Country Information
Venezuela is a third larger than Texas and occupies most of the northern coast of South America and the Caribbean Sea. It is bordered by Colombia on the West, Guyana to the East and Brazil to the South.
Columbus explored Venezuela on his third voyage, when the area used to be inhabited by Arawak, Carib and Chibcha Indians. The name, Venezuela, was thought up by another Spanish explorer and translates as ‘little voice’. Caracas was founded in 1567.
It was one of the first countries to revolt in 1810, winning independence in 1821. Federated at first with Columbia and Ecuador as Republic of Greater Columbia, it became a Republic in 1830. A period of unstable dictatorship and fluctuation in the oil trade followed, until the 1970’s when Venezuela benefited greatly from the oil industry.
The country is renowned for having South America’s largest lake and third largest river, the highest waterfall in the world, the longest snake in the world, and some of the most impressive sights you will ever see.
Time
Venezuelan time is five and a half hours behind GMT.
Getting There
You need to arrange your flights to Caracas International Airport. Upon your arrival in Venezuela one of our onsite drivers will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel for one night. The next day they will drive you to the bus terminal where you will be given a one-way ticket and travel with any other volunteers to Santa Elena.
Keep in mind that these buses are much more sophisticated and comfortable than buses in the UK. You can easily relax; the seats are very comfortable and can be turned into sleepers. Movies are shown and the buses regularly stop for snacks and meals. Carry a good book or your favourite music with you and enjoy the marvellous landscapes from your window seat.
In Santa Elena all you need to do is call our friendly onsite staff who will come and meet you at the bus terminal. They will take you to your accommodation and ensure that all of your needs are met.
Climate
The dry season is from September to March. The wet season is for the rest of the year. At night, it can get fairly cool, while during the daytime each day is hot all year round, and the sun is very strong. Lowlands are prone to flooding at peak points of the wet season.
| Caracas |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Rainfall (mm) |
28 |
18 |
23 |
28 |
36 |
53 |
56 |
51 |
53 |
56 |
53 |
53 |
| Rainfall (inches) |
1.1 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
| Min Temp (°C) |
13 |
13 |
14 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
14 |
| Max Temp (°C) |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
27 |
26 |
26 |
26 |
27 |
26 |
25 |
26 |
