After the establishment of an independent colony in the early 1800s, Caracas continued to grow through the 19th century at a modest rate as new settlers moved in from Europe, and traders discovered that the cocoa it produced was some of the finest around the Caribbean. It was only in 1914 with the revelation of the presence of oil around the Maracaibo region and the surge in the international demand for oil that Caracas gained tremendous importance on a global scale. The economy shifted from a primarily agrarian one to one based on oil production and import. With all the money from importing oil, Caracas started to develop rapidly, attracti
Caracas loves children! Apart from the many family-oriented public parks, like the Parque del Este and the Parque Los Caobos, which offer countless hours of fun with the lush landscaping, the serene water bodies, the alluring all-year-round floral displays, and the regularly organized family activities, the city contains two large public zoos that are also a big hit with Caraqueño children.
The main public square in Caracas, dedicated to the man whose relentless struggles bought the nation independence. The plaza is large open space used frequently by the citizens for public gatherings, political processions, open-air festivals and concerts, and as the starting point of numerous annual parades. The plaza contains impressive monuments, including statues of Bolivar, and is surrounded by government buildings and offices, all echoing with colonial architectural accents.
Address: between Esqs San Jacinto and Traposos Cathedral Phone: +28 212 541 2563 Timings: Tuesdays to Fridays 9am to 4pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 430pm. Admission free of charge This is the birthplace of El Liberator Simón Bolívar, the most highly esteemed national hero in Venezuela. It has been restored as a national museum with the utmost attention to detail. Constructed originally as a colonial style mansion in the 17th century but starting to undergo significant degradation over the years, the house has been completely restored and now functions as a permanent exhibition space that depicts scenes from the life of Bolívar and his family, including classic living room furniture, formal attires, banners and weaponry, and full-wall paintings.
Address: Paseo El Calvario, Urbanización El Silencio, Caracas Timings: open daily 7am to 10pm Go for stroll though these lush gardens containing an enchanting chapel and a brilliant white stone arch, all of which were built to emulate the city of Paris. The park contains classical elements out of the gardens at Versailles, including delicate metalwork benches, gazebos, statues of eminent personalities, and fountains. Located on a hill overlooking the city, this is the ideal place to spend your last evening in the city as you sit back and take one last, lingering look at Caracas from above.
Constructed in 1872, and having serviced many administrative departments since, including the Federal Court, the Legislative Court, and currently acting as the Seat of Congress, the Capitol Building, also known as the Elliptic Hall, is a stunning whitewashed building with golden domes that today contains some of the most important legislative documents and manuscripts of the Republic of Venezuela. Although visitors are not allowed inside, they can observe the building for its traces of rich colonial legacy in the elements and embellishment techniques used. The building is an authentic architectural marvel from the regime of the Spanish monarchy.
Address: Centro, western edge of Plaza Bolívar Originally a prison cum sanitarium in the 17th century, Casa Amarilla is also known popularly as the Yellow House because of the shade of lemon yellow given to it after the country’s independence. Casa Amarilla is a treat to the eyes – or whatever you can catch of it today, as it is currently the Foreign Affairs office and visitors are generally not allowed inside. But get a glimpse of it as you pass the Plaza Bolívar, and you will see a very well-preserved example of a colonial manor with many small projecting balconies forming a rhythmic façade.
Address: west of Concejo Municipal, south of Plaza Bolívar This chapel marks the exact location where Venezuela was declared as an independent sovereign state in 1811 – although it took 10 more years for this goal to be achieved. However, the chapel has been held in high reverence ever since, and has recently been restored with classic décor and furniture from Venezuela’s cultural past. Great photo ops inside!
Address: north of Plaza Bolivar Timings: open daily (including holidays) Originally constructed as a majestic church, the National Pantheon was converted in 1874 to act as the last resting place for many of Venezuela’s prominent personalities, based on their outstanding achievements in fields of politics, warfare, social service, and education and science. The central, focal space within the pantheon is reserved for Simon Bolivar’s remains. The ceiling contains murals depicting scenes from Bolivar’s life. The body itself is contained within a sarcophagus of bronze housed within a polished marble niche, and the burial chamber reeks of immortal grandeur. More than a hundred other notable personalities are buried within the Pantheon, all the chambers designed with special attributes and elements that had significant symbolic meaning to the person buried within. Overall, the Pantheon is a genuine example of neo-colonial baroque style architecture, with pale pink paint, overly done columns, intricate arches, and grand cupola-topped towers.
Address: south of Plaza Bolívar Timings: Tuesdays to Fridays 9pm to 430pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 4pm. Admission free A museum dedicated to the legendary independence hero Simon Bolivar. Situated in a renovated colonial style building, the Bolivar Museum contains exhibits with historic documents, formal dresses from Bolivar’s era, a collection of weapons used during the colonial wars, and a number of paintings from the political and personal life of Simon Bolivar.
Also known as the Municipal Theatre, this public amenity is a splendid work of art in itself. Since its first live performance in 1881, an opera that received national recognition, the theatre has successfully continued to lure music and art lovers to its rather commendable performances. The interior is ornamented in tones of opulent luxury, with velvets and fine silks and an added sprinkle of gold. A large central dome over the performance area attempts to re-create the ambience of a 19th century opera performance. The theater usually has one or more ongoing shows throughout the year, and you are sure to catch one any time you drop by. Splurge on traditional Venezuelan and South American ballets, musicals, and operas. Tickets are quite reasonable, and they are seldom sold out to the full.
Cuisine: Asian Address: 3 Avenue, Los Palos Grandes Phone: 212 286 8553 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 11am to 4pm, 7pm to 11pm Small, trendy, and popular amongst the locals as the best Asian eatery in town, you will often find Zambal overcrowded to the brim with young Caraqueños as well as tourists. Chinese, Indo-Chinese, Japanese, and Thai, you can experience authenticity in all its Asian grandeur. The place contains charming interior décor and lighting, kind of like a frame out of a Japanese movie. The furniture is finely carved, ceramic ornaments line the intimately low-placed shelves, and incandescent lanterns hanging from the ceiling simulate fireflies on a dark night. Treat yourself to one of the delightful varieties of sushi after choosing from an assortment of appetizing Thai soups. You can also try the sashimi, chicken curry, szechaun steak, and salmon. Service is quick and very polite.
Cuisine: French Address: 3 Avenue, Los Palos Grandes Phone: 212 283 4558 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 12noon to 4pm, 7pm to midnight. Saturdays 7pm to midnight A genuinely French dining experience, a rarity in Caracas. The interior whisks you off on a magical journey to 17th century Versailles, complete with baroque and rococo paintings, full-length mirrors reminiscent of the Palace Hall, and decorative schemes in silver, gold, and crystal, coupled with soothing live piano sessions. The rich menu offers traditional delicacies like anguille pâté, chicken Kiev, peacock bass, and Canard à l'Armagnac. Also available are a delightful variety of French desserts. The restaurant offers a valet parking service. Reservations are strongly advised.
Cuisine: Spanish/Seafood Address: Avenue Luis Roche, corner 5a Transversal Altamira Phone: 212 261 4645 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 1130am to 11pm All aboard for a delightful journey into the riches of the oceans, accompanied by creatures from the deep (don’t worry, the creatures will all be cooked, grilled, fried, or roasted)? El Barquero, “The Boatman”, serves mouthwatering fish and shrimp dishes, as well as a delightful variety of lamb and rabbit dishes! Try the seafood rice and casserole. The restaurant has an air of formality, and is good for over-lunch business talks. It also contains a hall that can be rented out for conference and event dinners.
Cuisine: Peruvian Address: Calle Londres, Las Mercedes Phone: 212 993 1119 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 1230pm to 330pm, 7pm to midnight Straight from the heart of Lima, Peru, comes this delightful little restaurant that will leave you just longing to visit Peru itself! Located in one of the most upscale and undisturbed parts of town, the restaurant offers genuine Peruvian flavor right down to the last speck of pepper and sauce. Start off by spicing things up with some hot, steaming chupe (soup). Then try scrumptious delicacies like the ceviche (saucy seafood in tantalizing gravy), causa (dumplings with potato peels and slices), and a variety of fish and meat menus that are not exactly true-blood Peruvian but a finger-lickin’ blend of Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Asian flavors. The place has a formal atmosphere, and is good for serious dinners with business partners and delegates. Reservations are especially advised.
