Founded in 1567 as Santiago de León de Caracas by Diego Losada, looted by English pirates, burned, torn apart by earthquakes, Caracas has nevertheless become the political, economic and cultural capital of Venezuela.
Separated from the coast by 7800 feet. Mt. Avila, the colonial city nestled in a long green valley surrounded by lush forested mountains.
It has long since outgrown that small settlement, which stretches across the valley, climbs the slopes, and is crossed in canyons.
Venezuela’s largest city, Caracas, combines a modern cityscape with a lush tropical feel. It is noisy like any large city with millions of inhabitants, with traffic jams, dangerous areas to avoid, slums and a stark contrast between levels of society.
How to get there and move
- Most international visitors arrive in Caracas at the Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport. Check flights from your area.
- In Caracas, you can do what Caracas people do and move around the city by metro.
- Cruise ships. Commercial shipping and private boats stop in La Guaira, the port city of Caracas.
When to go
With its proximity to the Caribbean and its altitude, Caracas enjoys a mild climate throughout the year. Day / night temperatures range by about twenty degrees, averaging 75 ° F during the day, with highs reaching 80 and 90 degrees.
- The dry season is summer and autumn, from December to April, the high season, when visitors celebrate Christmas, Carnival, Easter and the Festival of the Virgen de la Candelaria , and the city and the country are full of tourists. and prices go up.
- If you schedule your visit between May and October, you’ll still find great weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices.
- Check today’s weather in Caracas.
Shopping tips
Caracas is a shopper’s delight. You will find local and imported products, clothing, shoes, gems and jewelery, wood carvings, ceramics, baskets, woolen tapestries and the original hammocks made of wild cotton or palm fiber. Browse through
- El Hatillo, a restored colonial town south of Caracas for handicrafts
- jewelry
- malls
- The Mercadito de Chacao and the Guacaipuro Market are authentic traditional markets.
Hotels, food and drink
- Friendly to residents and visitors, Caracas hotels and restaurants offer international cuisine thanks to the multi-ethnic population.
- Eating out is popular entertainment, and Caracas residents enjoy a multitude of restaurants, including Spanish, French, Arabic, and Chinese food, as well as local favorites such as Arepas, Pabellón, Mondongo, and Cachapa and grilled dishes in barbecue pits for a Mixed Grill .
Things to do and see
Like big cities everywhere, you’ll find a central business district, outlying suburbs, and pockets of older neighborhoods. In Caracas, much of the city revolves around the tree-shaded Plaza Bolívar, named after Simón Bolívar, El Libertador, with a monument to him.
From the plaza, you can walk the pedestrian streets through the historic colonial district to see:
- Bolivar birthplace
- San francisco church
- the capitol building
- Yellow House, headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- the presidential palace
- Caracas Cathedral, with the original facade created in the seventeenth century.
- Basilica Minor Santa Capilla, built along the lines of Saint Chapelle in Paris and designated a Basilica in 1928
- Basilica of Santa Teresa, built on the site of a previous church, with two facades, one dedicated to Santa Ana and the other to Santa Teresa. The church is a vital part of the Holy Week celebrations.
From the Plaza Morelos, also called the Museum Square, once you have explored all the little shops and the products of the street vendors, you can tour
- National Art Gallery
- Museum of Fine Arts
- Museo Sacra, in a former sacristy and ecclesiastical prison built in 1844 to see
- statues and religious costumes from colonial times
- the silver canopy made for Our Lady of the Rosary
- the ossuary containing the remains of the members of the religious community
- Contemporary Art Museum
- Natural Science Museum for fossils and ancient artifacts.
- Church of San Francisco: The Liberator is buried here
- Enjoy a football (soccer) or baseball game
- El Ávila National Park at 7,400 feet above Caracas, via the funicular, for a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings, or stay at the Humboldt Hotel on top of the mountain. There are now hiking trails and access from parts of the city. Part of the park area is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. El Ávila National Park has suffered a series of forest fires and will hopefully reforest those portions to return to the lush vegetation that Caracas people call the “lungs of the city.”
- Hipódromo La Rinconada, one of the largest and most beautiful thoroughbred racetracks in Latin America. The Hippodrome also hosts cultural and musical events.
- La Quinta de Anauco home of the Colonial Art Museum
- More things to see and explore.
- Nightlife in Caracas is active, particularly in the La Merced area, and starts after midnight
- Far from Caracas:
- El Hatillo music festival
- Colonia Tovar, an isolated town founded by German immigrants in 1843, which still preserves its customs, gastronomy and architecture.
- Macuto, a popular seaside resort
- Los Roques National Park to snorkel, snorkel, sail and swim in an ecologically preserved area
- Margarita Island for windsurfing, relaxation, and duty-free shopping
- Angel Falls, of course! Have you been to Caracas? Or planning to go? Tell us about your trip! Post a message on the forum.
