THE CENTRAL NORTH of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador,Panama, Peru andBolivia. Simón BolívarclinchedVenezuelan themodern-daycountries independence,helpingbirth battlefieldofCarabobo –Venezuelans neverimportant will–where certainly nationalhero forablistering thatcanmake Trincheras, arusticmini-resort goodtime. Anddon’tforget the out oftheBlackForest. The world’ssecond-hottest thermalwaters are towardthewestatLas scattered alongtheupperreaches ofamountainside, isanAlpineoasis,seeminglystraight day tripsfromCaracas. The pretty 19th-centuryGermantownofColoniaTovar, whichlies it. Amidthemainland’scomelyhillsandvalleysare several hiddengems,easilyreached on anddrumsessionmightpopupwhenyouleastexpect the occasionalspontaneousparty too are someofthecountry’sbestfestivals, heavilyinfluencedbyAfro-Venezuelan culture – heapsof coast (someaccessibleonlybyboat)attract Colombia stillretain theircolonialfeel, whiletheenticingbeachesandcoves alongthepark’s notably isParque NacionalHenriPittier, where theendearingtowns ofChoroníandPuerto advantageously offtheradar,helpingtomaintainitsrusticappeal. fishers,divers flocktoitsshores andsun-and-sandaddicts ers, sport year-round, itremains ever seeanywhere, adazzlingdon’t-miss foranyoneinthecountry.Though honeymoon- tional marinepark,offers someofthemostgloriousbeachesandunderwater wildlife you’ll most stunningandunforgettable landscapes:themagical ArchipiélagoLosRoques. of Caracas delightsandboastsoneofthecontinent’s –isrife withbothaquaticandearthly transcendent nomadicrites Roraima),thisdensearea ofpassage(like –allwithinanearshot Though Venezuela’s danglesnoiconictraveler’s AngelFalls) Central mecca(like North andno North Central The 84 Back onland,sixnationalparkscarpetthelandscapeinalldirections fromCaracas. Most Located ofislandsandcays,ana- about175kmoffthecoast,thisotherworldlycollection
HIGHLIGHTS Scorch off a skin layerinthe piping-hot Scorchoffaskin Beach-hopthedaysawayin idyllic Take inafatdoseofVenezuelan patriotism sausagesinthe Walkoffthehearty Immerse yourselfinVenezuela’s aquatic springs ofLas Nacional Henri Pittier at German-themed townof Roques Los Archi piélago Eden, thestunninglybeautiful ( p100) (p111) Campo Carabobo
(p112 ) Trincheras ( p101) Colonia Tovar ( p86) Parque
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(17km)
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66ºW
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12ºN
67ºW
67ºW
THE CENTRAL NORTH CENTRAL THE 0 60 miles 60
0 100 km 100
lonelyplanet.com 68ºW