Cuisine: International Address: inside the C.C. Blandín shopping center, Avenue Blandín, Chacao district Phone: 212 263 4628 Timings: Daily 8am to 730pm A favorite hangout space for businessmen, Coma places all its emphasis on providing healthy, low-fat, organic food for its busy clientele. Treat yourself to tossed salads, whole meal sandwiches, a variety of pasta, fresh fruit juices, a selection of cream shakes, and dishes derived from milk and dairy products. For dinner you can try a more filling menu composed of fish, meat, and vegetable dishes. A special mention is the salmon fillet. Coma contains an open-air terrace, another reason which makes it a first choice for relaxed business conversations through the evening. Coma, keeping in mind its target crowd, also provides wireless internet service to its customers.
Cuisine: Mediterranean/Spanish Address: 3 Transversal, entry to Avenue San Juan Bosco and Avenue Luis Roche, Altamira district Phone: 212 262 1813 Timings: Daily 12noon to 11pm Santorini? So you will surely feel as you step inside this charming Mediterranean diner. With blue and white walls and matching furniture, this place pulls you into a whirlwind of Spanish and Galician seafood recipes, with slight pinches of Greek spices. A special mention: the tiger shrimp dish topped with garlic, served with cured ham – called “camarones al ajillo con jamon serrano”. The turkey and chicken menu is also worth tasting, served with a side dish of vegetables of your choice. Reservations are advised, as this place is quite popular, and subsequently very crowded.
Cuisine: French Address: Avenue San Felipe, La Castellana Phone: 212 267 5422 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 12noon to 3pm, 7pm to 11pm. Saturdays 7pm to 11pm Just add the Eiffel Tower and you can have the whole of France inside this charming little place! Operating since the 1960s, regarded as a pioneer in French cuisine in all of Caracas, Aventino prides itself with traditionalism when it comes to serving authentic food with all the hospitality of a Frenchman. The décor and lighting is reminiscent of many a diner in Paris. The special on the menu: pressed duck, the Caneton a la presse – spice, seasoning, and flavor, with an added touch of magic, all make this dish a must-have during any visit to Caracas. Good for formal dinners with family and friends. Reservations are strictly advised.
Cuisine: Fusion Address: Avenue Principal, Las Mercedes Phone: 212 991 8776 Timings: Daily 11am to 4pm, 7pm to 11pm The best flavors from around the globe, blended to perfection by experts and served with local traditions of hospitality. The interior is splendidly ornamented, presenting a rather formal setting, but the ambience is nonetheless soothing. As for the food – what you cannot make out from the menu will gladly be explained to you by the friendly waiters, including the ingredients, the spices used, the seasonings added, and how the dish will ultimately taste! If you are still not comfortable, you can ask for a custom-made meal – list the ingredients and spices you want to be used for any meal on the menu and the chef will modify it for you. Sibaris also contains a small courtyard garden with an adjoining terrace, making for a perfect evening dining experience. Make reservations at least a day before you plan to visit, as this popular five star restaurant is usually booked to full capacity every night! Valet parking is available.
Cuisine: Local Address: Con Avenue Principal de Las Mercedes, El Rosal A visit to Caracas is not complete without a taste of the truly authentic Caraqueño dish, the stuffed arepa. The arepa is round corn flour bread, usually small in size. It can be made into a roll, and the filling can range from salads and strictly vegetarian, to cheese and butter, to poultry, meat and fish. The meat can be grilled, sauced, minced, roasted, fried – you name it! Do not try to make a reservation – there is no phone! But the place is neat, the service is polite, and the food – some of the best at this price!
Cuisine: International Address: Cuadra Gastronómica, 6a Transversal Los Palos Grandes Phone: 212 285 0649 Timings: Tuesdays to Sundays 12noon to 10pm Located inside the Cuadra Gastronómica culinary mall, Catar is all about diversity. From the rich décor and illumination to the assortment of food types on the platter, Catar gives you a wide range of choices when it comes to fresh salads, sandwiches, and pizzas, all very pleasantly arranged on the serving plate. The fruit juices make for energizing appetizers.
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Address: Avenue Casanova, Sabana Grande, Caracas Phone: +58 212 762 8111 Fax: +58 212 762 3737 Nestled amongst the liveliest of urban spaces within the city, Hotel Gran Melia offers business travelers luxury and value coupled with access to the city’s major attractions right at its doorstep. As you hang around your private bedroom terrace every night, you can witness the more sober, mundane activities of the city start to cease as little specks of colored bulbs start lighting up the streets. With classical European elements including rustic furniture, intricate ornamentation, valueless tapestries and works of art adorning the halls and lining the corridors and chandeliers of crystal throwing soft, pale lighting down onto an awestruck you, this hotel will reach out to embrace you with the warmth of a family member. Rooms: 430 Guest Rooms, all individually air conditioned, with modern bathrooms containing bath tubs, a separate shower area, hair dryers, and complimentary bathrobes. Rooms have cable television, direct dial landlines, an in-room safe, complimentary stationery, and an iron and ironing board. Complimentary newspaper service every morning. Laundry and dry cleaning is available at reasonable rates. Room service 24 hours. Dining: 1. Restaurante Mediterráneo: open-air poolside restaurant serving exquisite tastes from Greece, Spain, and Portugal, with a sprinkle of local magic. 2. Gran Vía: the perfect setting for social events, banquets and parties. 3. Prosciutto: open-air restaurant serving authentic Italian food all meals of the day. 4. Sumiré: savor Japanese delicacies like sushi and stew. Warm lighting, charming ambience. 5. L'Albufera: Spanish and Galician foods, some of the best around Caracas. Health Facilities: Gran Melia houses a fully equipped fitness center offering complimentary services to the hotel guests, complete with a gym including cardiovascular equipment, a massage therapy center, and an outdoor pool with sauna and Jacuzzi. The hotel’s own doctor is available on a 24 hour basis. The hotel also features a beauty salon. Meetings & Events: The hotel contains a modern, well-equipped business center to cater to the needs of a wide corporate clientele. It helps in providing technical support to your event, like arranging for audiovisual equipment and logistic services, as well as banqueting facilities. 28 Meeting Rooms of different sizes are available. Wired internet is provided at $20 a day, and printing/faxing services are available on demand. Parking for 3200 vehicles is provided, as well as a limo pick and drop service.
Address: Avenue Venezuela con Calle Mohedano, El Rosal district, Caracas Phone: +58 212 957 2222 Fax: +58 212 957 1111 Part of a leading chain of hotels, the Marriott does not disappoint you in what you expect of a truly international lodging, dining, and event management facility. The hotel’s very central location in the business and commercial district of Caracas makes it an ideal stopover for business travelers. Some side-servings for the guests include bowling and mini golf within a short distance from the hotel’s premises, in addition to all the modern luxuries it provides. Pets are not allowed inside the hotel, but certified service animals can be brought in with disabled people. The hotel also offers charged but very secure on-site parking. Rooms: Marriott contains a total of 269 Guest Rooms on 17 floors, all containing one wall that is fully glazed to allow for maximum natural light and spectacular views over the city. Guest Rooms are individually air conditioned, and contain all modern conveniences, including a spacious workstation with wired high speed internet facility, ironing board and iron, lavish bedding materials and sofa-beds, an in-room safe, cable television, and a mini-fridge with bottled water. The bathrooms are all marbled, and contain spray jets in the bathtub, a separate shower area, and a bathrobe and hair dryer. The Conference, Vice Presidential, and Spa Suites provide access to the Executive Lounge, with complimentary breakfast, light snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, tea and desserts. Each suite also contains a separate lounge and dining area, a wet bar, 2 TV sets with premium cable, and 3 telephones. Dining: 1. Sur New World Fusion: the hotel’s primary eating spot, this restaurant offers a unique blend of local and international flavors for all meals. Special on the menu: the buffet breakfast. Casual ambience. Phone: +58 212 957 6070. 2. Casa del Café: a small bakery and delicatessen offering mouthwatering pastries, confectionery, beverages, and light snacks. A variety of visually appealing salads are on display during lunch hours – do try one or two during your stay, or order your own custom-made salad! Casual atmosphere, open all day. Phone: +58 212 957 6071 3. Nori Sushi & Ceviche Bar: a pleasing variety of authentic sushi and spicy Japanese soups at lunch and dinner. Phone: +58 212 957 6081 4. Lobby Bar: enjoy finger snacks, sandwiches, tea and soft drinks, all the way from 1130am to 1130pm. Phone: +58 212 957 6012 Health Facilities: This five star hotel houses a modern, adequately equipped fitness center, containing a gymnasium with cardiovascular machines, and specialized masseurs for guests. The hotel also contains a solarium, a sauna, and a heated outdoor swimming pool with complimentary towels. Meetings & Events: Marriott includes thirteen meeting rooms of varying sizes, with the maximum capacity Conference Hall seating 600. Each meeting space is equipped with high speed internet, in addition to audiovisual aids like projector systems, sound systems, and stage setups. A group of trained professionals is ready to assist you, right from the initial planning out of your event, to the eventual execution, catering to all the technical requirements. The Business Center provides computers, faxing and printing, and posting/parceling services. An on-site exhibition area is also available for small expositions and displays. Catering for business and social events is provided within the hotel’s premises, from reception services to breakfast, high tea, and the main meals – a wide variety of dishes from all around South America, Spain, and generally the world over.
