Venezuela is located on the north end of South America, sharing borders with Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south and Guyana to the east, along with a 2,800km coastline on the Caribbean Sea and numerous offshore islands making up the rest of the country. The country is home to a remarkable array of differing terrain, from the tropical coastline through the snowy peaks and on to the thick jungle, with everything else in between, this is a country well-suited to the adventurous. Venezuela has managed to remain relatively unknown on the world stage – tourism-wise, at least – and the country sees far less people through its borders than even war-torn neighbour Colombia. Vast resources of oil have meant the country has managed to carve its own niche in the South American landscape, with fine dining and high prices common throughout – though prices have been tumbling in recent years. Though the country is perceived to be somewhat unstable through the international media, those that visit leave with memories of an incredibly friendly, incredibly beautiful nation full of outstanding natural beauty and a culture to match.

The history of Venezuela stretches back around 15,000 years, with evidence of human life found in regions throughout the country – recorded history doesn’t come into play until the 15^th century, however. It was Columbus who discovered the country in 1498, but it was not until later that Venezuela was named and then colonised by the Spanish – 1499 and 1521, respectively. The Spanish settlers went about business in the way only the Colonial powers could, and systematically wiped out a great deal of the native Indian tribes through both violence and disease – smallpox managed to wipe out nearly two thirds of the population living in the Caracas Valley. Colonial rule was not smooth sailing, and the 18^th century saw dissidents raise their voices at their Spanish ‘owners’ – Simon Bolivar answered these calls in 1821, deposing the Spanish rulers and, eventually, bringing about the complete independence of Venezuela in 1830. The early 20^th century saw Venezuela ruled under a number of dictatorships, experiencing coups and a faltering economy until the discovery of oil in 1910 – exploitation of these fields began in 1918 and by the late 1920s the country was one of the largest oil-exporters in the world, bringing with it prosperity to those in charge. This wealth, unfortunately, was not to reach the everyday people of Venezuela. Though democratic elections were held earlier (and soon forgotten about), it wasn’t until the 1960s that the military were taken out of the political equation and the people were truly allowed to vote for their leaders. Whilst political stability was finally achieved, this didn’t stop scandal or the threat of military coups – the country survived the drop in oil prices of 1988, but the measures put in place to quell economic meltdown simply served to once again incense the public, and frustrated with a leadership they saw as a lame duck, they voted into power army colonel Hugo Chavez – a man who had tried to spearhead a coup just six years earlier. Chavez soon brought confidence back to the Venezuelan people with his charismatic and outspoken ways, marketing himself as a premier for the people – though his actions didn’t impress on an international scale, and an apparent US/Spanish backed coup in 2002 saw Chavez out of power for all of three days, before he retook his country. Chavez has since become well known on a world scale, and the man draws as much plaudits as he does criticism – his leftist views might not sit well with some of the big boys, and his recent policies of apparent censorship have left him on the defensive, but the charismatic leader has a generally stable country surrounding him and at least a few fans around the world.

Venezuela is one of the most fascinating countries in the world when it comes to environmental diversity – with so much difference on show throughout it is hard to imagine why the country is not more popular with tourists and investors than it is. The apparent instability that people associate with the country is nowhere near as bad as some would believe – far less so than Colombia, for example. The people are friendly, the country is stunning and whilst there aren’t as many bargains for the potential off plan investor as in neighbouring South American countries, there will certainly be something to whet the appetite of even the most cynical buyer.

The standards of healthcare in Venezuela are generally good in built up areas, and standards in private hospitals are higher still. Emergency treatment is free, but health insurance is recommended just in case.

Mobile phone coverage stretches across most cities, and coverage in more remote areas cannot be guaranteed. Landlines are widely available and lines are of a good standard. Internet cafes are widespread throughout most cities.