Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PUERTO AYACUCHO
A sleepy town that's home to half the
inhabitants of Amazonas, PUERTO
AYACUCHO is the state's only major
municipality, founded in 1924 as a
port for shipping timber downriver.
Across the Orinoco from Colombia,
it is the access point for the most
southerly of the three Colombian
border crossings (see box, p.886),
although the difficulty of onward
transport makes it the least convenient.
Puerto Ayacucho is also the principal
entry point for the Amazon region.
Avenida Río Negro, showcases the
culture and history of the region's
indigenous tribes. In front of the
museum is Plaza de los Indios , a market
selling local handicrafts including
catara , a delicious hot sauce made
from leafcutter ants; like peanut butter,
it comes either crunchy or smooth.
One block east of the plaza on
Avenida Amazonas is the Centro
Cultural Amazonas (Mon-Sat
8am-6pm; free), where the art gallery
has an indigenous-themed permanent
exhibit. Styles range from classical to
quasi-pornographic absurdism. Ask
the friendly staff for what's on at the
amphitheatre next door.
The town's most popular attraction lies
30km away at the Parque Tobogán de la
Selva , where a natural waterslide has been
dammed at the bottom to create a rustic
infinity pool. A return trip in a taxi to the
park costs about BsF200 - make sure you
arrange for pick-up.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Like many other Venezuelan
municipalities, Puerto Ayacucho itself
has almost no intrinsic appeal, but there
are several nearby attractions, including,
of course, the jungle. In town, the
Museo Etnológico de Amazonas
(Tues-Fri 8.30am-noon & 2.30-
5.45pm, Sat until noon; BsF4), on
11
Border at Casuarito (1km)
PUERTO AYACUCHO
ACCOMMODATION
Gran Hotel Amazonas
Posada Manapiare
Residencia Internacional
Residencias Michelangelli de Pozo
2
4
3
1
Mercado Municipal
Pharmacy
Centro Cultural
Amazonas
Laundry
Museo Etnológico
de Amazonas
PLAZA
DE LOS
INDIOS
Bank
SAIME Office
Coyote
Expediciones
Banesco
Pharmacy
Bank
N
Cerro
Perico
El Mercadito
Banco de
Venezuela
EATING & DRINKING
Café Rey David
El Guariqueño
El Mercadito
Panadería Amazonas
Royal Pool
5
3
4
2
1
0
200
metres
Mercatradona (300m), El Mirador (700m), Airport (6km) & Tourist Info
 
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