Address: Avenue Principal de Las Mercedes Phone: +58 212 909 7111 Fax: +58 212 909 7006 Located at an advantageous location in the serene residential Las Mercedes district, near the foothills of the Avila Mountain, the 4-star InterContinental offers convenient accessibility to the city’s business and entertainment districts. The hotel contains a friendly multilingual staff, well versed in English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French. The lobby contains a small convenience store and a gift shop, and provides high speed wireless internet access. Pets are not allowed at the hotel. A charged valet parking service is available. The InterContinental is a first choice for travelers who want value at reasonable prices. Rooms: The hotel contains 523 Guest Rooms and 34 full Suites spread out over 9 floors, out of which a total of 271 are designated as exclusively non-smoking. Out of the 523 Guest Rooms, 460 are Single Bedded, and 63 Double Bedded. All the rooms contain a mini refrigerator and mini bar, a coffee maker, a safe deposit box, cable television with DVD player, two landlines, and free of charge wireless internet. The rooms also have a work desk, and electrical adaptors and convertors are available on request. Suites contain a set up for a living room/lounge, a kitchenette complete with a stove, cutlery and utensils, and a complimentary printer included with the work desk. Guests in the Suites are also entitled to daily complimentary breakfast, drinks, and dinner snacks. A free newspaper is delivered to the Suites every morning. Bathrooms contain bidets, hair dryers, and bathtubs with hot and cold water. Room service is available 24 hours. Dining: 1. Café Cacique: the hotel’s own breakfast diner that will spoil you for choice with its delightful variety of servings. Eat away your morning grogginess as you indulge in more than just hot coffee and toast – traditional Venezuelan delicacies, inducing arepa and criollo, all served with side dishes of cheese, as well as international beef and chicken menus. Choose to dine either in the air conditioned hall, or go out onto the airy terrace for the cool morning breeze and the splendid view over the neighborhood. 2. La Cabana: serving lunch and dinner, this casual open-air poolside restaurant is most famous for its special pizza and steak, as well as traditional Venezuelan cuisine. 3. Le Gourmet: located in the hotel lobby and open for lunch and dinner, this restaurant serves as a formal eating and meeting place of the hotel’s business clientele. The restaurant offers authentic French cuisine prepared by the country’s renowned chefs, including pressed duck, truffles, and some vegetable menus, with soothing violins and a grand piano playing in the background. 4. El Punto: overlooking the majestic Avila Mountain, this lobby bar offers fascinating terrace views of the surroundings, as well as an air conditioned dining space. Special on the menu: Sushi. Health Facilities: The hotel includes a fully equipped fitness center that features a gymnasium, Turkish baths, and a sauna. A jogging trail, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, and three outdoor tennis courts are accessible all through the day. Masseurs and fitness instructors are also available. The hotel contains its own beauty salon. Meetings & Events: InterContinental offers world class services to make your business or social event an effective and memorable one. 17 different Meeting Rooms with a total seating capacity of 800 banquet and 1500 reception style. The largest Meeting Room can seat 50 guests in a banquet arrangement, and the smallest 6. The Business Center is available from 7am to 11pm, and offers printing/copying/faxing services, in addition to arranging for PCs with internet connections and projectors with screens. Additional equipment like VCRs and DVD players, LCD screens, stage illumination, whiteboards, microphones and sound systems can also be arranged for on request. A courier service is available. Private limousine pickup can also be arranged for guests.
Address: Avenue Francisco De Miranda En Avenue El P - Caracas Phone: +58 212 700 4200 Fax: +58 212 267 3761 Lying in close proximity to the major tourist attractions and shopping malls of Caracas and surrounded by the modern commercial and business district of the city, this luxurious five star hotel is the ideal choice for first class leisure and business tourists. Keeping in mind the needs of its target clientele, the hotel provides high speed wireless internet in the lobby and all the rooms, free of charge. The lobby also contains an ATM machine and money changer, an air ticketing booth, storage for extra luggage, a small gift shop (good for picking up souvenirs), and also arranges for transportation to and from the hotel to various destinations within the city. Pets are allowed in the hotel. Rooms: The hotel contains Standard Rooms and Suites, in addition to two Special Accessibility Rooms for the disabled. The rooms are categorized into smoking and non-smoking ones. The Standard Rooms are spacious, charmingly furnished, and equipped with 32” color TV screens, coffee machines and microwaves, ironing facilities, and dual line telephones. On one corner is placed an adequately illuminated working desk. The Suites are much grander, and contain, in addition to the basic facilities, their own refrigerators and mini bars, an additional television set, and a comfortable sofa bed. All Bathrooms have hair dryers and bidets. Daily newspapers and breakfast are delivered to each room free of charge. Cribs are available on request. Room service is available 24 hours. Dining: Every morning, treat yourself to a complimentary made-to-order breakfast service, with items ranging from sliced vegetables, freshly prepared fruit shakes and juices, to eggs, meat and dairy products. A variety of local as well as international options are available to choose from. The hotel’s own restaurant, the Atrium Café, provides a casual ambience for lounging around all day as you sip on local beverages and treat yourselves to the exciting lunch and dinner menus. At night, as you prepare to retire to your room, be sure to spend a few minutes at the Manager’s Reception in the lobby, just letting go of the day’s exhaustion as you grab a few complimentary drinks and light snacks. Health Facilities: A fully equipped fitness center, as well as an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and a whirlpool, is available for the guests to splurge on. The hotel also contains its own hair salon. Meetings & Events: Embassy Suites houses a state-of-the-art business center located on the 18th floor, complete with photocopying, printing, scanning and faxing facilities. The trained multilingual staff will provide the necessary technical assistance you require to make you event roll smoothly. In addition to the general 12-16 seating meeting rooms, the larger, flexible conference halls can be adapted to provide for a greater seating or reception. Audiovisual equipment is available on request. Express mail and a cargo service can also be arranged for.
Address: Avenue Casanova, Sabana Grande Phone: +58 212 762 7916 Fax: +58 212 761 7333 With an ideal location that gives you access to the best restaurants, bars, cinemas, clubs, and fashion outlets dotted around the alluring tourist district of Sabana Grande, Hotel Coliseo is the one of the first places that fills up during peak tourist seasons. The presence of helpful multilingual staff makes sure that you never experience a communication gap during your period of stay. The hotel provides free, secure parking for guests, and access for wheelchairs. Pets are not allowed inside. Rooms: Coliseo contains 68 air conditioned Guest Rooms spread over five floors. All rooms have attached baths, and are equipped with satellite television, direct landlines, high speed internet at a fee, and a secure in-room safe. Laundry service can be called for at reasonable rates. Dining: Complimentary breakfast is not a tradition at this place, but the hotel’s own restaurant, Nerone, serves genuine Italian delicacies for all meals of the day. With a seating capacity of 150 people, Nerone attracts not only guests staying at Coliseo, but a considerable crowd from outside as well. Nerone also operates a bar that serves refreshing drinks 24 hours a day. Meetings & Events: Coliseo offers air conditioned conference halls, with seating capacities for 50 to 150 people. The in-house business center provides high speed internet service, projectors and rollaway screens, and related audio-visual tools. Printing and faxing are available at request. A small meeting room is available for private sessions.
