1. Located at the Northeast of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, is Margarita a Caribbean island. It has become one of the most popular tourist places in Venezuela not surprising when there is an average of 320 sun filled days. Where better to be if you want to try windsurfing and other water sports. Being an island, Margarita is surrounded by a host of beaches. So whatever your choice there will be a beach for you, secluded or crowded, waves or no waves. The mountainous island of Margarita offers tropical palm trees and is a natural, beautiful paradise.
2. Merida lies in the fertile valleys between the mountains and supports a lot of agriculture, including coffee plantations, sugar cane, flowers. It also supports tropical plants like palm trees, orchids, fruits and the Golden Rain tree. Merida is one of the cheaper places to visit in Venezuela. Merida has a diverse variety of landscape, such as snowy mountain peaks, natural rainforest, highland moors, waterfalls and lakes. This diversity makes the location very attractive to those interested in wildlife, bird lovers, backpackers and climbers alike. The mountain peaks ay be covered in snow the climate is like spring for most of the year making for lovely warm days. Night time is a little cooler. Rainfall is usually during the months of May to September.
3. Canaima National Park, is Venezuela's second largest national park. There are mountain forests, thick woodlands that amazingly join sheer cliffs. There are some stunning waterfalls that cascade from the beautiful flat topped mountains, but most stunning of all is the famous Angel Falls. You have 2 choices in how best to see the Angel Falls. If you wish to navigate the Carrao and Churun river (an upstream trip that can take 3 ? hours) and a one hour hike in the jungle you will be able to experience the base of the falls. Or for the more adventurous, which ever way you look at it, you can view the Falls in a small aircraft. Either trip is worth the visit as a trip to Venezuela is not complete without seeing the Angel Falls.
4. Fishing for piranhas ( and coming home with all my fingers) on the Venezuela's Orinoco Delta with howler monkeys watching you from the jungle canopy is not an experience one achieves every day and neither is meeting a Warao Indian family and seeing them in the process of making superb woven baskets.
There is nothing more awe inspiring than walking through the vibrant and alive jungle in a world that seems lost in time.
5. The Guacharo cave is enormous and interconnected by narrow passages. The only light source was the lantern that the guide had who led the way. The cave is home to the very interesting Guacharo (Oil bird) which is very unique in behaviour. This large bird is nocturnal and uses it's bat like sonar location in poor light. It has long whiskers and a wingspan of over a meter and only leaves the cave at night to search for fruit. The birds make a strange shrieking noise and it is a good job that you know that it is them as I could imagine it would be quite terrifying if you did not know otherwise. There are far too many tourists in the cave at any time for my liking but this did not take away from this amazing experience. One thing is for sure if you are visiting the caves make sure your footwear has good grips as the bird droppings are very slippery. There are some running taps at the entrance but I would also advise making sure that you have some wet ?wipes.
With Indiana Jones back in the cinemas once more, an interest in ancient civilisations is no longer confined to professors and archaeologists. Indeed, cultural heritage holidays are growing increasingly popular, with many AITO tour operators offering trips that look at some of the most notable ancient ruins in the world. While most of the great monuments of ancient civilisations have been eroded or destroyed, some still survive, and visiting one of these sites is like going on a holiday in ancient history. In addition to being spectacular structures in their own right, they form an invaluable part of any cultural heritage holiday, giving a glimpse of a way of life that has long since disappeared.
If you fancy yourself as the next academic adventurer and are considering a cultural heritage holiday abroad, here are five of the most important places to visit around the world.
The Parthenon, Greece
Anyone on a specialised classical Greece holiday will see many amazing sights, including the Temple at Delphi and the ruins of the Temple of Zeus at Mount Olympus. But dwarfing them all is the Parthenon in Athens, often regarded as the most important classical monument that is still standing today. It is an ancient temple to the goddess Athena, and is one of the finest examples of ancient Greek architecture and artwork. The inside is a treasure trove of sculptures (though much of its content now resides in the British museum), and the temple is placed in an unforgettable location on the Acropolis, looking down over Athens.
Machu Picchu, Peru
This ?Lost City of the Incas? was only rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century, and is an essential place to visit for those interested in past civilisations. Situated on top of a mountain above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, this excellently preserved site is the one of the finest remaining examples of Inca architecture and has been voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
You can reach Machu Picchu by train from Cusco, but for a really adventurous cultural heritage holiday you can walk the Inca Trail, a multi day hike through a number of Inca ruins that reaches Machu Picchu at sunrise on the fourth day.
Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
Out of the Seven Wonders of the World listed by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one that can still be seen today on an ancient history holiday to Egypt. Built over 4500 years ago, the Pyramid was built as a tomb for the Egyptian pharaoh Cheops. It took over twenty years to construct, and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for several thousand years.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Cultural heritage holidays to Mexico inevitably tour the ruins of ancient Mayan civilisation, and Chichen Itza is one of the most important Mayan sites in Mexico. The temple complex was built over 2000 years ago, and most of the buildings remain intact today, including the Temple of Kukulkan, the Great Ball Court and the Temple of the Warriors. It was the capital of Mayan civilisation for almost a thousand years ? why Chichen Itza was abandoned is not known, but archaeological research suggests its downfall was violent. The site is truly a must-see for those with an interest in ancient Mayan culture, with some of the best preserved Mayan architecture left standing today.
Coliseum, Italy
Situated at the centre of Rome, this colossal amphitheatre (the largest ever built in the ancient Roman empire) is almost 2000 years old. Originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the Coliseum could hold over 50,000 spectators, and hosted gladiatorial contests, performances and historical enactments. Despite damage from earthquakes and robbery, it has stood the test of time and remains one of the landmark sights for a cultural heritage holiday to Italy.
Both Stuart Cheese & Kieron Sellens are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Stuart Cheese has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Internet, Monuments and Travel and Leisure. Stuart Cheese is the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours and, having visited over 110 countries, has a wealth of travel experience. One World Tours / The. Stuart Cheese's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Kieron Sellens has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Touring Italy and Travel and Leisure. Kieron Sellens is the marketing manager of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AiTO). With AITO's cultural breaks you can choose from tailor-made , historical tours, musical trips and many. Kieron Sellens's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.