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About Caracas:
Founded in 1567 as Santiago de León de Caracas by Diego Losada, plundered by English pirates, burned, torn by earthquakes, Caracas nevertheless has grown into the political, economic and cultural capital of Venezuela.
Separated from the coastline by 7800 ft. Mt. Avila, the colonial city nestled in a long, green valley surrounded by lushly forested mountains.
It has long since outgrown that small settlement, stretching the length of the valley, up the hillsides and into intersecting canyons.
(photo)
Venezuela's largest city, Caracas, blends a modern cityscape with a lush, tropical feel. It's noisy as any large city with millions of inhabitants, with traffic jams, dangerous areas to avoid, slums, and a distinct contrast between the levels of society.
Getting There and Getting Around:
When to Go:
With its proximity to the Caribbean and its altitude, Caracas ( satellite photo) enjoys a mild climate all year long. The day/night temperatures vary by about twenty degrees, with an average of 75°F during the day, with highs reaching the 80s and 90s.
Shopping Tips:
Caracas is a shoppers delight. You'll find local and imported goods, clothing, shoes, gems and jewelry, hardwood carvings, pottery, baskets, wool tapestries, and the original wild cotton or palm fiber hammocks. Browse through
Hotels, Food and Drink:
Things to Do and See:
Like big cities everywhere, you'll find a central commercial district, outlying suburbs and pockets of older neighborhoods. In Caracas, much of the city revolves around the tree-shaded Plaza Bolivar, named of course for Simón Bolívar, El Libertador, with a monument to him.
From the plaza, you can walk the pedestrian only streets through the historic colonial district to see:
From Plaza Morelos, also called Plaza de los Museos, once you've explored all the little shops and the street vendors' wares, you can tour
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