Address: Avenue Guaicaipuro, El Rosal, Caracas Phone: +58 212 953 1313 Very convenient for its rates, being located in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in town, Dallas offers a taste of the high life in Caracas at quite affordable prices. Out of the lobby and into the city, you can visit some of the trendiest upscale diners, boutiques and malls that the El Rosal district has to offer. Secure parking is available for the guests’ cars. Rooms: Dallas contains 60 comfortably furnished Guest Rooms, all air conditioned. Rooms contain cable television and telephones. High speed internet can be provided on request, at additional charges. Laundry service is not provided by the hotel. Dining: The hotel contains an elegant bar, and a charming restaurant that serves three meals a day, mostly from a selection of local delicacies. Meetings & Events: A small conference room with basic facilities is available at the hotel, but this should not be seen as a prioritizing factor when selecting a hotel to host your event. More of a last resort option, the business center offers paid internet and faxing services on request.
Address: Avenue Casanova, Sabana Grande, Caracas Phone: +58 212 951 7133, 951 7387, 951 7985, 951 7596 Fax: +58 212 951 1717 A 40 minutes drive from the international airport, Las Americas is another modestly priced hotel within the main Sabana Grande Boulevard that offers excellent value for the rates of the services it provides. The hotel has a secured car parking for guests, and also arranges for rental cars. Helpful information for tourists unfamiliar with the city is also available on the front help desk. Rooms: Containing 170 Guest Rooms spread across two tall landmark towers, Las Americas delivers variety when it comes to inexpensive lodging. Single, Double, and Triple Rooms, all air conditioned, well kept, well illuminated, and with satellite channels and direct landlines. All rooms have clean attached bathrooms, and an in-room safe. A 24 hour room service is present on call. Laundry services also available. Dining: The hotel’s own restaurant serves up an assortment of local and international cuisine in a bright, semi-casual ambience, appropriate for quiet families as well as groups of chatty travelers. The bar is a hangout space offering delightful local drinks and finger snacks. Meetings & Events: A basic business center, with free wireless internet access, in present within the hotel. Faxing service available on demand. The hotel does not have a separate conference hall per se, but can adjust its multifunctional event space to cater to various kinds of small gatherings.
Address: Sabana Grande, Caracas Not a real hotel, this is in actuality an apartment owned by a local by the name of Nelson, a multilingual college teacher. A very friendly, welcoming person, quite knowledgeable about his city, Nelson makes sure he goes that extra mile to help his guests settle in and enjoy Caracas to the full, all on a tight budget. From the moment his driver Luis picks you up at the airport, you can feel the air of hospitality that surrounds this dynamic young man. Nelson will personally see to it that your stay in Caracas is as pleasant and comfortable as possible. He gives priceless tips on how to navigate the city, what time to visit which site, and arranges for travel packages and currency exchange. The apartment provides easy access to Sabana Grande’s top tourist sites, including El Recreo Plaza, a shopper’s delight. Rooms: Nelson rents out the entire apartment for $60 per night, or a single room for $40. Not comparable to the inexpensive hotels, but the price includes a lot of unacknowledged value-added services that Nelson personally puts in. The apartment is spacious, well lit, and conveniently furnished, containing rustic vintage décor. There is no air conditioner, however, but the place is well ventilated. Nelson even provides a free internet connection in the apartment, and room service occurs automatically whenever you leave the house!
Address: Avenue Casanova, esquina salle El Colegio, Sabana Grande Phone: +58 212 762 2922 A convenient 3-star hotel located on the central avenue in the Sabana Grande district, close to the most happening clubs, restaurants, and shopping outlets. A secure parking lot is available within the hotel premises, as well a taxi stand right across the road. Pets are not allowed at Kursaal. The hotel accepts cash payments as well as major credit cards. The front desk offers a 24 hour service. Kursaal is recommended for small student groups, couples on a budget, and upcoming entrepreneurs. Rooms: A total of 77 air conditioned Guest Rooms, all quite well-furnished, with direct dial landlines, cable television, and a kitchenette. Rooms have their own baths with hot and cold water lines. Laundry service is provided at nominal rates. Dining: Kursaal contains its own restaurant offering local as well as a blend of foreign cuisine. Nothing spectacular, but satisfyingly fulfilling at times of real need. A lounge bar offers light snacks and beverages all day. Meetings & Events: Kursaal provides a handy multifunctional space that can be modified to be used as a large conference hall. Services like internet connections, faxing, and printing are included at request.
Address: Avenue Ávila, Plaza Sur Altamira, Altamira district, Caracas Phone: +58 212 263 1955 Take a break from all the glitzy, overrated, and ridiculously expensive hotels around Caracas, and enjoy value at La Florista. A small but decently furnished hotel, La Floritsa is the perfect place to head to for tourists on a budget, or when all the other mid-priced hotels around the city are full. Pets are not allowed at the hotel. The hotel contains its own secure parking lot, as well as offering a cab call service with pickup form the airport. Across the street is a basic grocery store where you can purchase essentials as well as bottled water. Rooms: Relatively small, but very tidy and well-maintained, the 82 air conditioned Guest Rooms at La Florista are divided into single and double beds. All rooms contain a refrigerator and a mini bar, a balcony that provides splendid views over the Altamira area, direct dial telephones, and cable television. Bathrooms, for a hotel at this price, are surprisingly satisfactory, with hot and cold water lines at good pressure. Room service is available all day, and laundry service can be requested at a minimal additional cost. Dining: A complimentary breakfast is included with every night’s stay, consisting of fresh fruit juices, eggs and toast, and a coffee. The hotel does not include its own restaurant or bar. Meetings & Events: A multipurpose hall is available for renting out as a conference venue.
After the establishment of an independent colony in the early 1800s, Caracas continued to grow through the 19th century at a modest rate as new settlers moved in from Europe, and traders discovered that the cocoa it produced was some of the finest around the Caribbean. It was only in 1914 with the revelation of the presence of oil around the Maracaibo region and the surge in the international demand for oil that Caracas gained tremendous importance on a global scale. The economy shifted from a primarily agrarian one to one based on oil production and import. With all the money from importing oil, Caracas started to develop rapidly, attracting a large influx of rural immigrants every year. As a result, the city expanded considerably along its linear east-west axis. As the economy boomed, Caracas became an international transit hub that connected Europe to South America. During the 1950s, Caracas started to undergo modernization parallel to other cities of the developing world. Corporate companies were set up, and new kinds of architecture began to emerge. Urban housing schemes for middle income workers were initiated, elite colonies were set up at advantageous localities, and the ever increasing number of rural settlers was forced to put up their own shantytowns in random locations all over the city. This was, however, looked into, and a regulated slum belt, the “rancho”, and other low income settlements, known as “barrios”, were restricted to the southwest and the west of the city, as most of the elite development occurred to the east. The presence of oil also meant that locally manufactured gasoline was available at very cheap prices. This led to a rapid increase in the number of road vehicles and the development of supporting commuter infrastructure. Today, Caracas has a wide road network, but the large number of vehicles still renders it unsuitable for quick and efficient traveling. Caracas today is one of the cities that pride their selves as contributors to the rich cultural history of Latin America. You can see remains of ancient architecture in the backdrop of new urban centers, a dense mix of ethnicities and languages, and a variety of intellectual, educational, and artistic expressions throughout the city.
