For those looking to experience the culture of Venezuela, Caracas is a must-visit, with many regional festivals and numerous museums. There’s also no end of arts and crafts markets here, making it a great place for shopping. Caracas is also home to the Universidad Central de Venezuela Stadium, where baseball fans can take in a game.

Visitors looking to escape the urban jungle and see some wildlife can head to one of the most famous rainforests in the world, the Amazon Rainforest. This steamy, UNESCO World Heritage site is home to any number of animals, with more being discovered constantly.

The country also boasts many stunning beaches on the Caribbean coastline, the longest coastline in any single nation in fact, and is home to a staggering 600 offshore islands. With sandy beaches and turquoise waters, the coast is a popular tourist spot. Margarita Island and Los Roques are both popular destinations, but it’s hard to find a bad place along this stretch.

Coro was originally the first capital of the country after emerging from the collapse of grand Colombia in 1830. As a result, the city is rich with colonial architecture; so much so that the historical downtown area is considered a Cultural World Heritage site.

Mérida, a town found in the Andes Mountains, is also known for its sights, all be it of a different kind. With stunning scenery, it is the perfect place for those looking for outdoor activities, with hiking especially popular here. As a university town, it also has its fair share of nightlife, so visitors can rest their feet in one of the many bars after a tough day on the mountains.

The sheer diversity of the country means that around 40 per cent of its territory is named as protected areas. Even the Venezuelan Central University in Caracas is a World Heritage site due to its stunning architecture.

One of the best-known landmarks is, of course, the Andes Mountains. Stretching some 7,000kms, this range can be found in the northwest of the country. The scenery here is simply breathtaking and many outdoor sports are available. With a number peaks to be scaled, the highest being Mount Aconcagua at 6,962 metres, the Andes draw many travellers in their own right.

Another must-see landmark is Angel Falls. Found in the Guayana Highlands, the world highest waterfall plummets some 979 metres from the top of a shelf in Canaima National Park. Unsurprisingly, it is a huge tourist attraction, and it’s possible to see it in all its glory by helicopter.

Ciudad Bolivar is the most popular staying point for those flying to Angel Falls. A lively tourist town, it boasts good nightlife and plenty of hotels. Guayana itself is largely uninhabited, but is home to the Orinoco River, the second longest river in South America. This area also boasts the Amazon Rainforest along with sites such as the Tabletop Mountains. Trips are available to all of these landmarks, many of which have to be seen to be believed.

Los Llanos in the northeast of the country is a stretch of plains that is well known for its wildlife. It is the ideal place for tourists looking to get back to nature.

While the rest of South America boasts the tango as its most famous export, there is no doubt that Venezuela’s best known export is oil. Despite this, the country has numerous spots that are perfect for nightlife and local music.

Caracas is the undisputed queen of nights out. Being the capital, it boasts many music venues to cater for all tastes and numerous clubs where revelers can dance the night away. Clubs such as Transnocho Lounge and Le Terezzadel Ateneo are known haunts of the ultra hip crowd; however, Samoa offers mainstream music and good cocktails.

Merida, in the Andes, is a popular university town. Unsurprisingly, it has a reputation for being the place for nightlife. With plenty of bars and clubs, along with the novelty of partying in the Andes, it’s a hit with tourists and locals alike.

El Maní es Así is a long-running bar that is easily the best place to experience traditional salsa music. Found in Caracas, it is home to a varied crowd. Tourists come to admire the dance and locals come to show off their moves. After one or two of the intricate cocktails, many visitors join in.

Teatro Trasnocho Cultural might not be the ideal spot for those looking for a traditional theatre experience, but it is well worth a visit. Known to push the boundaries of traditional theatre, it showcases up-and-coming talent and new works by local playwrights.

Although there are cinemas across the country, it is rare to find a film that hasn’t been dubbed into Spanish. Some alternative cinemas show local films with English subtitles though.

There are a number of local dishes that can be tried across the country, with both the big cities and small towns offering a taste of the traditional cuisine. Arepas, a thick corn tortilla that is split and then stuffed with any number of fillings, is a staple on many menus. A variety of variations of this tradition meal have sprung up in recent years, such as the reina pepiada, a tortilla stuffed with chicken and avocado, or the domino, a tortilla stuffed with white cheese and topped with black beans.

Hallacas, a mixture of meat, raisins and olives, covered in cornmeal and steamed in plantain leaves, is an interesting take on a traditional tamale dish, often served around Christmas, although it can be found throughout the year in many restaurants. Cachapas are pancakes made with corn and topped with telita, a salty cheese.

Street food is common across Venezuela, with empanadas, a variety of savory pastries often stuffed with meat, and perros calientes, spicy hot dogs, being the most commonly served items. For a sit-down lunch, Venezuelans often have pabellón. This is a rice and meat dish featuring black beans and plantain slices.

Venezuela is also famous for producing some of the best cacao beans in the world, meaning the local chocolate comes highly recommended. El Rey is a well-known brand that is a must-try for tourists. The local rum is also world renowned. It tends to be very dark and potent, with a number of bars serving their own special blends. Venezuelan coffee can also be described as dark and potent, and a cup of the local stuff is a must-try for lovers of caffeine.