Lost amid the rolling forests of the Cordillera de la Costa, some 60km (37mi) west of Caracas, is the unusual mountain town of Colonia Tovar. Founded in 1843 by a group of German settlers, the town effectively shielded itself from any outside contact for almost a century: A lack of roads restricted access, and rigid social mores meant that the inhabitants remained exclusively tied to their own culture (marriage, for instance, was prohibited unless to another member of the colony). Only in the 1940s was the Spanish language introduced; a serviceable road wasn't built until 1963. Today, Colonia Tovar is a lovely town of produce markets and arts-and-craft stores and is still unmistakably German. Much of the original architecture remains, and foods, such as bread and sausage, continue to be made according to hoary German recipes.

Roraima

Straddling the borders of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil is a 280 sq km (109 sq mi) plateau called Roraima that has become increasingly popular with travelers interested in trekking or botany. The roundtrip hike takes five days, and by custom you will be required to hire a local guide for the last two. Though the trek involves discomforting amounts of rain, the climb is fascinating and the moonscape scenery at the top of the mesa is a science-fiction dream of blackened rock, pink beaches and bewildering plant life.

Salto Aponguao

One of the most impressive and photogenic waterfalls in La Gran Sabana is Salto Aponguao. However, it's rather difficult to reach unless you're prepared to expend a little time and energy. One way to see it is to leave the highway, then travel about 40km (25mi) on an unpaved road before coming to the Indian hamlet of Iboribó. The next step is to pay one of the locals to take you by curiara (dugout canoe) across the Río Aponguao, from where it's a half-hour trek to the falls. Another possibility is to arrange for a boat to take you directly there, then return on foot. Either way, the 105m (344ft) Salto is spectacular. A well-marked path leads to the foot of the falls, where you can bathe and swim in one of the natural pools. And nearby is an idyllic camping spot with excellent views of both the falls and the surrounding countryside.

Angel Falls

An american aviator,Jimmy Angel, accidentally discovered Angel Falls in Venezuela’s tepui country. He was flying over the area in 1935 when he landed on the top of a lone mountain in search of gold. His plane got stuck in the boggy jungle on top of the mountain and he noticed a pretty impressive waterfall plunging thousands of feet down. His plane remained stuck and rusting upon the mountain as a monument to his discovery. Soon the whole world would know about the falls, which came to be known as Angel Falls, named after the pilot who "discovered" them. Although the Natives in Venezuela had known about the "Salto Angel" since the beginning of time. The falls form on a branch of the Carrao River in the southeast of Venezuela. It has a total drop of 3,212 ft, with the largest single drop of 2,648 ft, making it the highest waterfall in the world.

Isla Margarita

Margarita Island is a Venezuelan island about forty miles offshore from the mainland city Barcelona / Puerto la Cruz. It is west of Trinidad/Tobago and south of Grenada, 11 degrees north of the equator. This allows the island a very consistent temperature averaging 82 degrees. Typically arid, the island is semi-desert. Margarita's mountains range to 3000 feet (1000 meters). Scenery is great and the villages are quaint with many historical sites. The eastern part of the Island is called Macanao and is virtually undeveloped save for a few villages. One of the more popular tourist stops is the La Restinga Lagoon where you can take a boat ride through the mangroves.

Golf, Scuba, PADI dive courses, snorkeling and horseback riding are available, windsurfing on the south shore is world class and the beaches all around the island are fantastic. There is also great deep sea fishing or combination fishing and snorkeling tours.