The Caribbean

With over 3,000km of coastline, the longest in the Caribbean, and a myriad of islands, islets, keys and coral reefs, the Venezuelan coast is home to a rich diversity of marine flora and fauna. Its countless white-sand beaches fringed with palm trees are paradise for those who just want to relax, sunbathe, swim and enjoy water-based activities.

There is so much scenery to discover: sea caves, underwater cliffs, coral reefs covered in colourful sponges, multi-coloured fish, sea urchins, sea anemones and several wrecks of old ships, some dating back to the 17th century.

Even though the deep sea fishing here has an international reputation, there are other vital species near the coast such as Sabalo, Barracuda, raton or macabi fish, Robalo, Anjova, Carite or Sierra, Peto, Jurel and Yellow-fin tuna.

Mangrove swamps grow all along the coast as well as in the river deltas. The mangrove swamps are home to a huge number of sea birds such as Tijereta de Mar, Gannet, Flamingo and the Borrega and Marron Boba.

The Venezuelan Caribbean is equally as interesting culturally and historically. The region was the scene of many important Venezuelan historical events and here there are many restored colonial fortifications and some of the oldest and best preserved churches in the country. In addition, there is a huge variety of traditional festivals that take place all along the coast. The blend of religions in Venezuela is highlighted in the elaborate traditional festivals, many with their roots in indigenous and African religions.

Caracas

With its setting in a beautiful Caribbean valley, Caracas is the capital of Venezuela and probably the largest city in the country. Caracas is the hub of all commercial and political activities both national and international. Even though it isn’t highly recommended as a place for a pleasant stroll, Caracas has an excellent choice of cultural experiences on offer. Also it is the best way to get to Venezuela’s most popular beaches.

Natoura will help you discover this vibrant city, visit stunning El Avila National Park and sample some of the best cuisine in Latin America.

National parks on our route – Caracas

Venezuela is one of the ten most biologically diverse countries in the world. Pioneers in environmental protection, Venezuela has introduced many laws concerning the use and enjoyment of these national treasures. As a result of these laws there are 43 national parks and 22 nature reserves (around 21% of the country), 2 bio-reserves, 7 sanctuaries and 5 wildlife reserves. This fantastic combination of boundless and raw beauty makes it exceptionally good for the tourism industry.

Avila National Park is located in the heart of Caracas (between the Capital District and Miranda State) in the central section of the coastal mountain chain. The park has always been an important place for the citizens of Caracas who regularly take to the mountains for recreational activities. Since 1956 there has been a hotel and cable car which visitors use to reach the Avila summit (2,135m above sea level). The park is a haven for 180 types of orchid.

Lake Tacarigua National Park is made up of a coastal lake, approximately 30km long and 6km wide, which forms a lagoon separated from the Caribbean Sea by a sandbar. It has dense stretches of mangrove swamps in well defined clumps of red, white, black and buttonwood. The fauna is also very rich and you are likely to see birds such as flamingo, cazote, corocora, cotua and black heron.

Places of interest within the park include the coastal bar (Las Monjas section) and La Punta section in Belen, inland from the lake.  There are also lakes close by: Tacarigua de la Laguna, Canales de Rio Chico, Higuerote and Paparo.

It is also an ideal place for fishing using traditional methods, sports fishing, boat trips, walks along the sandbar and camping on designated sites. Sports fishing can be carried out but the engine must be turned off and using a rod, hand line and hook only. Hunting for wild animals is not allowed nor fishing using harpoons.

The tour includes

• First aid kit
• All transfers
• Accommodation
• English-speaking guide
• Assistance at the airports
• Permits for the National Parks
• All meals and non-alcoholic drinks on tours

The tour does not include

• Airport taxes
• Items of a personal nature
• Domestic flights (We  can  book these for you)
• Tours, meals, alcoholic drinks and other services not included in the itinerary
• Tips to local staff, costs incurred in the organisation of the trip, such as non-refundable air tickets, insurance policy or additional costs incurred by flight delays, cancellations or missed connections

We recommend you bring with you

• Camera
• Swimsuit
• Binoculars
• Sunhat/cap
• Small torch
• Sunglasses
• Suntan lotion
• Waterproof jacket
• Insect repellent (with DEET)
• Good walking shoes/boots (preferably waterproof)

How to get to Venezuela

Below you will find information on travelling from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States. Almost all international flights arrive at Simon Bolivar International Airport, which is located in Maiquetia (28km north of Caracas). A few flights go to Maracaibo, a city in the west of the country.

Natoura Travel & Adventure Tours became an IATA international agency in February 2010 and our IATA number is 95-502945. We can help with competitive prices for international flights for both single and round-trip flight tickets. Please contact us for help in finding the best flight for the start of your adventure.

From Australia and New Zealand: Flights from Australia and New Zealand to Caracas go via Los Angeles. Below is a list of airlines that offer this service.

• Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.com)
• Qantas (www.qantas.com)

From Canada: There are several companies that operate flights to Venezuela from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver via Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Below is a list of these airlines with their respective places of departure and arrival.

• American Airlines (www.aa.com)

From Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Caracas via Miami or Dallas-Fort Worth.

• Continental Airlines (www.continental.com)

From Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to Caracas via Houston.

From Europe: Other airlines also have regular flights to Caracas; below is a list of these airlines as well as flights from cities across Europe which have services to Venezuela.

• Air Europa (www.air-europa.com)
• Air France (www.airfrance.com)
• Alitalia Airlines (www.alitalia.it)
• Iberia (www.iberia.com)
• Lufthansa Airlines (www.lufthansa.com)

European cities which have direct flights to Venezuela: Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Rome, Lisbon.

From the United States: Many of the flights from the United States leave from Miami and arrive into Caracas. Some companies also have direct flights from New York, Atlanta, Newark, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Orlando. The Grupo Taca airline