Venezuela has over 40 national parks and around 20 nature reserves (monumentos naturales) which, together, cover some 15 per cent of the total land mass. All types of walks, ranging from signposted trails to mountain climbing and jungle paths, are possible. Visitors should note that a permit, issued by central or regional Inparques offices, is required to visit the parks. The well-developed tourist facilities at the Parque Nacional El Avila include around 200km (125 miles) of fairly easy, signposted trails, as well as numerous camping grounds. Most serious trekkers head up to the Venezuelan Andes, stretching some 400km (250 miles) from Táchira on the Colombian border north-eastwards, and offering everything from snow-capped peaks to lush rainforests. The most popular area for mountain trekking and rock climbing is the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, where several of the country’s highest peaks (such as the Pico Bolívar or the Pico Humboldt) and the magnificent Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada are located. Experienced guides (who are strongly recommended for mountaineering) and equipment can be hired in Mérida, the regional tourist hub. Other popular trekking destinations in the area include Los Nevados (reached via an easy trek along a beautiful mountain track); Pico El Aguila (accessible from Valera, which can be reached on a bus ride from Mérida along Venezuela’s highest road); and the Sierra de la Culata (particularly known for its desert-like landscapes). The Mérida region is also noted for its cable car (teleferico), the world’s longest and highest, which runs for 12.6km (7.9 miles) from Mérida to the top of Pico Espejo (4765m/15,629ft), and provides easy access to starting points for mountain treks. Another popular trekking destination is Guyana, in the southeast, a region dotted with Venezuela’s characteristic tepuis (flat-topped mountains with vertical flanks) and home to the country’s most famous natural attraction – Angel Falls (called Salto Angel in Spanish), the world’s highest waterfall (with an uninterrupted drop of 979m/3212ft, which is about 16 times the height of Niagara Falls). Access to the falls is fairly difficult (there is no road link) and involves a flight to Canaima (the main tourist base, some 50km/31.5 miles northwest of the falls), followed by either another scenic flight in a light aircraft, or a motorised canoe trip to the foot of Angel Falls (which only operates from June to November, the rainy season, and takes approximately two days).

One of the most popular destinations for water-based activities is the Isla de Margarita, which lies some 40km (25 miles) off the mainland north of Cumaná (from where a twice-daily ferry provides access to the island), and whose Caribbean climate and 167km- (105-mile) long shoreline (with white sandy beaches) draw increasing numbers of swimming, surfing, snorkelling and diving enthusiasts. These activities are available all along the Caribbean coast (in the northeast of the country), with one destination, the Parcque Nacional Mochima, standing out: it consists of a wealth of islands and islets some of which, such as the Isla de Plata (the most developed), are surrounded by coral reefs. In the northwest, the coastal strip and the numerous offshore islands and coral reefs forming the Parque Nacional Morroy provide ideal snorkelling and diving. Boat trips through the mangrove caños (channels) and to several of the park’s islands (notably to Cayo Sombrero and Chichiriviche, two of the best known) are available. The fishing, both fresh- and salt-water, is good.

Mountain biking and paragliding are widely practised in the Mérida region, while caving enthusiasts may head to the Cueva del Guácharo, the most spectacular of Venezuela’s many cave systems, located three hours by bus from Cumaná. Caracas has South America’s largest and most modern horse racing track – La Rinconada – open Saturday and Sunday. Horse riding can be arranged at most tourist spots. Boxing, baseball and football are the most popular spectator sports in Venezuela and can be seen all year round. The indigenous lucha libre wrestling is a weekly event.