Caracas, the capital of Venezuela is a dynamic and bustling city which has developed into a vast concrete sprawl with the aid of the petro-dollars that power the Venezuelan economy. Its attractions include the birthplace of Simon Bolivar who helped to liberate half the South American continent from the Spanish, the colonial district of El Hatillo and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the City University of Caracas. The university was built between 1940 and 1960 to the design of the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and is an outstanding example of the Modern Movement in architecture. The campus includes masterpieces of modern architecture and visual arts, such as the Aula Magna with the Clouds of Alexander Calder, the Olympic Stadium, and the Covered Plaza which have been integrated into a clearly articulated ensemble.

Canaima National Park is located in south-eastern Venezuela along its borders with Guyana and Brazil. 65% of the park is covered with table mountains (known as tepuis) resulting in a landscape of sheer cliffs and waterfalls, including its most famous feature - Angel Falls. At 980 metres, Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall and a spectacular sight as the water plummets downwards, vaporises in mid-air before settling in the pool below. Only discovered in 1937 by American aviator Jimmie Angel, the Falls' remoteness adds to their appeal. The most adventurous way to view the Falls is to take a three day trip on motorised canoe through the dense rainforest around the vast Auyantepui, followed by a short hike to the base of the Falls to view the stunning scale of the cataract and bathe in the lagoon. On the way back to Canaima lie the broad Sapo Falls where it's possible to walk on a path behind the Falls. A quicker way to see Angel Falls is to take a flight from Ciudad Bolivar for a panoramic view of the Falls and their surroundings.

Mount Roraima: The table mountains, known as tepuis, in the Gran Sabana of south-eastern Venezuela are a remarkable natural phenomenon that provide one of the great trekking challenges in South America. Mount Roraima is the highest of the tepuis at 2,835 metres, located close to the triple frontier with Brazil and Guyana. It was first climbed by British explorers Everard Thum and Harry Perkins in 1884, whose description of the mountain inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write his classic novel 'The Lost World'. Most of the plant life here is endemic to the region, evolving in complete isolation for millennia, though no dinosaurs have yet been found. The trek to Roraima takes 6 days from Santa Elena, with a 2 day trek to the base camp from Peraitepui de Roraima. The ascent takes 3-5 hours and is rewarded with spectacular views of Kukenan Tepui, the adjacent table mountain, from which falls the second highest waterfall in the rainy season. The summit is a bizarre world of black moss-covered pillars, strange rock formations, ravines, quartz crystals and the unique flora, a truly memorable experience. The return to Peraitepui takes a further two days. An alternative and easier trek of the tepuis is the 3 day hike to Mount Chirikayen.

Los Llanos, or The Plains, occupy about one-third of Venezuela's territory between the Andes and the Orinoco Delta. This is Venezuela's Wild West, a land of cowboys, huge cattle ranches and a diversity of wildlife that is amongst the best in the world. Staying at cattle ranches or camping out under the stars, the region can be explored by jeep or canoe (depending on water levels). Some of the species to look out for are alligator, Orinoco crocodile, giant anteater, anaconda, capabari, turtle, freshwater dolphin, armadillo, jaguar, ocelots and honey bears. The hundreds of bird species include scarlet ibis, hoatzin, screamer, soldier stork and spoonbill.

The city of Merida is located in the west of Venezuela, situated in a lush valley surrounded by snow-capped Andean peaks known as the 'Five White Eagles'. Merida is a fast-growing city with a number of attractions in the town including the cathedral, colourful market and the Government Palace on the Plaza Bolívar. Its main attraction however is as a base to explore its beautiful surroundings. The mountains around Merida can be explored by trekking, horse riding and mountain biking and for more adventure you can try paragliding and canyoning.

The town of Barinas is a base for white-water rafting in the nearby rivers of Acequias and Singinis. Available between June and December, the Acequias has mostly class 3 rapids, providing a fun introduction for the class 4 and 5 rapids of the more intense Singinis River.

The Orinoco Delta is the north-east of Venezuela is a maze of creeks and channels that form one of the largest and most remote wetland areas on earth. It is home to the Warao Indians who have preserved much of their ancient culture. They live in stilt houses called palafitos, connected by walkways, and travel the Delta on dugout canoes, living by fishing and the cultivation of jungle clearings. The Mareche tree is used by the Warao to make their houses and hammocks and the pulp of the tree is used to make a sticky bread delicacy. Travelling through the Delta and staying in Warao villages allows you to experience their way of life and appreciate the pristine natural landscapes, waterways and mangrove forests of the Delta region. The wetlands are home to a variety of bird and animal life including capuchin and howler monkeys, river dolphins, piranhas and anacondas.

Coro was founded in 1527 and is an excellently preserved colonial town with over 600 historic buildings. Its unique earthen constructions are a rich fusion of local traditions with Spanish Mudéjar and Dutch architectural techniques.

Henri Pittier National Park is located west of Caracas and covers over 1,000 km² that stretches from the Caribbean beaches inland to mountainous cloud forest. The diverse habitats make it a haven for wildlife including deer, ocelot, armadillo, opossum, monkey and puma and huge numbers of bird species. The coast has numerous small villages and secluded beaches, many of which are only accessible by boat, making it an excellent spot to relax after exploring the rest of the country

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