Caracas

INTRO
Caracas is the capital and the largest city of Venezuela. It is often referred to as a concrete jungle, a bustling metropolis which is dirty, noisy, congested and polluted. Some areas of Caracas are even dangerous - crime rates are notoriously high. As a result of all that, it is no wonder that the city is not a major tourist destination. Nevertheless, Caracas has a unique charm of its own - its museums, fashion, nightlife, shopping, posh hotels and large theatres are not to be mistaken with any others.

City Profile
City: Caracas
Country: Venezuela
Area: 1,930 km2
Population: 2, 762, 759
Districts: 4
Language: Spanish
Mayor: Joan Barettol

LOCATION
Caracas is located in a valley of the Venezuelan Central Range. It withstands only 15 km away from the Caribbean coast. The elevation in the city varies between 870 and 1043 meters above sea level. Guaire River is the largest body of water in Caracas. It flows across the city and empties into the Tuy River.

TIME TO VISIT
Unlike the rest of Venezuela, Caracas enjoys a relatively dry climate. The wet season, which lasts from May till October, is pretty much no concern. Weather in Caracas is generally mild, and temperatures are steady, averaging 25°C year round. Precipitation is pretty low - usually, no more than 100mm. Caracas is at its busiest at Christmas and Easter. Lots of tourists visit the city then, and this added to the fact that Venezuelans usually travel to visit friends and family at that time, guarantees shortage of accommodation, heavy traffic and crowded public places. Make sure you book in advance if you happen to visit Caracas during those holidays.

POPULATION
Caracas is permanent residence for almost 2, 800, 000 people, as of 2007. This does not include the surrounding suburbs, like for example Petare, the population of which is estimated at more than 1, 500, 000 people. The racial makeup of Caracas is pretty diverse - a result of the mixtures of races and cultures that marked the history of the city. During colonial times, Spaniards mixed with native Indians and with African slaves who were brought to work on coffee and cocoa fields.

DISTRICTS

Plaza Bolivar - the focal point of the Old Town with a large monument to El Libertador - Simon Bolivar. Lately, newly built high-rise structures have pretty much overwhelmed the colonial flavor of this Caracas's founding neighborhood.
El Hatillo - colonial town in the south-east suburbs of Caracas. It can give you an idea of what Caracas looked like a few centuries ago - as El Hatillo is one of the very few well-preserved Venezuela's typical colonial areas. El Hatillo has its own Plaza Bolivar with a statue of the El Libertador in the middle, many colonial houses, as well as a well preserved Roman Catholic Church. The colonial section of El Hatillo is only a small part of the total land size of the area. Other parts of El Hatillo are normal commercial and residential zones, including the neighborhoods of La Lagunita, Oripoto and La Boyera.
Las Mercedes - the most commercial and cosmopolitan district of Caracas. The area is the favorite meeting point of the young people in the city. It houses some of the best restaurants with diverse gourmet specialties, nice pubs, pools and bars.
Altamira Neighborhood - an area in Chacao municipality of Caracas. Within the boundaries of the area are headquartered some of the major businesses in the city - it is an important commercial hub. The famous Francisco de Miranda Avenue is located in Altamira. The area also houses some of the finest hotels and restaurants of Caracas

SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS

Capitolio Nacional - the National Capitol is an architectural highlight. It occupies a whole city block and its domes are covered with pure gold. The building is most popular with its Salon Eliptico - an oval-shaped hall with a dome covered with murals and walls lined with portraits. If you happen to visit the Capitolo National on Independence Day, you will be able to see the original Act of Independence of 1811.
Casa Natal de Bolivar - the house where Simon Bolivar was born on July 24, 1783. It has been reconstructed and turned into a museum. However, most of the colonial interior has been replaced by paintings of battle scenes. In the nearby Museo Bolivarino visitors can see more personal relics.
Concejo Municipal - the city hall. Built by Caracas bishops in the middle of the 17th century, now Concejo Municipal houses the Municipal Council. However, part of the building is open for public.
Catedral - located on the eastern side of Plaza Bolivar, Caracas' cathedral was erected in the 16th century as a small mud-walled chapel. The present incarnation of the cathedral was built between 1665 and 1713. It features elaborate chapels and gilded altars. The Bolivar family chapel is in the middle of the right-hand aisle.
Parque Zoologico de Caricuao - Caracas's main zoo. It is situated in the marvelously kept grounds of an old coffee plantation. Most of enclosures are pretty spacious and the animals enjoy a certain degree of freedom. The zoo has a good selection of South American mammals, reptiles and birds.
Museo de Arte Nacional - the museum is housed in a spectacular colonial country mansion. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens that are almost as tempting as the inside of the building. On Sunday mornings, chamber music concerts are held in the old stables.

AIRPORT

Simon Bolivar Airport is located 25 m away from central Caracas. It is connected to the city via a highway. The trip from the airport takes around 40-50 minutes. Always agree on fare before you get into a cab. Taxi fare from the airport to Caracas is $45 at official rate and $20 at unofficial rate. You need to be careful, as there are many unlicensed cabs that offer their services to newcomers. Some hotels offer shuttle service. http://www.aeropuerto-maiquetia.com.ve/

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

Public buses - Caracas is well served by a system of metro buses. Most lines run at around 20 minutes. Buses have fixed stops and do not take passengers away from them.
Taxi - cabs are usually waived at in the street. There are no meters so price should be agreed prior to ride. Licensed cabs have yellow plates and are generally safe.
Train - the Caracas metro is clean, safe, modern and cheap. However, it is often overcrowded, especially during rush hour.

HISTORY
Five centuries ago, the area of modern Caracas was inhabited by indigenous people. The Spanish captain Diego de Losada established the city of Santiago de Leon de Caracas on July 25th, 1567. The Declaration of Independence of Venezuela was signed in 1811 in Caracas. Lately, Caracas has become one of Latin America's economic centers. Today, it is a preferred hub between South America and Europe.

CITY LINKS

Official website - http://www.alcaldiamayor.gob.ve/
Caracas Stock Exchange - http://www.bolsadecaracas.com/esp/index.jsp
Caracas tourism website - http://www.venezuelatuya.com/caracas/
Caracas news - http://www.caracasnews.com/

UNIVERSITY LINKS

1.Universidad Central de Venezuela - http://www.ucv.ve/