Things to do in Caracas
Get away from it all in Hacienda Trinidad
South American cities are busy, alive, and sometimes feel like they never stop moving. Caracas is no different, so if you crave a little tranquility spend an afternoon in this centrally located park (tel: +58 212 9433133; http://haciendalatrinidad.org). With its art exhibits, galleries and bookstore, it's one for sunbathers and culture vultures alike.
Salsa salsa salsa
Centro San Ignacio (www.centrosanignacio.com) is a vast, modernist office and shopping complex that of a night turns into a throbbing cavalcade of dancing bodies, all twisting to the unique beat of the salsa drum. There's multiple clubs and bars, and of course the buzzphrase with salsa is: don't be shy!
See the best of Venezuelan art
Caracas is not blessed with an abundance of art galleries, so the National Gallery (tel: +58 212 339 7507; vereda.ula.ve/gan) is a must-visit for anyone that wants to dip into the country's history. With over 4,000 pieces of work to view, you'll not be left wanting.
Take a trip to the past at the Universidad Central de Venezuela
Parts of the university (www.ucv.ve) date back to 1721, but the must-visit portion is the 200-hectare campus designed by Anglo-Venezualan architect Carlos Raul Villanueva. He worked in conjunction with 28 avant-garde artists of the 1940s to create this masterpiece of modern architecture that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Take the gondola up El Avila Mountain
If you wish to see the very best view in Caracas, then a ride on this gondola up to the 2,100m (6890 ft) Avila Mountain will have you cooing. Pick a clear day, and you can expect to have a bona-fide life-affirming vista laid out before you: the city of Caracas on one side, and the coastline on the other.
