. Bonus!
6. Quad Bike Through the Dunes of Medanos de Coro
You don’t need to go to Africa or the Middle East to experience desert life. Venezuela has some incredible sand dunes alongside the Caribbean Sea. Medanos de Coro is a cool spot well away from the Gringo Trail, where you can go quad biking through the sand without a care in the world.
Nothing will make you feel more alive than whizzing through the sands past anteaters, lizards and other cool creatures in the desert.
Oh, and you can also go camel riding if that takes your fancy.
The camels were imported from Africa and the Middle East to make the desert experience more authentic. Because nothing says “authentic” quite like camels in South America!
7. Witness the Awe-Inspiring Catatumbo Lightning
Now this is probably the coolest and most unique thing you can do in Venezuela. You can find jungles in Costa Rica, safari in Sri Lanka and deserts in Saudi Arabia, but this is a Venezuela-specific phenomenon.
Over Lake Maracaibo, up to 300 nights a year, you can witness dozens of lightning bolts crashing down over the lake every minute. Needless to say, you probably shouldn’t try to go swimming here…
One downside is that Maracaibo is located near the Colombian border, which is one of Venezuela’s dodgiest spots. Drug gangs and shady officials who have been known to detain gringos without good reason operate in the area. This is a spot for only the most adventurous of Venezuela backpackers. We don’t recommend snooping around borders here, it isn’t safe at all.
8. Go on Safari at Hato El Cedral
My favourite place in Venezuela. Hato El Cedral is absolutely incredible. For just $100 a night, you get accommodation, three meals a day and multiple safari activities across the plains of Los Llanos.
You’ve got to book this experience a long time in advance. Despite being great at everything when you arrive, the staff are pretty awful at responding to messages. And occasionally they’ll send voice notes in Spanish, which is pretty useless if you aren’t fluent en español!
You can feed caimans, fish for piranhas, spot anteaters, search for anacondas, ride horses across the plains of Los Llanos, and so much more during your time here.
Aside from one older group of German tourists, we had the entire safari complex to ourselves. A complete contrast to safari in, say, Sri Lanka, where you’re sharing a jeep with other tourists and competing with 30 other jeeps to see the same animals.
9. Spend Time in Adventure Capital Merida
Are you the sort of person who gets bored with museums and beaches and needs something a little more wild in your life? South America has some great adventure sports locations, such as Ecuador’s Baños or San Gil in Colombia. Venezuela’s equivalent is Merida.
You can go mountain biking or paragliding through the Andes, or even challenge yourself by taking on Venezuela’s highest peaks.
Recommended only for the most hardcore adventurers, climbing to the summit of the 5,000m-high Pico Bolivar is a true feat of exploration. This tricky technical climb takes several days to complete, but for those capable, it’s a worthwhile endeavour.
10. Go Whitewater Rafting on the Acequias River
Near Merida, you can head to the Acequias River for a spot of whitewater rafting.
Several companies are based along the river here, offering tours for 2-3 days. And in all honesty, it’s better to go with them because the river can be savage at times, and you want to go with guys who can tell you when it is or isn’t safe to go.
If it rains, then the river can rise by several metres in just minutes. You’re best off going during the rainier months from June to September when there’s a lot of water in the river, but take care here as Venezuela can be dangerous… not because of crime, but because of misadventure.
11. Chill Out on Isla Margarita
This paradise island was considered “the safe part of Venezuela” even during the country’s darkest days. Okay, we’re talking “safe” by Venezuela standards here, but that does make it a good starter spot if you aren’t ready to dive into the country’s more adventurous spots headfirst.
Stay in Pampatar for closer access to the beaches that put this island on the map and accompanying water activities. You can even try a bit of kitesurfing if you fancy.
12. Dive or Snorkel With Turtles in Los Roques Archipelago
You go to Isla Margarita primarily for the beaches, but if you want to stick your head under the water and swim with the turtles, then Los Roques is the place to be! This amazing Caribbean archipelago is full of amazing wildlife amongst the many reefs in the crystal clear waters.
You can even catch the turtle nesting and hatching season at the Criadero de Tortugas Marinas Dos Mosquises (turtle hatchery on Dos Mosquises) if you’re lucky!
June-October is prime turtle hatching season, but there is an element of luck involved in whether or not you witness this incredible nature experience taking place.
13. Stay With Indigenous Warao People Beside the Orinoco Delta
As far as awesome travel experiences go, they don’t get much better than hanging out with indigenous tribes in the jungle. And that’s exactly what you can do here.
The Warao people live along the Orinoco Delta, and they’re experts in making canoes, which they use to paddle down the rivers here. Just watch out for the Orinoco crocodiles! You can head to Tucupita to find tour agencies which arrange trips allowing you to stay with the Warao in a traditional eco-lodge.
This experience can be tricky to do independently, as the tribe predominantly speaks Warao, not Spanish. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you’re a fluent Warao speaker, although let’s be honest, if you’re reading this article in English, then you probably haven’t encountered the Warao language before.
But it’s a super awesome thing to do regardless. Beats a day of museum-hopping in Paris, right??
14. Visit the Incredible Angel Falls
I tried to write this guide in a semi-logical order based on starting your Venezuela adventure in Caracas and working your way around the country methodically, rather than zig-zagging all over the place.
And that’s the only reason why Venezuela’s most famous attraction is so low down this list. That, and the fact that if I ranked these amazing things to do based on how good they are, pretty much everything would be number one, which kinda defeats the point of a numbered list.
Angel Falls is… wow… this thing is so magical that Harry Potter would have a hard time conjuring up something more impressive. It’s hard to get here. But that just adds to the reward.