Caracas during the Middle Ages was little more than a small village in a beautiful valley occupied by indigenous tribes. The towering Mount Avila to the north of the settlement created a natural barrier that protected the city from the Caribbean Sea. Hence it remained out of sight from the prying eyes of the European navies that sailed along the coasts of the region on the lookout for local towns to plunder and add as colonies to their respective crowns. However, this did not hinder interaction between merchant navies and the locals. Traders often frequented the village for its rich cocoa, medicinal herbs, and other local products. In 1562, Francisco Fajardo, a sailor of Spanish-Guaiqueri origin who had established several small settlements along the South American coast, tried to set up agricultural plantations for the crown in the region. This was instantly seen as a possible means of invading local traditions of farming, and the estate was soon destroyed by the locals. Some little skirmishes followed afterwards, but on 25th July 1967, the Spanish Captain Diego de Losada established the city as a territory under the Spanish crown. It was named as Santiago de León de Caracas. Formal city planning rapidly came into play as the Spanish moved in. By 1578, the city was centered on a public piazza, surrounded by 24 equal quadrilaterals. Linear streets were developed, covered by a layer of rounded cobblestones, and the first blends of Medieval European architecture with traditional construction materials of wood and adobe became evident. Private housing for the elite, complete with patios, arcades, and quarters for servants and horses, began springing up. Development then proceeded along the main east-west axis, which still forms the spine of the city’s networks today. In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the Golden Age of piracy, the city remained comparatively out of sight of marauding pirates and opportunist bounty hunters. Apart from an attack by English buccaneers in 1595, Caracas remained a fairly safe haven for traders and new settlers. For these reasons, and a steadily increasing cultivation of cocoa, Caracas soon emerged as the capital city of the region in 1777. A major outbreak of smallpox quickly wiped out the native Indian population, decreasing the chances of a rebellion. However, there were still attempts to gain independence from the Spaniards. Manuel Gual and José María España assembled an organized army that was defeated on 13th July 1797. On 5th July 1811, following the ideals of the Wars of Independence in North America and the French Revolution, officials signed the Declaration of Independence that was to shape the future of Caracas. Caracas also gave birth to Simón Bolívar, who is regarded as a pioneer in the rebellions against the Spanish crown. He led the local population to a crucial victory against the aristocracy at the Battle of Carabobo, on 24th June 1821. Today, monuments, streets, and even the currency in Venezuela are named in his honor.
The currency used is the Venezuela bolívar fuerte (VEF). This replaced the Venezuela Bolivar (VEB) with effect from 1st January 2008. This was due to unprecedented rises in inflation over the years. 1 VEF = 1000 VEB. The VEB, however, is obsolete currency. The banknotes used are in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 bolívares. Coins are available in of 1, 5, 10, 12½, 25, 50 céntimos, and 1 bolívar denominations. The 1 céntimo coin is rarely used, as prices are usually calculated in 5 céntimos progressions. 1 VEF = 0.232558 U.S. dollars 1 U.S. dollar = 4.30000 VEF
A passport that is valid for at least six months is needed when visiting Venezuela, even as a tourist. The visa process is generally hassle free, and takes around 2-3 weeks during the off-tourist season, that is the winter months. The embassy would provide the required forms and the guidelines to filling out these forms. There are several kinds of visas that can be issued. The most common one is a visit/tourist visa, valid for up to 90 days of stay, and for a single entry and exit only. The business visa however can be used for multiple exits and entries, and is also valid for 90 days. Student visas are dealt with on a case to case basis, depending on the kind of program and the institution. For acquiring a student visa, please consult the embassy in person. It is recommended that you have at least 2 unused pages of your passport remaining when you apply for a visa to Venezuela. Once in Venezuela, always be sure to carry your passport along with some other form of ID around, as you may be asked to produce these by officers of the law. There is no need to worry though, as this is normal procedure.
Caracas enjoys mild weather all year round, due to its tropical location, its proximity to the sea, and its altitude (800m above sea level). December to April is a generally less humid season, constituting a magical autumn transforming into a blossoming spring. This is the time when tourist crowds are at their peak. All the major festivities around town, including Carnaval, Christmas, and Semana Santa, occur during this season. You will experience all the excitement of the Caraqueño street life and culture up close and personal when you visit during these months. However, this is also the season when shopping malls and restaurant owners decide to go all Beverly Hills on their prices. Apart from a few really generous sales, shopping during the high season is not at all recommended unless you know how to haggle well! The months from May to October are usually not that popular with tourists, meaning air fares are much lower. So are the prices on local amenities and services. If you are on a budget, this is a great time for you to head to Caracas, as you can still catch some of the most exciting, though less crowded, festivals around town, in addition to the wonders of shopping, window-shopping, and all in between!
Location: Caracas, capital of Venezuela Dialing code: 00 58 212 X (where +58 is the international code for Venezuela, 212 is the regional code for Caracas, and X is the local number) Emergency numbers 171 - Emergencies 169 - Police 166 - Fire Department Population: 1,815,679 Languages : Venezuela is a very rich country in terms of the variety of languages spoken and generally understood throughout. The 1999 Venezuelan Constitution declared Spanish as the official language, in addition to the languages spoken by the indigenous locals. The languages most commonly used are: Spanish, English, Italian, French, Arabic, Portuguese, and indigenous languages like Sikiana, Panare, and Yaruro. You will be able to get along quite well if you are sufficiently fluent in English, as English is taught as a compulsory subject at school and university levels in Venezuela. Time zone: UTC/GMT - 4:30 hours Religions: 70% Roman Catholic 29% Protestants 1% Muslims and Jews Average January temperatures: 13.1 °C to 29.0°C Average July temperatures: 16.9 °C to 31.0 °C Annual rainfall: 912.8 mm
New Year's Day (Año Nuevo) – January 1 Day of the Declaration of Independence – April 19 Labor Day – May 1 Battle of Carabobo Day – June 24 Independence Day – July 5 Simón Bolívar Day – July 24 Christopher Columbus Day/Day of the Indigenous Resistance – October 12 Christmas Day – December 25
January low temperature: 13.1 °C high temperature: 29.0 °C precipitation: 15.3 mm February low temperature: 14.5 °C high temperature: 31.0 °C precipitation: 13.2 mm March low temperature: 15.3 °C high temperature: 31.7 °C precipitation: 11.4 mm April low temperature: 16.2 °C high temperature: 31.1 °C precipitation: 59.2 mm May low temperature: 18.2 °C high temperature: 31.8 °C precipitation: 81.7 mm June low temperature: 18.1 °C high temperature: 30.3 °C precipitation: 134.1 mm July low temperature: 16.9 °C high temperature: 31.0 °C precipitation: 118.4 mm August low temperature: 16.6 °C high temperature: 29.3 °C precipitation: 123.8 mm September low temperature: 16.8 °C high temperature: 30.1 °C precipitation: 115.4 mm October low temperature: 16.4 °C high temperature: 29.7 °C precipitation: 126.3 mm November low temperature: 15.7 °C high temperature: 29.6 °C precipitation: 72.6 mm December low temperature: 14.2 °C high temperature: 28.4 °C precipitation: 41.4 mm
Like any other developing city in Latin America, Caracas contains a rich mix of ethnicities. Its residents come from diverse national origins and backgrounds, and speak a variety of languages, eat an assortment of cuisines, and indulge in a wide range of cultural, intellectual, and social activities. Mestizos, who are people of mixed European and indigenous Indian descent, constitute about 70% of the population of Caracas. They usually speak Spanish and one or more local languages, but many are also familiar with Italian, German, French, Portuguese, and a bit of Arabic. Around 20% of the people are of Caucasian origin, usually employed as the educated workforce brought in from North America. The remaining 2% are authentically true-blood Indian, most of them rural immigrants. But regardless of their origin, once in Caracas, all citizens pride themselves in being called Caraqueños. As the city is Venezuela’s commercial and economic capital, citizens usually dress more formally than in other regions around the country. However, where you can see smartly dressed young men and women scurrying off towards towering office blocks with polished glass facades, you can also witness a large number of people, including servants, manual laborers, and unemployed persons, residing in slums lining the hillsides, struggling, and often failing, to keep up with the pace of the city. Most of the population follows Roman Catholicism. The rest is made up mainly of Protestants. Small numbers of Muslims and Jews are also present. Although you are at a great advantage if you can fluently speak Spanish, you will get along pretty well with the local crowd in restaurants, hotels, and most public places if you have a good grasp over spoken English.
Address: Avenue Principal de Las Mercedes, Las Mercedes district Phone: 212 991 3164 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 8pm Paseo is for Caraqueños living the high life! Aptly situated in one of the city’s most elite neighborhoods, Paseo is an old mall that the citizens have come to trust when it comes to authentic jewelry, especially gold and silver bracelets, designer labels in apparel, cosmetics and accessories, and charming interior décor. The mall offers, apart from the high-end, not-so-inexpensive garments and electronic gadgets, a commendable bookstore with a large international collection, a splendid cinema house, the mall’s own health and beauty salon, a well-stocked pharmacy, and a collection of some of the city’s tastiest diners and cafés. Hotel Paseo Las Mercedes, a high-end hotel that offers excellent service to guests, is included within the mall’s premises. Also within the mall, Transnocho Cultural, a very happening place for intellectuals and postmodernists, attracts a sizeable audience to its regularly held musical programs, art exhibitions, and performances. For the party loving horde, the mall includes its own nightclub – you can experience a subtle shift in the kind of crowd as the hours start setting in. Parking is available in the mall’s own garage.
