In Venezuela, the phrase "le echa pichón" is a colloquial expression that means "gives it their all" or "puts in a lot of effort." It's used to describe someone who works very hard, is determined, and puts in their best effort to achieve their goals, despite challenges or difficulties. The phrase reflects a spirit of resilience and determination, characteristic of the Venezuelan people.
Introduction
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is, geographically speaking, one of the most beautiful countries not only in Latin America but in the world. Here people can find mountains, beaches, deserts, savannas, forests, rivers; everything they could imagine, making this country one of the most geographically balanced and complete places in the world. Leaving the economic and political situation aside, Venezuela is a place that they should visit if they want to live a great adventure and experience the great Venezuelan traditions.
There is also no denying that the Latin American nation has gone through a lot of different problems in the last twenty years or so due to politics and the consequences of said actions from their government. However, if there is something that defines the people of Venezuela, it’s their extroverted nature and the ability to keep pushing through despite all the hardships they have gone through.
This is a country with beautiful weather, a lot of strong tourist attractions, and some of the best cuisine that people are going to find in the entirety of Latin America. From a tourist’s perspective, the country has a lot of different interesting states worth visiting, along with a community that is very welcoming and is always willing to contribute to making a person’s experience all the more gratifying.
Essential country facts
Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America; it is bordered on the north by the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, on the east by Guyana, on the west by Colombia, and finally on the south by Brazil. The country comprises an area of 916,445 km2, the population is estimated to be 29,322,551 right now, the time zone is UTC-4, the flag is tricolor and it features the colors yellow, blue, and red in a horizontal style with eight stars in the center, and the capital of Venezuela is Caracas, the same place where Simón Bolivar, the country’s historical liberator (hence why he is titled “El Libertador” in that country) was born.
Time in Venezuela now:
In Venezuela, the main language is Spanish, and the official currency is the bolivar, but the United States dollar is heavily used and is sometimes considered the unofficial main currency. From a tourist’s perspective, it is better to show off with their own dollars since it will be a much more effective experience for them.
Venezuela Currency:
The official currency of Venezuela is the Bolívar, symbolized as VES. Due to hyperinflation, the currency has undergone several redenominations, the latest being in October 2021. Despite these changes, the Bolívar remains a vital part of daily life and commerce in Venezuela.
Venezuela Map:
Venezuela is located on the northern coast of South America, bordered by Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east. The country has a diverse landscape, including the Andes mountains, Amazon rainforest, and Caribbean coastline, making it a geographically rich and varied nation.
Venezuela President:
The current president of Venezuela is Nicolás Maduro, who has been in office since 2013 following the death of his predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Maduro's presidency has been marked by significant economic challenges and political controversies, with his leadership style and policies being a focal point of both national and international debate.
Venezuela Capital:
Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, situated in a valley along the country's northern coast. Known for its vibrant culture, bustling markets, and rich history, Caracas is a dynamic metropolis that serves as the country's political, cultural, and economic center.
Venezuela Flag:
The flag of Venezuela consists of three horizontal stripes: yellow, blue, and red. Yellow symbolizes wealth and resources, blue represents the sea separating Venezuela from Spain, and red commemorates the blood shed for independence. The flag also features eight white stars in a semicircle and the national coat of arms in the top left corner.
Cultural insights
Venezuela’s culture is really big; there are festivals, celebrations, and culinary dishes. Some of the most famous festivals and celebrations in Venezuela are:
Diablos Danzantes de Venezuela: This festival begins the Wednesday before Corpus Christi. In it, we see people dress up as masked devils and dance to the rhythm of African-influenced music.
Carnavales de El Callao: This festival, which is celebrated from January to March in the state of Bolivar, was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. During this festival, we also see people dressed as devils, people painted in black, and women dancing.
La Feria de la Chinita: This celebration, which takes place between November 15th and 22nd, honors the Virgin of Chiquinquirá.
When we talk about Venezuelan cuisine, we have to remember that Venezuelan food is inspired by European, Indigenous, and African traditions, so you surely will like our food. Some of our most famous traditional dishes are:
Hallaca: A corn dough stuffed with pork, beef, raisins, olives, and onion rings, and this dish is normally eaten on Christmas.
Pavellón Criollo: The national dish which features white rice, tajadas, black beans, and beef.
Arepa: Ground maize dough cooked or deep-fried filled with whatever you want; beef, chicken, cheese, avocado. The world’s best breakfast.
