Owing to the prosperity of the Venezuelan oilfields, the country never marketed itself on the international stage as a desirable tourist spot. As a result, the country is still growing as a tourist nation and tends to be largely ignored by those visiting South America – bizarre considering the relative stability, geographic location and stunning natural diversity on display, along with the fascinating history and friendly people waiting for those that travel to the region.

The capital of Caracas is a perfect example of Venezuela – home to some wonderful colonial architecture showing the ‘old country’ along with a forward-thinking and ever-growing modern attitude. The city sits in a narrow valley and is home to such attractions as the Plaza Bolivar, the Panteon Nacional and the numerous Museos – de Bellas Artes, del Arte Colonial and a few others. Those looking to experience the wonderful nightlife of the city can do so along the Boulevard de Sabana Grande, with its collections of clubs, pubs and cafes. The capital is not the main draw for tourists, however, with most that visit the country opting to stay on the tropical coastline – all the beautiful 2,800km of it. The multitude of resorts and towns offer some grand experiences, and the climate does nothing but help the experience – Maiquetia is possibly the most popular of the resorts, and with good cause. As well as the wonderful coastal resorts, the offshore islands of Venezuela attract their fair share of tourists, with Margarita Island proving the most popular in that respect, as well as the beautiful islands of Los Roques – of course, we shouldn’t forget Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world.

Away from the cities and coastal resorts are the grasslands of the Llanos, the snowy peaks of the Cordillera de Merida, the Amazon Jungle and the Sierra Nevada National Park – all offering just a small taste of the outstanding range of nature on offer in Venezuela.

The country is not the most stable in the world, but anyone visiting is bound to have a good time so long as they use their head – the people are incredibly friendly in the vast majority and welcome tourists with open arms. It is an ideal time to visit Venezuela, as the country has yet to become the hotbed of tourism it surely will within the coming years. Get there before they do, as some say!