As a tourist destination, Venezuela is often overlooked by travelers to South America. Maybe that’s because it’s overshadowed by Brazil. Maybe the antics of President Hugo Chavez are to blame. Whatever the reason is, it’s shame, because Venezuela has a lot to offer the adventurous traveler. Here are 5 reasons to consider getting a Venezuela visa and taking the plunge:

Angel Falls- At 3,212 feet high, Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world. It is located in Venezuela’s Canaima National Park.

Margarita Island- Located in the Caribbean Sea off the northwestern coast of Venezuela, Margarita Island is justly famous for its resorts, its flawless beaches and its duty-free shopping.

Mount Roraima- Climbing this high, flat-topped mountain is a challenge, but the payoff is well worth it. About.com notes that travelers who complete the ascent successfully “find a fantastic world of crystal valleys, gorges, sandy beaches, mists and fog, fissures, rock formations, pools and waterfalls.”

Los Roques Archipelago: This national park consists of a collection of hundreds of islands of various sizes. A gorgeous destination for sailing, birdwatching and snorkeling, Los Roques is surrounded by some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.

Merida: With interesting festivals throughout the year, 4 national parks and 12 state parks, mountainous Merida is one of the most popular destinations in Venezuela for backpackers and adventure travelers.

To get to Venezuela, you need a passport and you may need to apply for a Venezuelan visa in advance. Fortunately, Venezuelan visa requirements are much simpler than, say, Brazilian visa requirements. Here’s the scoop:

If you’re flying in, you don’t need to worry about apply for a visa in advance. Instead, you’ll receive a tourist card on the flight, and that’s all you need if you are staying less than 90 days.

If you’re staying longer or entering Venezuela by land, you should go ahead and apply in advance. See Venezuela Visa Requirements for Tourists for more information.

Need a Venezuela visa? Let us help!

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 14th, 2010 at 11:03 pm and is filed under Destinations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.