When you study in Venezuela you get a top-notch education in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
Venezuela has something for everyone:
- Great shopping venues
- Amazing waterfalls
- High mountains
- Deep jungles
- Sandy beaches
If you visit Venezuela for a summer study abroad program you should stop at Margarita Island. Located off the north coast of Venezuela, this island was discovered by Christopher Columbus and is the perfect place to get some sun during the day and then to go shopping at night.
If you stay for a semester abroad in Venezuela you should enjoy most of your free time at Angel Falls in Canaima National Park. At 3, 212 feet high this is the world’s highest free-falling waterfall. There are many places to capture beautiful pictures of this natural wonder, and you can even purchase a plane trip to fly around the entire waterfall.
Nature is literally at your fingertips whenever you visit Venezuela, so whenever you are not in class, take the time to enjoy what the country has to offer.
Study Abroad Buenos Venezuela Universities
If you’re interesting in joining a study abroad program at a school that is surrounded by nature and culture, then Venezuela is the place where you should go. Not only will you get to learn about the history of Venezuela, but you’ll also see why it’s one of the most popular countries to visit.
If you’re interesting in learning the Spanish language or just hoping to increase your fluency in it, then VENUSA offers classes in both Spanish and English.
One of the best ways to learn about Venezuela is to immerse yourself in its culture, so study abroad students will have the chance to live with local families who are eager to share their homes and experiences. Students will also be able to take classes in everything from Spanish Composition and Children’s Literature to International Business and Tropical Ecology.
- If you’re serious about learning the Spanish language then Spanish Language School on Margarita Island will provide you with up to five different levels of Spanish courses, but also possible internships in law, medicine, business or tourism. In between classes or on the weekends you can travel on the over 167 km of beaches that make up Margarita Island and stop at pubs and shops along the way.
You can find more study abroad information in the Universities section, and for ways to help pay for your South American trip you can visit the Financial Aid for Study Abroad and Study Abroad Student Loans sections.
Transportation in Venezuela
The railway and highway systems in Venezuela were once considered very dangerous, so not many of them were built. Because of this the people often traveled by sea or air.
- Helicopters would take people to sights such as Angel Falls and other hard-to-reach locations. There are also many airports with both paved and unpaved runways where people can catch small airplanes to get to their destination.
- Since Venezuela is surrounded by ports, harbors and waterways, boats are also a widely used mode of transportation in the country. Both boats and ferries usually depart from Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, and travel to nearby cities, transporting both passengers and cargo.
- As usual, there are always car rental options while abroad. You can use a website like Destinia.com or Expedia.com to find an entire list of car rental companies in Venezuela.
- Taxis are probably the most expensive mode of transportation in Venezuela, but if you have extra money you can use InfoTaxi.com to find all Venezuela taxi companies by city.
Always remember to follow study abroad health and safety guidelines whenever you’re in another country just in case something unexpected happens.
Study Abroad Venezuela Currency
Venezuela currency is known as the bolívar fuerte (Bs.F.), which just replaced the bolvar in January of 2008. Here’s how the currency works:
- Coins = 1, 5, 10, 12½, 25, 50 centimos and 1 Bs.F.
- Bills = 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 Bs.F.
You can use a Venezuela currency converter like the one here to compare other amounts of U.S. dollars against the bolívar fuerte.
Capitalize on Your Visit to Venezuela’s Capital
Caracas is the most visited and highly populated city in Venezuela. It’s also the capital, so there has to be something special about it, right?
Well, besides its moderate and comfortable climate and its cultural diversity, there are literally thousands of things to do:
- Historical buffs can visit the National Pantheon of Venezuela, which was built in 1812 as a church but now holds the remains of several famous Spaniards, like Simón Bolivar.
- The main shopping district in Caracas is known as Las Mercedes. You can grab a bite to eat at an exclusive restaurant or a local pub, visit an art gallery and then shop for clothes at a variety of fashion boutiques.
- For a fun-filled opera or ballet show the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex is the most prestigious place you can visit. This theater is divided into two rooms and covers over 22,000 square meters of space, making it the perfect size to fit its capacity of 2,400 people.
- Venezuela’s version of New York’s Central Park is known as Parque del Este, and it’s a great place to spend a weekend reading a good book, jogging or planning a picnic.
Anywhere you go in Venezuela will be full of history, art and culture, so make sure that you take everything in during your trip. You may not get another chance!
Important Study Venezuela Information
When you study abroad in Brazil you should always have important numbers handy in case of an emergency. These numbers will provide you valuable information for getting around the country:
