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Beyond the exquisite looks of its women is the rare beauty
of Venezuela's spectacular range of vistas. Within its borders
it is possible to trek among the snow-capped peaks of the
Andes, enjoy 1,800 miles of Caribbean coastline, marvel at
the world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls, and even
have a bona fide 'Heart of darkness' experience exploring
the wilds of the Amazon.
Regions like Los Llanos, a vast wilderness of flood
plains which takes up a large proportion of the country's
interior, and the Gran Sabana which is home to the unique
flat-topped Tepuis Mountains, can be quite overwhelming
in terms of their sheer immensity and dramatic natural surroundings.
Venezuela has come a long way since the arrival of the Spanish
and Christopher Columbus in the 16th Century, but not so far
as to diminish any of its initial wonder or allure.
Guyana
Geographically, Guyana is in South American but culturally
it is closer to the British Caribbean. It borders the Caribbean,
the first language is English, and a number of its most high
profile countrymen play for the West Indies Cricket team.
In the past Guyana has been colonised sporadically by the
French and the Dutch before it eventually ended up under the
control of the British Empire, where it remained until it
gained its independence in 1966. As a result the remnants
of colonisation are still very much in evidence, particularly
in Georgetown, the dilapidated capital. However, it is Guyana's
almost untouched natural attractions that are now its biggest
asset for building a tourist industry, with its breath-taking
waterfalls, tropical rainforests, and vast savannahs that
abound with wildlife. Unfortunately Guyana is yet to develop
a significant infrastructure for tourism, largely as a result
of the social and political problems that continue to contribute
to the country's long-held reputation for danger.
Surinam
Similar to neighbouring Guyana, Surinam is also a former
colony of the French, the British, and the Dutch but unlike
Guyana, Surinam remained in the hands of the Dutch following
a historic exchange with the British for Manhattan Island
in New York. From this time Surinam has always held onto its
Dutch roots despite other cultural influences that came into
the country through immigration and its first language is
still Dutch. Apart from early imperial interests, Surinam
has never had any kind of international profile to speak of
and for most of its recent history it has remained largely
unknown to the rest of the civilised world. During the majority
of the 1990s it became all but invisible when it was officially
off limits due to political unrest and civil war.
Recently the country re-opened its borders to foreigners
and is an interesting place to visit if only for the sheer
cultural diversity of its small population. The variety within
the populace means that the influences upon Surinam's culture
ranges from East Indian and African to Indonesian and Amerindian.
It is also worth exploring some of the colonial Dutch architecture
in the capital Paramaribo, although you may get more
out of visiting Surinam's interior with its grand nature parks
and reserves. Sadly, many of the best sites were neglected
during the civil war so there are not a lot of facilities
for visitors.
Cash
Venezuela
The currency in Venezuela is the Bolivar.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter. Travelers' checks are widely accepted and getting hold of
cash in Venezuela is fairly easy. ATMs are plentiful in the
cities and most international credit cards such as Cirrus,
Nexo, BanRed, and Visa are accepted. Banks are also readily
accessible but they can be crowded, involve long waits, and
the sellers don't always speak a great deal of English so
it might be a good idea to resort to this option only in a
monetary emergency.
Guyana
In Guyana the currency is the Guyanese dollar but
this is now more or less worthless. Changing money is relatively
easy and pounds sterling are accepted as well as US dollars.
To get the best deal it is advisable to exchange cash and
travelers' checks at cambios and banks. Credit cards are accepted
at most reputable hotels and restaurants in the capital Georgetown.
Banks are open 8am to12.30pm Monday to Thursday and Fridays
3 to 5pm.
Surinam
In Surinam the local currency is the Surinam guilder.
Banks and hotels will change cash but are unlikely to change
traveler's checks. Banks are open on weekdays between 7am
and 2pm. You can also change money on the black market but
this is illegal and should be done with caution and discretion.
The most widely accepted credit card in Surinam is American
Express.
Travel
Venezuela
Venezuela's capital Caracas has a modern, cheap and
efficient metro service, although it can be a little difficult
to navigate at first. There are also frequent buses from the
main Caracas bus terminal that travel to almost every part
of the country. The schedules are posted and the buses are
reasonably priced, but it is worth asking which buses are
air-conditioned. If you're really strapped for cash it is
possible to negotiate fares with some of the smaller bus companies.
Guyana
In Georgetown the one proper local service is the number
40 bus which runs between Kitty and Campbellville
via the city center. When dealing with taxis it is best to
find out the going rate beforehand and then give the driver
that amount without any questions asked or else they may try
to seriously overcharge you.
Surinam
Buses tend to stick to the coastal highway and are frequent
and cheap, but usually very crowded. If your budget stretches
a little further there is always the more expensive option
of taxis, which are much faster and travel along the same
routes as the buses. To visit the interior there are only
two viable options: chartered air services or, if you're feeling
bold, river transport.