Venezuelan Restaurant:
Venezuelan restaurants offer a taste of the country’s diverse and flavorful cuisine. From arepas and empanadas to pabellón criollo and hallacas, these establishments bring the rich culinary traditions of Venezuela to diners, showcasing the country's unique blend of indigenous, African, and Spanish influences.
Must-visit places
As we said before, Venezuela has a lot of places that are well-known for their beauty, popularity, and uniqueness. Some of the country’s places are incredible to watch, and others are incredible experiences that people visiting this nation need to take into account. In that regard, some of these places are:
El Salto Angel: The highest waterfall in the world that is located in La Gran Sabana in the state of Bolivar.
Colonia Tovar: A cold mountain town founded on April 8, 1843, located in the state of Aragua. It is called “the Germany of the Caribbean.”
Los Roques: The largest marine park in the Caribbean Sea. This marine park features beautiful beaches and crystalline, warm waters and is a fishing paradise.
Everyday life
But not everything is great. Since 1999, Venezuela has been one of the most corrupt places in South America and the world because of the current government. Right now, it is hard to live in Venezuela because of the constant devaluation of its currency, and almost every day, Venezuelans are leaving the country because of the current situation.
Since 2014, almost 6 million people have fled the country. There are several examples of Venezuelans who have managed to build great careers abroad, but that came with the cost of usually leaving the country illegally because of their dire circumstances. Furthermore, many Venezuelans are still struggling inside the country and abroad, which is a direct result of their government’s corruption.
Education was very good in the past, but currently, education is poor, and teenagers prefer to work instead of studying. The healthcare is a mess; if you have to go to the hospital, you are the one who must bring the medicines and everything else because the hospitals don’t have the medical equipment to help you. The electricity system is horrendous; you can last more than 10 hours without electricity a day, and every time this happens, the government makes stupid excuses.
Security has always been a problem, but lately, because many street criminals have left the country, there is not much crime in small towns anymore. However, places like Zulia and Caracas are still dangerous at night.
The internet is one of the worst in the world, and in recent years, many private internet companies have been created that offer better internet than CANTV. Even some of the best internet services provided in Venezuela still pale in comparison to those of other countries across Latin America. Therefore, people visiting that country need to take that into account.
This is curious because Venezuela is the number one country in the world for proven oil reserves. The country's oil reserves are the largest in the world, but thanks to bad management and corruption, the country never achieved its peak.
Interesting fact about Venezuelan Poodle Moth:
The Venezuelan Poodle Moth is a fascinating and unusual insect discovered in Venezuela in 2009. Its fluffy, poodle-like appearance makes it stand out among other moths. Despite its cute look, very little is known about its behavior and habitat, making it a subject of interest for entomologists and nature enthusiasts alike.
Personal experiences
As a Venezuelan, the biggest part of my childhood was good. Both the education and the health system were good. The electric system was bad, but not as bad as it is now. Back in the day, you could actually live and enjoy life in Venezuela. Life wasn’t good, but you could enjoy your life back then. However, after 2013, everything went from bad to worse for a wide variety of reasons.
But despite all the bad things, Venezuelans are known for being extremely friendly and helpful. They could help you even if they don’t know you; if you need to find a place, change a tire, or borrow a cell phone to make a call, they will do it. You´ll find true friendship with us.
Practical tips for travelers
Traveling to Venezuela is not that difficult because you don´t need a visa to enter the country. As we said before, it is good to use dollars instead of bolivares. The best time to visit Venezuela is during Christmas or the holy week of March.
There are a lot of words that only exists in Venezuela that you may not know, even as a Spanish speaker, such as “ajuro”, “chamo”, “corotos”, “naguará”, “cotufa”, and “zaperoco”. But after a while, you will start to understand them. To give an example, banana in Spanish is written the same way, but most Venezuelans call it “cambur”, so those are some details that people need to take into account.
It is also worth suggesting to people, particularly younger people, not to walk alone at night since it can be very dangerous. As mentioned earlier, Venezuela has a lot of beautiful and fun elements but is lacking in terms of security. Furthermore, make sure to pick a zone to stay where power outages are not that common since that is a regular issue in most parts of the country.
The Venezuelan country as a whole is a very peculiar experience because of the high levels of inflation, the lack of security at night in most places of the territory, and the fact that its own local currency might not be the best choice to make payments. However, there is also much to love about the country, and it deserves attention from potential tourists.
Venezuela has great weather, great food, and, most of all, great people. It will also be a very memorable experience for people who go there for the first time. Welcome to my country!
Comments