With her charming Caribbean beaches, Andean peaks, and lush pristine forests, Venezuela is defiantly one of the most beautiful of the Amazonian countries. It was here that Christopher Columbus landed 1498 and Alexander von Humboldt paddled his way through the Orinoco on his famous expedition of scientific discovery. With her mystery and natural beauty, it seems impossible that anyone could find their Venezuelan experience lacking in excitment.

While there are the beaches, the mountains, and the Llanos savannahs, the geographic landscape that interests us most in Venezuela are the Guyana Highlands and Amazonian Lowlands. The Shield of Guyana is amongst one of the oldest of its kind, and has withstood such geological events as the sepration of South America from Africa and the rising of the Andes. No doubt unique in its natural history and ancient charm, its wonder is best represented in Canaima National Park. Perhaps the most interesting of its structures are the tepuis (flat-top mountains), formed after billion years of erosions and geological disruptions. Because of its mysterious primordial heritage, the Guyana Highlands have long served as inspiration of tales of UFOs, death spirits, lost worlds, and even El Dorado.

To the south, the Guyana Highlands give way to the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin. This area makes up a very small part of Venezuela consisting in only one forth of the land area of Amazonas state. This is a remote area harboring pristine forests and secluded tribal groups. Tepuis, smaller than those at Canaima, raise their giant heads far above the forest canopy, giving the area a breathtaking scenery. Amazonas is dominated by the Orinoco river and the Casiquiare Canal to which it loses a third if its water.

The main advantage to the Venezuelan Amazon is that it offers some of the most pristine forests of the Amazon. In fact, even though it encompasses such a small part of the state, much of it remains unexplored and untouched even in this modern age. There is also a well-developed and competitive tourist industry that provides a multitude of opportunities to the traveler. Really, the only real disadvantages are the humidity and the difficult accessibility of the forest.

Climate

Temperature in both the Guyana highlands and Amazonas is fairly consistent, ranging somewhere within the 20-30° C mark. Amazonas is, of course, humid which can make even the mild temperature seem unbearable. Both are prone to rain and lightning storms that can sneak up at a moments notice.