Venezuela is a country of extremes. It has the tallest waterfall on Earth, a Caribbean archipelago with some of the clearest water in the hemisphere, and Andean peaks that rise above 5,000 metres. It is also a country that has faced serious economic and political difficulties in recent years, which means it sits outside the mainstream tourist circuit. For those who do visit, usually on organised tours with experienced operators, the rewards are extraordinary. The landscapes are raw and uncrowded. The Pemon indigenous communities who guide visitors through Canaima National Park have been doing so for generations. And the lack of mass tourism means you often have these places largely to yourself. Venezuela is not a destination for everyone, but for adventurous travellers willing to plan carefully, it offers experiences that are genuinely hard to find elsewhere.
ANGEL FALLS · TEPUIS · LOST WORLD
Venezuela
Angel Falls, Caribbean Islands & Andes
THE LOST WORLD
Angel Falls and the lost world
In Venezuela's remote southeast, the flat-topped tepuis of the Gran Sabana rise like islands from the rainforest — the 'lost world' that inspired Conan Doyle. From the lagoon at Canaima, light aircraft and dugout canoes carry travellers toward Angel Falls, the highest waterfall on Earth, dropping almost a kilometre off the rim of Auyán-tepui.
Canaima's own lagoon is ringed by red-tinged cascades and palm-fringed beaches — a base camp for one of the continent's great wilderness journeys.
Reaching the falls takes effort and patience, but few sights in South America reward it so completely.
CARIBBEAN BLUE
A Caribbean archipelago
Ninety miles off the coast, Los Roques is a national park of some 350 cays, reefs and sandbars scattered across impossibly clear turquoise water. There are no big resorts here — just a single village, Gran Roque, with its sandy lanes and brightly painted posadas.
Days are spent island-hopping by boat to deserted sandbars, snorkelling over coral gardens, and bonefishing the flats. It is one of the Caribbean’s last genuinely unspoilt corners.
After the rainforest and the highlands, Los Roques is where Venezuela slows right down.
ANDEAN HEIGHTS
Into the high Andes
In the far west, the Sierra Nevada de Mérida lifts Venezuela above 4,000 metres. The university town of Mérida sits in a green valley beneath the peaks — the starting point for the Mukumbarí cable car, the highest and longest in the world, which climbs toward the snows of Pico Espejo.
Around it lie cloud forest, high páramo moorland and quiet mountain villages where the pace of life has barely changed in generations. It is cool, green and a world away from the Caribbean coast.
The Venezuelan Andes are the country’s adventurous heart — hiking, paragliding and mountain roads with views that run for miles.
One country, two worlds
The rainforest and tepuis of Canaima pair naturally with the turquoise calm of Los Roques — wilderness and beach in a single trip. Tell us what draws you and we’ll shape a tailor-made Venezuelan journey around it.
Practical Information
UK citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your entry date. You should carry proof of onward travel and sufficient funds. The situation in Venezuela can change, so always check the latest FCDO advice close to your departure date.
WHAT TO SEE
Venezuela highlights
Real reviews
What our customers say
From travellers who visited Venezuela with us
Venezuela surprised us at every turn. The Orinoco Delta wildlife — river dolphins, howler monkeys, toucans — rivalled anything we've seen in the Amazon. Mérida and the Andes were a completely different world with the cable car and páramo landscapes. The arepa street food was addictive. A genuinely adventurous trip and Travelfab handled the complexities brilliantly.
Gary & Sue M.
I'd wanted to see Angel Falls for years and Travelfab made it happen. The Canaima lagoon surrounded by waterfalls was spectacular, and sleeping in a hammock in a Pemon indigenous camp was a unique experience. Caracas requires sensible precautions but our guide was excellent and we felt safe throughout. Not a mainstream destination but that's part of the appeal.
Diane C.
Venezuela is one of the most beautiful countries we've visited. Angel Falls is beyond words — the helicopter flight over the tepuis and then the boat journey up the river to the base of the falls was a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience. Los Roques archipelago afterwards felt like the Caribbean before tourism arrived. Fabian was honest about the logistics and everything went smoothly.
Mike & Alison Y.
Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
Plan your tailor-made Venezuela trip
Tell us when you want to travel, who with, and roughly what budget you have in mind. A Latin America specialist replies within one working day with a bespoke proposal.
Plan a tailor-made Venezuela tripPlan Your Venezuela Adventure
Venezuela requires careful planning with experienced operators, and our team can arrange a safe, guided trip to Angel Falls, Los Roques, or the Andes. Every holiday is ATOL protected and includes vetted local partners.