These areas are also surprising animal reserves

In 1819, Simon Bolivar, the Liberator born in Caracas, briefly leading the "Grand Colombia" that includes then the Venezuela, the Peru, the Bolivia, the Ecuador, the Colombia and Panama, and then becomes the first President of the Bolivia. This vast artificial entity subdivided in independent States and the country discovered by Christopher Columbus (assumed to be India) took the name of Venezuela, "Little Venice", named by an Italian redécouvreur: Amerigo Vespucci.

Two taxi drivers give a contemporary light on the Venezuelan Sham: for one, the nocturnal Wonderland offered by Los Rancho, the huge slum located between Caracas and airport, is a pure delight. For another, "it is a shame." More consistent with the clichés, Caracas is a megalopolis baroque, contemporary life, alternating residential space protected as entrenched camps and popular neighbourhoods where traffic is sometimes anarchic. It is sufficient that a driver, in this case a caricature of macho, decides to hail a "bomb" (the Venezuelan trustent the titles of "Miss World"). The dredge is introduces PAS, causing a concert of horns and a beginning of paralysis. Another curiosity caraquena: fleet vehicles, also handy as an autos tamponneuses rafistolés. It covers the tranquility in parks and around the Cathedral, in the elegant colonial district and El Hatillo, the "Montmartre" local, charming, festive

Incomparable natural treasure

The Venezuela of the Caribbean can be enjoy Boater shifted across the beautiful archipelago of the Roques or night-clubber connected on the island of Margarita. Two bathing nuggets, certainly, but not representative of the unique natural treasure of the country. Behind the window scroll cut desert landscapes of subtle arabesques formed by the course of the rivers and the rivers. The Llanos or Great Plains are home to huge ranches. Livestock is guarded by armed Cowboys. These areas are also surprising animal reserves. Thus, El Cedral home to jaguars, crocodiles, anacondas, Anteaters... And the flocks of birds (20 of the world poultry fauna is present in the country): marabouts, spoonbills, herons, greylag geese, rare species of ducks, cranes, egrets, birds of prey and a multitude of red, black and white ibis (the iconic corocoros). But the King of the Llanos is the chiguirre or Capybaras. Thankless in appearance, the largest rodent in the world (1.20 m), curious and shy, stocky and delicate metamorphosis strangely gazelle or feline. Almost as enigmatic as the hoatzin, an anomaly of evolution, an ancestor of the archaeopteryx bird.

Few elected officials in this paradise with just a small hotel-camp. Rest to stick a head in a small beautiful river... No, tomorrow! Posed in a boat, the next day, it is good news to be postponed. The piece of meat hanging on a hook is immersed in the beautiful river which is teeming with piranhas! What catch The guide shows the shore: an Assembly of regulars, and Cayman, expects these easy prey!

Road that leads to Llanos in the Andes takes about ten hours. Going from 0 to 4 000 m of altitude and 38 to-2 . If the body accuses the coup, the spirit is filled by the discovery of the Andean Paramo: lush landscape up to 1 500 m and then "cold land" of 2 000 to 3 000 m and finally the "frozen earth" 3 000 to 5 000 m. nature grandiose and stripped, lined frailejones, these grasses to the curative virtues. The elegant colonial architecture villages well-disposed Cordillera: white and coloured houses, Gracile barn to Andalusian influences. San Isidro, la Casa del Paramo offers a remarkable choice of Andean as art these talla de madera, elongated sculptures in painted wood representing stylized characters. A mix of sophistication and hardiness.

One file then to Merida, the Andean capital, by crossing the famous silhouette of the small chapel of San Rafael de Mucuchies. Founded in 1558, Merida, University and tourist center, is an open city. The market offers a speckle of colors. Mérida glacier offers thousand perfumes which some are rather surprising: yucca, fish eggs, chicken spaghetti, rosé of France... To describe the taste of sorbet in French: "I want you", that is another story!

One of the last so-called primitive peoples

The country hosts twenty-three ethnic groups of native Americans, the most endangered, including the Yanomami, one of the last peoples said primitive. At the door of the Amazon, the capital of the State of Amazonas, Puerto Ayacucho, creates a sense of excitement and apprehension. A universe where the wonderful met the sordid (gold seekers, outlawed, traffickers...). A quasi - terra incognita, Paradise (camp Arekunas in the Valley of the lost Jaguar) and hell (forest inextricable populated of disturbing wildlife). A land to discover shipments justified requiring logistics heavy.

Tourism is developed in the great Savannah or Venezuelan Guiana, seat of breathtaking scenery. Canaïma, popular site, it will prefer the Kavak eco camp, more authentic, near the gorges of the Ayantepui. An excursion is necessary: the air overview of the Tepuyes, great plateaus of 2,000 m which summits, according to the botanist Maguire, original flora dating back 20 million years. Based on the cloud, there will be the highest fall in the world, el Salto Angel (967 m), discovered by the called Johnny Angel in 1937 when his twin-engine broke. Trekking on the Roraïma Tepui remains one of the most spectacular in the world.

The delta of the Orinoco River, the "father of rivers" (2 160 km for a pool of 900,000 km2) is his only original ecosystem. In canoe, are seen marching through a lush nature in travelling. The power of the place acquires a tremendous acuity as soon as it closes his eyes. Enveloped by a "fantastic Symphony" sound, the visitor has the feeling of living in full Genesis.

BOX .

IN PRACTICE

Time difference:-5 pm in winter,-6 pm in summer. Currency: bolivar (1 euro 3 200 bolivars). Mandatory visa (3 months). Embassy of the Venezuela, 11, rue Copernic, 75016 Paris. Tel.: 01 45 55 00 11.

Given the size and the geographical complexity of the country, it is desirable to entrust the Organization of a stay in a specialized tour operator.

World of charm-islands of the world charme-diversifié de 13 jours diverse charm of 13 days / 12 nights including Caracas, the archipelago of Roques, the great Savannah (Kavak) and the Orinoco. Accommodation in hotel, hotel, luxury lodge, excursion in pirogue, guide, overview of the Salto Angel, transfers in aircraft, flight Paris-Paris Air France, 8 nights in full Board, and 3 nights in breakfast, in Caracas. From 3 200 euro per person. Taxes: 230 euros. More complete stays in the map. Phone: 01 55 42 74 10.

Objective Nature, 63, rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris, specialist of the safaris, offers stays photo and video boxes in the reserves of the Cedral and del Frio. 9 days/7 nights from 2 290 euro per person in full Board without taxes. Air-France Paris-Paris flight. Tel.: 01 53 44 74 30.

Altiplano, 6 rue Louis-Armand, 74000 Annecy, a specialized tour operator in hiking, organizes some treks to Venezuela to Roraïma. Tel: 04 50 46 41 55.

For travellers wishing to discover the country solo, several useful sites:

Fair and socially responsible tourism,

A very complete virtual site,

A discovery site, Images of the world,

A powerful Venezuelan tour, Aerotuy,