By Ashley Galicia

If you’re an avid traveler or just someone who wants to get away from the trials and tribulations of everyday life, I have just the place for you: Venezuela! Trust me, I have first hand experience with how wonderful this country is ~ my father was born and raised there ~ so I’m not steering you in the wrong direction.

Venezuela, which is a Spanish speaking country, is packed with jungles, Caribbean beaches, islands, deserts, big cities, countryside farmland, and even mountains that trickle snow!

Caracas, the capital and largest city of Venezuela, is a tremendous city ~ think what New York City is to the United States. It has the hustle and bustle of almost every city ~ nightlife, shopping, traffic jams, you name it. However, what this city has that NYC doesn’t is that in the distance you can see the mountains that surround it on all four sides. The view is utterly amazing, and I doubt you’ve seen anything like it in the U.S. And if you are worried about the weather, don’t be, Caracas has a tropical savanna climate all year round, which means it’s always 70 or higher!

Caracas is filled with history and culture as well. The birth house of Simon Bolivar, a South American political leader who played a key role in South American independence from Spain, is now a museum. His house stands as a tribute to what he did for his country, and tourists flock to it all year round. Teresa Carreño Theatre, also located in Caracas, is a very well-known theatre for operas, ballets, and plays, all of which play important roles in the Venezuelan culture. Caracas also has a small park located in the middle of the city called Parque del Este (East Park) where you can go and relax or enjoy the small zoo located in the park.

If you’re in the mood for shopping, I highly recommend stopping by Centro Sambil. It is the biggest shopping center in Caracas and houses five levels of shopping, eating, and other various activities like the Parque ExpoAventura ~ complete with robotic dinosaurs and an aquarium. There are over 500 stores to choose from, so this mall fits everyone’s style and budget. El Sambil is where every woman’s shopping dream comes true!
If you want to get away from the city living, Isla Margarita (Margarita Island) could be just the place. Margarita Island is off the Northeast coast of Venezuela and is both a tourist spot and a frequent vacation spot for vacationing Venezuelans. There are over 50 beaches to choose from; the most popular for visitors is Playa del Agua beach. With tons of local restaurants, shops, and other activities for everyone in your family, it’s the spot to hit. To make it even easier, you can catch a direct flight right from the Caracas International Airport.

For those of you familiar with the recent Disney Pixar film UP (2009): Director Pete Docter made the Tepui Mountains of Venezuela the setting for his film. He was inspired after watching a video of the mountains and decided to see them for himself. If you are visiting the Venezuelan mountains and perhaps find yourself missing the snow, have no fear, snow is known to occasionally fall in these mountains and create a beautiful scene.

Besides the incredible landscape of the mountains, Venezuela has amazing jungles and forests, each with an abundance of wildlife. The waterfalls, lush greenery, and altogether breathtaking scenery are sights not to be missed when you’re visiting the country. And here’s a little “insider’s tip:” when you’re traveling up the mountains, be sure and stop at the little shack a few miles away from the top ~ it has the best empanadas in the country!

Next time you’re itching to get away from it all, remember to research the country that has it all, Venezuela. I promise you won’t be disappointed! If you need a quick comparison to some place you may already know, think… Aruba with a Latin twist.

For more information on planning a trip and discovering what Venezuela is all about, head to www.Venezuela.com.