You have to fly to Canaima, head to the river, then take a canoe for around 3 hours before trekking through snake and scorpion-infested jungles to one of the world’s tallest and most impressive waterfalls.
Admittedly, you probably won’t meet many people who’ve been to Angel Falls in the first place. However, if you do, you certainly won’t encounter anyone who regrets going!
15. Camp in Canaima National Park
Canaima is a cool place even without the falls. It’s worth staying longer and enjoying even more nature, because how can you not love nature, right?
Venezuela has some of the most impressive wildlife on earth, and you don’t want to come all this way to see just the falls and miss out on the other stuff. Canaima Lagoon has some smaller waterfalls and good hikes nearby that are impressive in their own right.
Unfortunately, wild camping is prohibited here, which means you have to stay in a lodge, which can be pretty pricy. Canaima generally caters to rich Venezuelans and foreigners. However, it’s worth the cost to make the most of your time in the area and explore more than just the falls.
16. Hike up Mount Roraima
Even hiking up mountains is cooler in Venezuela! Maybe you’ve been to the Alps, the Andes, the Himalayas and summited many peaks across the globe. But perhaps you’re not familiar with tabletop mountains (known as tepuis in this part of the world).
Mount Roraima is a flat-topped mountain within Canaima National Park, and you’ll have to go up with a guide. There’s no way around that. You can find tour agencies in Santa Elena that will offer local guides who will go with you.
The trek takes around a week, and it’s a serious adventure. Venomous snakes are fairly common along the trail, which takes you up through humid jungles to cooler climates. At the top, you have spectacular viewpoints, lakes, and even a valley of crystals.
Don’t miss out on this experience if you’re up for a real adventure. Just avoid the beginning of the year, which is when the chiggers come out in force, and they’re seriously irritating!
17. Stuff Your Face Full of Arepas
Photo: @amandaadraper
You cannot visit Venezuela without munching on arepas. These dough-based flatbread patties filled with various meats, fruits or other fillings are a topic of heated discussion between Venezuela and Colombia, who both claim to have invented them.
Arepas are just about the cheapest food you can find in Venezuela. You even have areperas, which are dedicated restaurants selling just these! If you’re struggling to find restaurants for below expensive western prices, then arepas will come to your aid.
My host in Caracas made arepas for breakfast every morning, filled with avocado and fried eggs. He was a health enthusiast with better nutrition knowledge than me, and he swore by these as a fitness food!
Avoiding arepas in Venezuela is like going to Argentina and not eating steak, or not eating bratwurst in Germany; you just don’t do it. They’re a budget option in a country that’s definitely not budget-friendly these days. So why not get stuck in?
How to Get Around Venezuela
To be honest with you, Venezuela isn’t the easiest country to get around. The tourist industry collapsed, car rentals aren’t a good option here, and pretty much everything that remains is in a state of disrepair. The good news, is that there are still a small handful of viable options for getting around this beautiful country.
Here are some of the top ways to get around Venezuela:
Bus transport is pretty much the best way to get around in Venezuela, with buses connecting most major points of interest, even if you require a few connections along the way.
But, this is still Venezuela, so expect lengthy delays, schedule changes and cancellations at short notice.
You can find information by turning at bus stations and exchanging WhatsApp details with companies who will keep you updated on the ever-changing schedules.
I recommend taking more expensive buses (around the $30+ mark) for longer journeys. The cheap buses, which you can tell by how shabby they are, are not safe.
The quickest way to get between key parts of Venezuela is by air, and it comes without as much hassle as bus transport.
Conviasa runs most internal flights here. You can find schedules (which change monthly) under “Itinerario” on their Instagram page @conviasa_ve.
It is also the only way to reach Canaima, the home of Angel Falls.
There are two rideshare apps in Venezuela: Yummy and Ridery. These are your best method of transport across any city in the country.
Make sure you use these apps only for your taxi needs. Street taxis will most likely rip you off (at best) and could even rob you or worse (like in many countries rather than just being a Venezuela thing)…
Independent travel is hard in Venezuela. Fortunately, there are still a handful of tour companies floating around. You can either find operators online, or in key cities and towns near the places you want to visit.
They’ll handle the tricky logistics so you can make it to your preferred destination of choice hassle-free.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Venezuela
Travel insurance is an absolute essential, especially in an adventure destination such as Venezuela.
Now, the big problem here is that many travel insurance packages are declared void if your government advises against travel to Venezuela, and most Western governments do to some extent; therefore, you’ll have a hard time finding cover here, as it’s not the easiest place to find good travel insurance.
The good news? SafetyWing has come to the rescue!
They are one of the BEST insurance providers for long-term travellers anyway, and best of all, they do cover travel in Venezuela!
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
FAQs on Things to Do in Venezuela
Here are some of the most common questions we get when it comes to travel in Venezuela.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Venezuela
Venezuela is a magical country with some of the greatest experiences the world can possibly offer. But it’s an adventure destination that definitely isn’t suitable for travel newbies, at least not without a guided tour.
The infrastructure is pretty horrific, and the prices will put a dent in your wallet these days. Chances are, things will go wrong at some point, such as a bus not turning up when you expect it to, or yet another power cut plunging you into darkness. Not ideal when it’s super humid and the fans don’t work…
Yet the positive experiences will leave a mark on you and have you lusting for future returns to a country that I have no doubt would be a Gringo Trail favourite if it weren’t for the instability and turmoil it has faced in recent years.
The locals here are amongst the kindest you will find on the planet. The wildlife, the beaches, the scenery… everything in Venezuela is incredible from a travel perspective and will leave you wanting to come back for more and more.