Address: Avenida Blandín, La Castellana, Caracas Phone: 212 263 3953 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 3am Two splendid elliptical towers with seemingly infinite terraces, resembling an ultramodern space station or a high-income futuristic elite colony, the San Ignacio is a visual marvel in itself for its visitors. The mall offers ridiculously expensive designer garments and footwear, fashion accessories, both locally crafted and internationally branded, and the latest in electronic gadgetry including computers, cell phones, and video games. The mall also contains a number of popular diners and coffee shops, perfect for that break in your tiring shopping day. An incredible cinema with VIP seating adds another dimension to the mall. Thus, San Ignacio forms a multi-faceted entertainment complex. As dusk falls, San Ignacio makes a smooth transition from a shopper’s paradise to a partygoers’ haven. With its numerous clubs and late-night bars serving up all kinds of shots to heart pumping music, San Ignacio entertains the city from morning till the very early hours of the morning again. Underground parking with valet service is available for up to 2000 cars.
Address: Avenue Principal de Las Mercedes Phone: 212 959 2169 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 9am to 9pm, Sundays 1pm to 7pm Situated in Las Mercedes, the hip and happening part of Caracas, the CCCT is the perfect place to head to if you have a sizeable wallet or a collection of credit cards that actually work! The inverted half-pyramidal shape of the mall attracts many an unsuspecting tourist from a long distance, who wanders inside unaware of the outrageously expensive goods on display. CCCT is famous for its more than 500 shops and boutiques that sell anything from garments to undergarments and all in between and beyond. The stores contain toys, electronics, high end décor, and authentic artwork, apart from the mundane groceries and items of daily use. CCCT houses two nightclubs that rage on all night, a charming variety of international diners arranged around an artistically designed food court, and a splendid movie theater. The mall contains an indoor parking space for 6000 cars. Weekends get especially crowded, when people come not only to shop, but to eat, watch movies, and dance all night!
Address: Avenue Francisco de Miranda, El Rosal district Phone: 212 952 7196 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 8pm Located in another elite neighborhood within Caracas, Lido presents a shopping experience marked by authentic serenity and comfort that many other malls fail to provide. Firstly, the mall is not very crowded – this may be due to the fact that its prices are WAY too high for common Caraqueños to even window-shop. The mall is actually complementary to an already existing office space, containing facilities like beauty salons, perfume and cosmetics stores, and fitness centers, which cater exclusively to its stinking rich corporate clientele. The mall offers high-end designer gear, accessories, jewelry, and footwear. It also houses two incredible movie theatres, more than a dozen authentic international diners, and a five-star hotel. Even if you do not shop, the mall offers an exciting insight into the lives of the city’s elite.
Address: Nicholas Copernico Road, south of Plaza Alfredo Sadel, El Rosal disrtict Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 10am to 9pm, Sundays and holidays 12noon to 8pm A lavish upscale mall that has recently entered the shopping scene in Caracas, El Tolón has quickly become one of the most popular malls around Caracas, as can be witnessed by the sheer number of people that swarm it each day. The mall contains a very diverse range of products, including, apart from garments and footwear, gifts and toys, the latest in electronic items, high end cosmetics and perfumes, opticians, pharmacies, two cinema houses, and a host of trendy diners serving up delectable local and international menus.
Address: Avenue Libertador intersection at Los Ángeles, Chacao district Phone: 212 263 9323 Timings: Mondays to Saturdays 11am to 9pm, Sundays and holidays 12noon to 8pm Sambil is believed to be the largest mall in all of South America. It is not uncommon, especially during the first weekend of every month, to see people from all around the country who just come to spend a full day of shopping at the mall before returning to their own cities towards the evening. A visit to the mall on any such day is sure to be filled with exciting, enlightening, and sometimes even amusing moments. The mall is a visual treat in itself, fusing elements of formal, modern architecture with the city’s rich cultural heritage. Spread over five floors, its dozens of elegant boutiques are a pleasure for any kind of shopper. Come here for the designer apparel, shoes, and fashion accessories that are hard to find anywhere else around the city – at such good prices, anyway. Sambil is one place where you can get ridiculously expensive items at somewhat reasonable prices. The large variety of items on apparently permanent year-round sales, coupled with the Caraqueños’ inherent love for shopping, make this mall a first choice for everyday shoppers as well as window-shopping social anthropologists. The mall contains two small cinema houses and more than a dozen decent restaurants serving up Asian, French, Spanish, and Italian cuisine. The top floor also houses an arena for the game-loving shopper. Word of advice – always keep your valuables in a safe place, especially your ID’s. Lots of people means lots of pickpockets!
Address: Avenue Francisco de Miranda, Los Palos Grandes neighborhood Phone: 212 507 8800 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 9am to 12noon, 230pm to 630pm You will easily recognize this tall, slim office block with its glittering glass façade and the golden colored “Centro Plaza” sign on the front. The Centro Plaza is tucked away on the lower five floors of a 20-floor office building, and is a relatively unknown shopping center considering the shopping craze of the Caraqueños. This might be because it specializes mostly in office goods, electrical equipment, audio visual gadgets, videogame stores, and quite affordable designer clothing and footwear for youngsters and teens. The mall also contains a sizeable fitness and sports equipment section. For this reason you will often find, as opposed to the families and couples at other malls, groups of local teenagers rambling around its premises, ogling and whistling at girls passing by, sitting in one of the many courtyard cafes sipping away on simmering coffee, and enjoying the slower pace of city life. Centro Plaza has a large underground parking lot (owing to the fifteen floors of office space it also houses), a mini-theater, and a grocery mart.
Address: Plaza Chacaito, Chacao district Situated by Plaza Chacaito, the central landmark piazza within the elite Chacao district, the Chacaito mall is known for its pleasing variety of everyday casual wear garments and accessories. The place also contains a well-stocked supermarket, and a café which offers some very fine cappuccino.
Address: Avenue Baralt and Avenue Universidad intersection, El Silencio district Phone: 212 482 7646 A relatively new and stylishly designed mall, Metro Center has yet to achieve the attention of the crazy Caraqueño shopper crowd. The mall is located in a fairly secluded part within the old central district, almost devoid of traffic when compared to the highway rage Caraqueños have to face every day. Metro Center offers a general collection of garments and accessories, everyday items, and home décor. The mall is more popular with the tourist crowd, however, for the sheer number of fast food outlets it contains – it is the perfect spot to stop for a quick bite during a tour of the old city. From Asian to American and all that is in between, topped with juices and shakes from around the world, you can find anything to your taste in these more than three dozen diners even if you do nothing more than window shop.
Address: Plaza Bolivar, El Centro Phone: 212 507 8815 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 9am to5pm, Saturdays 9am to 230pm This multistory shopping mall specializes in jewelry and accessories at very reasonable prices. Over a hundred outlets and display centers that offer you authentic designer accessories in gold and silver, as well as beautiful gemstones and masterfully crafted diamonds. You can find anything from necklaces and earrings to bracelets, bangles and rings, to pins and brooches in all shapes and designs for all ages of men and women. The prices are usually very reasonable, and you can still be lucky enough to strike up a bargain! Note that even though the stores deal in thousands of VEF on each transaction, every outlet might not necessarily accept a credit card, so ask before purchasing.
The city’s most popular pedestrianized area, the Sabana Grande is focused on a one-mile long boulevard. Absolutely no vehicular entry is allowed – a law that is strictly imposed only in this locality in Caracas. The boulevard is popular for its many chic boutiques dotted along here and there – lots of variety, plenty of bargains, and quite a number of pickpockets! The eateries and coffee shops that line the boulevard, like the Gran Café, are favorite hangout spots for intellectuals and artists who meet and discuss from the most trivial of issues to the wildest of theories and ideas. The Suma Bookshop is also a place where you can find, apart from an interesting variety of reasonably priced reading material, groups of intellectuals just hanging around, talking about subjects you probably might never even have heard of – that is, if you can make out the language they are communicating in. The Sabana Grande is very crowded even on weekdays – weekends are especially hectic for a day of shopping, but a fun experience, nevertheless, for observing the wild pace of life in Caracas.
