Delta 2014 - (Page 74)

VENEZUELA VENEZUELA Caracas FACTS BEST TIME TO GO: November-December, April-May; June-October for Angel Falls FUN FACT: Among the many Carnavals held in Venezuela, the most colorful is in Carupano in Anzoategui State: gateway Puerto La Cruz GETTING THERE: Delta ﬂies from Atlanta to Caracas ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport for six months from entry date CURRENCY: Bolivar (dollars will not be exchanged at hotels) MUST-TRY NATIVE FOOD: The national snack is the arepa, made of corn bread stuffed with anything from shredded beef to chicken and guacamole BEST BUYS: Wooden bowls, baskets, locally made hammocks, papier-mache devil masks INFORMATION PLEASE: Venezuela Convention & Visitors Bureau- burodevenezuela.com When visiting Caracas, there are many things to see, including several ﬁne museums: Casa Natal, home of the great liberator Simon Bolivar; Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, where Henry Moore and Fernando Botero share space with Matisse and native son Jesus Soto; and the Museo de Bellas Artes, with exhibitions from Egypt and China to contemporary Cubism. BEST PLACE TO STAY While business travelers have to make themselves at home in Caracas-JW Marriott Caracas seems to be a favorite-leisure travelers often by-pass Caracas and on arrival, stay seaside and near the airport-Hotel Ole Caribe is one choice-ready to head out from there to explore different corners of the country. BEST NATURE EXPERIENCE Angel Falls, Venezuela's world-class natural wonder, is the highest falls (3,312 ft.) in the world. Visitors get the most dramatic view of the falls aboard special light aircraft overﬂights, or staying in Canaima National Park, reach the base of the world's longest single water drop by boat and on foot (in the wet season). Los Llanos, the vast ﬂood plains of the Orinoco River, is where you'll ﬁnd that capybaras, puma, anaconda, toucans, scarlet ibis, hyacinth macaws and parakeets abound. Visit Henri Pittier National Park, established in 1937 and the oldest in the country, and train your binoculars on hummingbirds, herons, tanagers, toucanets, curassows-actually 587 species of birds in total, including seven different eagles (September and October are the best birding months). BEST SPORTING LIFE For snorkeling, diving, sailing and ﬁshing, head to the idyllic archipelago of Los Roques, the Caribbean's largest marine national park, located 80 miles off the coast and a 30-minute ﬂight from Caracas. Margarita Island, the country's leading resort destination, has particular appeal for wind- and kite-surfers who head for Playa El Yaque, while Playa Guacuco and even better Playa Parguito are tops on the island for surﬁng. BEST KEPT SECRET Merida, the adventure sports-hiking and trekking, paragliding, canyoning, rafting and mountain biking-capital of Venezuela, is particularly famous for its ice cream, served up at Heladeria, holding the Guinness Book of World Records title for highest number (about 70) of ice cream ﬂavors. Los Roques Islands G d a i F 74 D66-D75.indd 74 12/20/13 12:40 PM http://www.burodevenezuela.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Delta 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aloft Hotels
Tour Talk: Swain Destinations
Uniworld's Queen Isabel
Disney Magic
Delta Air Lines Travel Guide 2014
Macau
Egypt Update
Scandinavia Exposed
B Hotels & Resorts
What's New in Las Vegas

Delta 2014