Destination: Venezuela

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Western Loop

THREE TO SIX WEEKS

You can do this 1975km loop comfortably by bus in three to four weeks, but you should allow an extra week or two for outdoor activities in the scenic Mérida region – it’s the highlight of a fantastic circuit.



This loop covers a mixed bag of natural and cultural attractions. Starting from Caracas, you can make the first stop in Las Trincheras, near Valencia, and warm up in the world’s second-hottest springs. To cool yourself down, take an hour’s bus ride to Parque Nacional Morrocoy, where you can bathe in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

Next port of call, Coro, shelters some of Venezuela’s best colonial architecture and is a base for the arid Península de Paraguaná and the lush Sierra de San Luis , two lovely and completely different environments. Continuing west, you reach the hot, modern city of Maracaibo, from where you can take a side trip to Laguna de Sinamaica, where Venezuela’s name was born 500 years ago.

A night bus from Maracaibo will whisk you straight to Mérida, where you’ll probably hang your hat for a week or more, taking advantage of the wide selection of adventure tours, from rafting and paragliding to mountain biking and wildlife safaris.From Mérida, take a bus on one of Venezuela’s most spectacular and dramatic mountain roads to Valera.

Take a short detour to the old town of Trujillo or head northwest to Barquisimeto, from where it’s worth exploring surrounding towns noted for their fine crafts. You can then return directly to Caracas, or stop at various regional attractions along the way.