Visit the colonial architecture of Coro
A UNESCO World Heritage colonial town with distinctive Dutch-Caribbean and Spanish architectural influences, among Venezuela's oldest settlements.
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South America
Things to do in Venezuela
Home to Angel Falls, the tallest uninterrupted waterfall on Earth, and a Caribbean coastline once central to South American tourism, now navigating a fragile, uneven reopening after years of severe travel restrictions.
Explore Venezuela on the map →Budget$
Best for7-9 days, with itineraries currently limited to lower-risk areas
CapitalCaracas
VisaUS citizens are required to obtain an e-visa in advance; requirements have shifted significantly in recent years, so it's essential to confirm current entry rules and government travel advisories immediately before booking.
CurrencyVenezuelan bolívar (VES), though US dollars are widely used in practice
LanguagesSpanish (official)
InternetLimited and unreliable nationwide
Typical lodging$15–$40/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage120V / 60Hz (Type A/B plug)
Time zoneUTC-4
Emergency number911
Dialing code+58
★★★★★ Wildlife★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Beaches
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled or filtered water recommended. 10% at restaurants is common.
Angel Falls, deep within Canaima National Park, is the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world at 979 metres, dropping from the flat-topped tepui plateaus that inspired the 'Lost World' landscapes of popular fiction. After years under a US Do Not Travel advisory, Venezuela has seen a partial and closely watched easing of restrictions as of 2026, with limited direct flights resuming, though large parts of the country, particularly border regions with Colombia, remain under the strictest advisory level.
When to go
Dry seasonDecember–April
The most comfortable window nationally, with lower rainfall for Angel Falls viewing and the Caribbean coast, though waterfall flow is actually lower during this period.
Wet seasonMay–November
Heavier rainfall, but the peak flow season for Angel Falls and Canaima's other waterfalls, which can slow to a trickle in the dry months.
Peak Angel Falls flowJune–November
The waterfall's flow is at its most dramatic during the wet season, when rainfall feeds the tepui plateau above.
Caribbean coast dry stretchJanuary–April
The most reliable window for Los Roques and the Caribbean coast, where limited tourism has continued even through the more difficult years.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
4Explore the historic center of Caracas
Venezuela's capital retains significant colonial and early-republic architecture around Plaza Bolívar, though current itineraries should stay within well-established, lower-risk areas.
Visit the Orinoco Delta's indigenous Warao communities
A vast river delta in eastern Venezuela home to the Warao people, who maintain traditional stilt-house river communities.
Visit Ciudad Bolívar's riverside colonial architecture
A historic Orinoco riverside city and traditional gateway to Angel Falls and Canaima National Park.
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Adventure & outdoors
4Explore the tepui plateaus of Canaima National Park
A UNESCO World Heritage park of flat-topped sandstone plateaus rising dramatically from the rainforest, among South America's most distinctive landscapes.
Visit Mérida in the Venezuelan Andes
A university city in the Andes mountains, historically home to one of the world's highest and longest cable car systems.
Snorkel the reefs of Morrocoy National Park
A cluster of small coral cays and mangrove islands along Venezuela's central Caribbean coast, historically popular for day-trip snorkeling.
Hike Roraima, the original 'Lost World' tepui
The most famous of Venezuela's tepui plateaus, straddling the border with Guyana and Brazil, offering a multi-day trek to a genuinely otherworldly summit landscape.
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Nature & scenery
2Visit Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall$400–700
A 979-metre uninterrupted waterfall deep within Canaima National Park, dropping from tepui plateaus that inspired the 'Lost World' landscapes of fiction.
Explore the Gran Sabana's savanna and waterfalls
A vast highland savanna region in southeastern Venezuela dotted with waterfalls and tepui plateaus, offering some of the country's most dramatic scenery.
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Beaches
1Relax on the beaches of Los Roques archipelago
A protected coral atoll archipelago with turquoise water, historically considered one of the Caribbean's most beautiful and least developed beach destinations.
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Food & drink
7Eat Venezuelan arepas
Grilled cornmeal pockets filled with cheese, meat, or beans, considered the definitive Venezuelan national dish eaten at nearly every meal.
Try Venezuelan pabellón criollo, the national dish
A plate of shredded beef, black beans, rice, and fried plantain, widely considered Venezuela's most iconic and beloved traditional meal.
Try Venezuelan cachapa, sweet corn pancakes
Thick, sweet corn pancakes typically folded around soft cheese, a beloved traditional Venezuelan comfort food.
Try Venezuelan hallaca, a holiday tamale
A cornmeal dough filled with stewed meat and wrapped in plantain leaves, traditionally prepared for Christmas and a genuine culinary point of national pride.
Try Venezuelan tequeños, cheese-filled pastry sticks
Fried pastry sticks filled with cheese, a beloved party and snack food found at virtually every Venezuelan celebration.
Try Venezuelan chicha, a sweet rice drink
A sweetened rice-based beverage popular as a refreshing street drink across Venezuela, distinct from the fermented chicha found elsewhere in South America.
Try Venezuelan chicha andina, an Andean corn drink
A traditional fermented corn beverage from Venezuela's Andean region, reflecting the highland communities' distinct culinary heritage.
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Wildlife
1Explore the Henri Pittier National Park's cloud forest
Venezuela's oldest national park, holding exceptional bird diversity within a dramatic coastal mountain cloud forest.
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Photography
1Photograph the tepui sunset from Canaima Lagoon
Canaima's lagoon, ringed by several waterfalls and tepui plateaus, offers one of Venezuela's most photographed and dramatic sunset views.
Common questions
▾Is Venezuela safe to visit right now?
Conditions have eased somewhat as of 2026 with the removal of the blanket Do Not Travel designation for the first time in years, but large parts of the country, especially the Colombian border region and several interior states, remain under the strictest advisory level: confirm current, area-specific guidance before any trip.
▾Do US citizens need a visa for Venezuela?
Yes, an e-visa is currently required, and requirements have shifted significantly in recent years, so it's essential to confirm the latest rules with the official government portal immediately before booking rather than relying on older information.
▾How significant is Angel Falls?
At 979 metres, it's the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world, set within Canaima National Park's dramatic tepui plateau landscape that inspired the 'Lost World' setting in popular fiction.
▾Can I use US dollars in Venezuela?
Yes, US dollars are widely used in practice alongside the bolívar, though ATMs generally do not accept foreign cards, so bringing sufficient cash for the full trip is essential.
▾How many days does Venezuela need?
7-9 days is reasonable for Canaima National Park and a lower-risk coastal stretch, though itineraries should currently stay within areas outside the strictest advisory zones and be arranged with an established local operator.
▾How much does it cost to visit Angel Falls?
Multi-day tours to Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall, typically run $400-700 USD per person, covering the boat and small-plane transport needed to reach this remote part of Canaima National Park. Venezuela's broader security and economic situation varies significantly by region, so check current, specific travel advisories before booking rather than relying on general country-level guidance.
