Venezuela, the undiscovered treasure of South America, is a country of contrasts. From the barren snow-covered peaks of the Andes to the wildlife-abundant plains of the llanos and the bustling modern lifestyle of Caracas to the slow-paced, exotic African influences of the coast or the unchanging character of colonial villages, Venezuela offers travelers an amazingly rich variety of experiences. Focusing on the natural history and cross-cultural opportunities available in some of the country’s most exciting destinations, this outstanding program features a superb overview of the best of South America’s Caribbean jewel.

Following an overnight stay on the coast outside of Caracas, our journey begins with a short but spectacular flight to Mérida, in the heart of the Venezuelan Andes. Here we visit charming colonial villages such as Jají, whose cobblestone streets are overlooked by ornate balconies, ride the world's longest cable car into the heart of Sierra Nevada National Park, and walk beneath the snow-capped peaks of the country’s highest mountain. Next, a dramatic overland drive takes us across the mountains, through a unique ecosystem called the páramo where we visit typical Andean communities, stop at a condor sanctuary, and spend the night in a colonial mission that was built in 1642. We continue driving down to the llanos plains where we spend a few days enjoying some of the finest bird and wildlife viewing available in South America. Based from a comfortable hato, or big ranch, we explore the area by horse, foot, jeep and boat. Afterwards, we fly over Angel Falls, the world’s highest cascade and relax for a couple of days in the exotic setting of Canaima. Returning to Caracas, we once again spend the night on the coast before flying home or extending to the dazzling white sand beaches and colorful coral keys of Los Roques National Park on the Caribbean coast across from Aruba!