People
Venezuela
The predominantly Catholic Venezuelans know how to enjoy
themselves, and this reflects in the fact that they are rumored
to consume more beer and whiskey than any other Latin American
nation. And why not - they're attractive, sometimes wealthy,
and live in a beautiful country with a fantastic climate.
However away from the bright lights of big cities like Caracas
there are still a number of communities that continue to lead
a more simple way of life, such as Venezuela's Amerindian
tribal peoples. For instance the Yanomami and Piaroa,
just two of the tribes who live at the territories around
the headwaters of the Orinoco, rarely venture outside their
jungle habitat. They are renowned the world over for the remarkable
way that they have preserved and kept alive the customs of
their ancestors.
Guyana
East Indians make up the majority of Guyana's population
who tend to inhabit the country's rural areas. The second
most dominant section of the populace are the black inhabitants
who, as opposed to the Asians, prefer to stick to the urban
centers which has created something of a racial divide among
the two groups. The original Amerindians peoples are
inclined to roam the jungles and savannahs inland, or remain
in the towns like the black communities.
Surinam
The largest ethnic group in Surinam are the East Indians
or Hindustanis as they are more commonly known. Their
ancestors emigrated to Surinam in the nineteenth century and
they now make up more than a third of the population. The
rest of the population is made of the racially mixed Creole
people, a sizeable number of Indonesian immigrants
(referred to as Javanese), blacks (known as Maroons)
descended from African slaves and a minority of Amerindian
inhabitants. This unique multi-ethnic mix certainly makes
for an interesting culture, reflected across the board in
the language, the religion and not least the cuisine.
Food
Venezuela
Venezuelan staple foods consist mainly of pancakes, chicken,
pork, beef, soups and stews. Local specialties include empanadas
(deep fried corn meal turnovers with fillings of ground meat,
cheese, beans, or baby shark) and Venezuela's national dish
pabellon criollo (made with shredded beef, rice, black
beans, cheese, and fried plantain).
Guyana
The food in Guyana is very similar to Caribbean food so it
tends to be on the spicy side and you can expect lots of meat
- chicken, pork, beef, and other typical Caribbean ingredients
like Yam and Okra. As a result of immigration, Chinese and
East Indian food are readily available.
Surinam
Surinamese food consists of a lot of Indonesian dishes. Try
rijsttafel which is a spread of numerous different
dishes like gado gado (vegetable salad with peanut
sauce) and nasi goreng (fried rice). There is also a good
deal of Creole cooking around which is a mixture of African
and Amerindian influence. Hindustani food is also cheap and
tasty.
Language
Spanish in the language of Venezuela, although
the national dialect can be hard to understand. Some people
in cities may speak a little English. Dutch is the
official language of Surinam, although English
is widely understood. Surinaams, an English-based Creole
language, is the language on the street as well as Hindi,
Javanese, and Chinese. English is the official
language of Guyana, while many Guyanese speak Creole
and those of East Indian descent often speak Hindi
or Urdu. French is the official language of
French Guiana, with French Guianese, a Creole
language, spoken by the black people who live on the coastal
plains. Amerindian and Maroon tribes throughout
the region speak their own tongues.
Health
Venezuela
Venezuela is a healthy place to visit with above average
sanitation for South America, palatable tap water in the cities,
and no diseases requiring vaccination.
The Guianas
Medical facilities are few and far between outside of Georgetown
in Guyana. Guard against malaria, dengue fever, yellow-fever
and typhoid. Drink only bottled water at all times except
in Paramaribo in Surinam where it is safe, although
this city is a risky place for burglaries and armed robberies,
and many parts of Guyana are notoriously dangerous
for carjackings, kidnappings, violent crime, and shootings.
Check the local situation before planning your trip.
Visas
Western nation and South African nationals do not need a
visa for a direct flight to Venezuela, but visitors
entering by land from another South American country will
need one. Virtually all visitors require a visa for Surinam.
There are Surninamese embassies in the Netherlands, Germany
and the US. Visitors from other countries can obtain visas
on arrival. 30-day visas are granted on arrival at the borders
of Guyana. Only visitors from Latin America require
a visa for French Guiana, other visitors from Western
countries only require a passport and proof of onward journey.
When to Go
Venezuela
Venezuela is a great destination year round, however summer
can be very busy with American tourists and Christmas and
Easter are busy periods locally, although the festivals are
impressive, especially Carnival and Easter.
The dry season, December to April, is a pleasant time to travel,
although if your main draw is Angels Falls it will
be more luscious during the wet season.
The Guianas
The dry season runs from February to the end of April and
mid-August to early December which makes for the best time
to visit. Kaieteur Falls in Guyana is best visited
at the end of either rainy season in late January or late
August. See breeding sea turtles on the shores of Wia Wia
and Galibi in Surinam from March to July.
Dress
Where modest clothing in most area and pack light gear and
a poncho. The Venezuelan are glamorous gear, so bring your
best dress for a night on the town in Caracas.
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