Address: between Esqs Bárcenas and Piedras The CenterCalle Londres, Las Mercedes Phone: 0212 481 1915 Timings: Tuesdays to Sundays 9am to 12noon, 2pm to 4pm Situated south of the historic core of the city, in a location that at the time of Simón Bolívar formed the uncongested suburbs of Caracas, this is a summer residence in which the revered Venezuelan leader spent his youth. Masterfully constructed and beautifully landscaped, this charming residence has been restored to function as a modern museum adorned on the interior with rustic vintage furniture, classical wooden décor, and accents from El Liberator’s colonial times.
Also called the Plaza Francia, this is a large public square that is immensely popular with locals of all ages during summer evenings and winter afternoons. The plaza features a majestic obelisk and a refreshing water fountain, two prominent features that make it stand out as more of a photo op than any other public square in Caracas. It also contains a number of stalls offering foodstuff, souvenirs, and toys for children. There is nothing like having an ice cream on a lazy summer’s day while watching passively as citizens walk around, having their own ice creams! Families and couples flock to the plaza on weekends, when special events or activities are organized for the citizens. The place becomes a little crowded, but enjoyable nevertheless.
Originally a colonial style coffee house owned by Bolivar’s family more than two centuries ago, La Estancia is currently a small but attractive museum nestled between splendid gardens. The museum contains some striking works of modern art – photography, 3D animations, graphics arts, industrial technology design, all inside rooms with traditional hacienda décor and illumination. The museum also offers guided tours. After the adventure inside, rest your feet and your mind on the external porch as you sip on hot tea or coffee, listening to live music that is often played there on weekends.
A spot for rest and recreation, Parque del Este forms the largest open public green space within the city. It is thronged with visitors every day, especially in the evenings. The park offers a serene escape to the Caraqueños from the bustle and noise of a congested city life. Apart from being a favorite hangout space for the young and the old alike, the park also offers activities geared at education, entertainment, and adventure. The park contains a mini zoo with a native variety of animals, a terrarium that contains from small rodents to middle sized land-roaming mammals, a herbarium with charming floral displays, an aviary with exotic species of tropical birds, quite a slimy a reptiles section, and an exceptionally splendid cactus garden (watch out for the thorns!). The park even has a planetarium which puts on special weekend shows for the whole family. Up for a little adventure? Grab a rowing boat for rent at one of the nine lakes within the park, pick a partner from amongst your friends, and off you go a-sailing! Park del Este has a life-size model of Columbus’s original boat, the Santa Maria, which discovered America in 1492. It is also possible to have a guided tour of the boat’s interior for a small ticket. Take a walk inside the park early morning and you can catch exercise sessions, yoga practitioners, energetic joggers, and local schoolchildren chanting poems at open-air assemblies. Go in the evening to find aspiring public speakers, religious choirs, Caraqueño children frolicking around playing soccer, and romantic newlyweds having tea picnics. At any time of the day of the week you visit, Parque del Este will provide you with that much-needed breathing space that you will eventually require after spending a couple of days in Caracas.
Address: southwest from El Centro, in the Curacao district Begun in 1944, El Pinar Zoo was the first public zoo in Venezuela. Although relatively small, only on a 7 acre plot of land, the zoo has succeeded in drawing a large number of curious kids and adults to its enchanting collection of nature’s visual treats. The zoo contains many local species of animals – some dangerous ones are caged, but most of the tamed ones just walk around freely through an already existing natural landscape. Another delight is the many flocks of tropical birds that can often be seen flying around from one tree to another, chirping and squawking their hearts out, or hopping towards you to peck up seeds that you sprinkle on the ground. This makes the atmosphere of the zoo a very lively, interactive one, as you get to see animals up close without fences or barriers – this makes El Pinar an exciting experience for toddlers and teens. The zoo is famous for its section on mounted insects which features a very comprehensive, categorized collection of creepy crawlers (all dead) that is the largest in South America.
Caraqueños just need an excuse to start shaking all over! Partying, singing, dancing, and going wild to the beats of music serve as the Fountain of Eternal Youth for this nation. New Year’s Eve makes no exception. From late afternoon you can see people scurrying all around town, eager to close down their businesses, get together a group of friends, and head to the most happening places around town – either the beach, that is swarming with other like-minded partygoers, or a more private retreat in nightclubs across the city. As a centuries old tradition, people bring homemade cloth or rag dolls and burn them at the stake – this represents forgetting the hardships and problems borne the previous year and preparing for a fresh new start. As midnight draws in, people head to the central square. Here an intense display of fireworks follows, amidst excited squeals from the audience, to welcome the New Year as the clock strikes midnight.
A revered religious celebration occurring during the first week of February that pays homage to the Virgin Mary, a highly esteemed religious icon in Latin American lands. This festival is marked with sober expressions of respect rather than zealous displays of passion. People from all over the rural suburbs gather around as the main churches in Caracas hold religious sermons, poetic and musical recitals, and folk songs and dances. As the festival draws to an end, people put up ceremonial candle lighting displays and decorate churches and homes with floral wreaths, giving a warm, blessed, motherly touch to the city.
A festival that draws in tourists and visitors to Caracas by the thousands, from all across South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean lands, Carnival is an event that gives new meaning to the phrase “partying hard!” Marked by noisy street processions, splendid decorative elements, parades with lavishly prepared floats, and in general hordes of adrenaline-charged locals and tourists jumping to the beats of heart-throbbing music, Carnival gradually increases in intensity and reaches its peak at Mardi Gras, a Tuesday. Live open-air concerts, street performances, amateur theatrics, all-night clubbing, and a general air of recklessness are the main highlights of this festival.
A somewhat milder festival compared to the general party-loving scene in Caracas, Semana Santa marks a week-long vacation season before Easter where families get together to spend quality time at homes, public parks, and, most commonly, at the beach, sunbathing. The week marks a series of venerated religious proceedings that commemorate significant events from the life of Christ, including the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Church plays re-enact these events in the presence of hundreds of dedicated followers. A series of feasts follows as the day’s more formal programs come to an end. This festival is also marked by empty office buildings, fully booked hotel rooms, and overcrowded public transportation, as most people get decreased work hours and so spend more time socializing.
The International Theater Festival provides immense global recognition to Caracas. It is held every alternate April, and draws in crowds of intellectuals and students from all across Latin America, featuring theatrical performances by popular local as well as foreign actors. Venezuelan theatre arts have been flourishing over the years, and you can witness quite an impressive variety of plays that address regional and international social issues. The main events occur within the 4 major theatres in town, namely the Teatro Nacional, the Teatro Teresa Carreño, the Teatro El Paraíso, and the Ateneo de Caracas.
Address: Centro Commercial City Market, Nivel Plaza 121, Sabana Grande, Caracas Phone: + 58 212 762 5975 Fax: + 58 212 762 9890 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 830am to 12pm, 130pm to 430pm A small tourism agency that became operational in 2001 with the aim of providing inexpensive, reliable guidance to backpackers and amateur travelers, and has now grown considerably in size to cover not only all of Venezuela, but also other Latin American countries. Come here for unbiased advice about various locations within Caracas, as well as further travel tips on the surrounding regions and cities.
Address: Western Sector Canaima National Park TT AC. 199 Venezuela Phone: +58 212 6352166 Fax: +58 212 6352155 An agency that organizes eco-tours of the beautiful countryside surrounding Caracas, including national parks, exquisite tropical islands, kayaking in rough rivers, and a breathtaking trip to the Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world. The agency is not based in Caracas, but arranges for pick and drop from your hotel to their Caracas office, from where you will be whisked off to adventure in a small private plane!
Address: Avenue Casanova, 2da Avenue de Bello Monte, Sabana Grande, Caracas Phone: +58 212 656 1240 Fax: +58 212 656 1240 A cheaper alternative to eco-tourism, this agency, in addition to offering you predesigned itineraries of the natural wonders of Venezuela, allows you to create your own modified tour. Be it scuba diving, snorkeling, bungee jumping, high flying, or simply mountain trekking, you can try your hand at playing Dora the explorer at very reasonable prices.
