Caracas
Caracas is located in northern Venezuela, near the Caribbean. It is Venezuela's capital, largest city, and the location of its major international airport.
Get in
By plane
Maiquetía's Simon Bolivar Airport is 16 km away from central Caracas, but the closure of a bridge due to signs of imminent collapse in January 2006 means that travel to and from the airport may take up to five hours one way. Taxi fares have more than tripled to Bs.150,000 (US$70). Business travellers in a hurry may want to consider helicopter service instead.
By car
By bus
A taxi from the bus terminal to the center will cost you around 15,000Bs.
Get around
Use the metro
See
- La Plaza Bolivar, in the city center. Statues of Simon Bolivar, close to the congress and other government buildings. Nice archetecture.
Do
- The Teleférico is one of the city's attractions. It is a cable-car that takes visitors up the mountains to the north of Caracas. The ascent provides a beautiful view of the city. At the top (altitude approximately 2600 m), one can obtain a view of Caracas to the south, and of the ocean (Caribbean) to the north. It will cost Bs. 30,000 (US$ 15) to take the teleférico up (and back down). Reduced fares are available for students, children, and senior citizens (approximately Bs. 20,000). There are a few restaurants, many food kiosks, and numerous attractions suitable for children. These include a small skating rink, some small rides, and jungle-gyms. There is a well known fondue restaurant also located at the top. Some hiking trails branch off from the teleférico station, but without a map it is not easy to find them or know where they go, as they are not marked.
Buy
- Centro Comercial Sambil. Largest mall in Latin America
- Altamira. An exclusive neighborhood and shopping district in the eastern part of the city. Can be accessed easily by metro.
- Centro Comercial San Ignacio. Lots of good bars and restaurants here, a hub of Caracas nightlife.
- Centro Comercial El Recreo.
- Centro Ciudad Comercial Tamanaco.
- Centro Comercial Paseo Las Mercedes. A bit old fashioned but a good art house cinema and Oscar D'Leon's Mazukamba nightclub is here.
Eat
- Las Mercedes. Restaurants and clubs of all types in one spot.
- La Castellana. Clubs, restaurants, and the most exclusive shopping mall in the city, Centro Comercial San Ignacio. Many of the better eateries can be found in the CCSI.
- Altamira.
Drink
- La Belle Epóque. Located in Bello Monte, this is the best club value and experience in the city. Great prices with great bar tenders (one speaks English). Great mix of well to do caraqueños and tourists. Three parties for the price of one: techno, American rock, reggae. Live music Thurs-Sat. One room has old black and white movies playing on a projector to reggae music. Another pure techno (no beer in here, just drinks, especially Red Bull and Vodka). The last is the live band playing American rock--and they're great. This club is a must do in Caracas.
Sleep
Caracas has many hotels but no youth hostels as one might expect to find in other South American countries. Backpackers will find that Caracas is not a cheap destination, and that rooms per night per person range 20-30 USD. While the whole of the city is considered to be dangerous at night, stick to the hotels in the east, that is, Sabana Grande or farther east.
Budget
Just about every hotel in Sabana Grande. Do not stay in budget hotels in the western part of the city. However, if you're staying in Sabana Grande, you should be careful, as the zone is not as safe as it used to be, especially the Boulevard.
Mid-range
- Hotel Milenio, (located between the Ciudad Universitaria metro and the Sabana Grande metro).
Splurge
- Gran Meliá.
- Hilton.
- Marriot.
Get out
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