Address: Sabana Grande, Caracas Not a real agency, Nelson is the name of a very friendly local college professor who rents out his apartment to tourists. What you get for the price is, apart from the very convenient apartment itself, valuable guidance about touring the city, including how to deal with the locals, where to head to at what time to catch which local event, and how to explore the city depending on your personal interests, skipping all the unnecessary parts and focusing only on what you expect out of your visit to the city. Nelson lives on a small flat just two minutes’ walk from the main avenue at Sabana Grande – ask any local once you get there, he is quite a popular guy in the neighborhood!
Caracas contains just one large mosque, called the Mosque Ibrahim Ibin Abdul Aziz Al-Ibrahim, or simply the Caracas Mosque. It was constructed fairly recently, in 1993. It was commissioned by Sheikh Ibrahim ibne Abdul Aziz, and architect Zuhe Fayez was credited with the design of the mosque. The mosque is the largest in all of Latin America, potentially housing around 3500 worshippers when full. The mosque is located in the Parque Central area, on Avenue Libertador.
Caracas, Venezuela
There are two kinds of buses that run through the city. One is the metro-bus, which is linked to the metro system, and takes passengers where the tube does not go. The second is the privately owned Carritos. Privately owned carritos, a bit less expensive and much quicker than the metro-buses, service a larger part of the city. These are not the best kind of transport, with intolerable radio bass levels and dilapidated seats, but they will usually get you to the very doorstep of your destination. In fact, you choose where you want to get off, as there really are no existing bus stops. Just yell “Para aqui!” at the place you want to hop off, and the carrito will come to a stop! Kind of like pulling the emergency chain on a train. The routes for each carrito are displayed on the windshield. The carrito service ceases at around 9pm. Word of advice: watch out for pick pockets.
The metro in Caracas is a very efficient, reliable, and safe means of public transport. It was constructed by a French company and started operating in 1983. Well maintained, air-conditioned, and with stations flaunting charming works of contemporary art by upcoming local artists, the Metro makes for a pleasant ride around the city. The main line, Line 1, runs east to west along the major linear axis of the city, and you can get off at any of the conveniently located stations. Line 2 runs southwest from the city centre. Two other, smaller lines also service remote parts of the city. From the station, if you want to go north or south into some neighborhood, there is a very handy metro-bus shuttle service that takes passengers into the suburbs, where the metro does not go itself. A one-ride ticket is around 0.5 VEF. You can also purchase a “Multi abono” ticket, which permits 10 rides for 4.5 VEF. This allows you to avoid queuing up in front of the ticket booth before every journey. One word of caution though – the metro can get really crowded during peak hours, so be sure to keep your valuables in safe sight. Incidents of pick pocketing are not uncommon. Also, during peak hours you might not be able to get into the first train that approaches, let alone get a seat. But trains come in quick succession during rush hours, and it will be a matter of minutes before the next one arrives. The metro operates from 530am to 11pm.
Taxis are the best option for travel after dusk sets in. The metro is generally considered unsafe for tourists in the late hours of the evening. Any vehicle in Caracas can be operated as a taxi by its owner, but why take the chances. Try to go for the yellow and black colored taxis. These are officially registered as commercial vehicles, so provide a secure means of travel. A rather exciting form of taxi is the motorcycle taxi. These are also registered, and they are much quicker than a car. Put on a helmet, snuggle in behind the driver, and do Steve McQueen impersonations as you speed through the clogged roads – and onto sidewalks! Word of caution: taxis usually do not have meters, so negotiate the fare before you get in. Also, taxis are permitted to charge a 20-30% higher rate during late hours. Of course, the safest, and most expensive, form of taxis is the one controlled by centralized cab companies. Some reliable companies are: 1. Taxitur (794-1264) 2. Móvil-Enlace (577-3344) 3. Teletaxi (753-4155)
Rather than book a taxi for the entire day, try renting out a car. Yes, cars can be pretty slow, as traffic jams are an everyday norm in Caracas, but they are safer, cheaper, and more convenient for families and group travelers with light luggage. Some reliable companies are: 1. Budget Car Rental: Address: Maiquetia, Caracas A variety of small cars, ideal for families and student groups. As the name suggests, the prices and packages are quite affordable. 2. AVIS: Address: Centro Comercial Ciudad Tamanaco Phone: 959 5822 Fax: 959 4811 Timings: Mondays to Fridays 7am to 9pm, Saturdays and Sundays 8am to 4pm Part of the international AVIS chain. A variety of larger vehicles, with competitive prices and complimentary pick and drop services. Multilingual service. 3. Amigos Car Central: Address: Chacaito, Urb. El Bosque, Av. El Parque, Edf. El Parque, Planta Baja Phone: 0416 606 1548, Reservations: 0500 2277671 Website: www.amigoscarental.com Timings: Mondays to Fridays 7am to 8pm, Saturdays 8am to 2pm Low prices, large vehicles, including jeeps and SUVs, in addition to smaller ones, like Chevrolets. 4. Aco: Address: 1era Av. Sur Altamira, Urb. El Dorado, Edif. San Luis. P.B. Chacao. Caracas Phone: (58) 212-2650289, Reservations: 0800 RENT ACO (0-800-7368226) Fax: (58) 212-2668576 / 2614119 E-Mail: Timings: Mondays to Fridays 7am to 8pm, Saturdays 8am to 3pm, Sundays 9am to 4pm US-based company, offers an online reservation service in English. A large collection of vehicles, from small economic 4-seaters to pickups, mini vans and cargo trucks. 5. Auno: Address: Alvenida Francisco de Miranda, Locales Chacao Phone: 212 265 1645 Fax: 212 267 0652 E-Mail: [email protected] Smaller company, Spanish service.
Finding your way from the airport into the city by road is a nightmare! The bridge that connected downtown Caracas to the airport in La Guaira became unsuitable for use a few months ago, and an estimated 3 years will be needed for it to be operational again. In the meantime, visitors have to go through an alternative city road jam packed with traffic, which passes through dilapidated neighborhoods, and is not even clear at night – it is a route for cargo trucks. This means a one-way journey can take from one to two hours depending on traffic. There are several ways, though, that the road trip can be made. The best, but most expensive, solution is the Ford Explorers that wait outside the airport. They charge around 100 VEF, but can get you downtown in about an hour’s time. You could also rent out a regular taxi – the black and yellow cab. These are less expensive, and relatively safe, although slower than the Fords. You have to be quick in hailing a cab, however, as most tourists who arrive usually make a run for them as soon as one comes in sight. A new company, “Taxi to Caracas”, offers convenient rides to and from the airport. Cabs can be registered online with just a credit card, at www.taxitocaracas.com. Word of advice when hiring out taxis: there are many unlicensed cabbies lounging around the airport who will try to convince you to use their cabs. It is better not to fall for the cheaper prices they offer, as they do not guarantee a safe journey. If you are on a budget and would rather travel by bus, head to the domestic terminal. An airport bus leaves every 30 minutes for the city center, making 4 convenient stops along the way. A 5 VEF ticket can be purchased at a booth near the bus stand.
It is better to avoid the roads unless you are, or have, a really skillful and very patient driver. Caracas roads are plagued by traffic jams, which makes journey by road rather slow. Also, drivers are not very strict adherents to road regulations. Seat belts are usually not available in most rental cars, or taxis for that matter, so make sure you drive your car like a car and not the Bat-mobile. Roads under repair, open manholes, and other such hazards are usually marked only by a bunch of twigs hanging out of the crevice, or a few bricks or rocks lying around the site. Make sure you watch out for these “signs”. Always carry your passport, driver’s license, and insurance papers around. Your vehicle may be subject to a random search by the National Guard. Driving in Caracas is not recommended for gentlemen. If you cannot bring yourself to be a little discourteous on the road, you will most probably get pushed into the slow lane. Word of advice: travel by cab for the first few days to observe how the road system works, and then take out your own car!
Health: Although tap water is generally safe, most tourists accustomed to Western standards should prefer bottled water. What should be avoided at all costs, however, are salads, meat dishes, and other edible items at open-air street stalls.
