Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EATING AND DRINKING
On weekends, welcoming revellers tend to hang out with
bottles of rum in the pedestrianized middle of C Bolívar
until the early hours.
Ké Pollo C Ribero T 0412 498 9244. Two colourful - if
not artistically adept - murals are signature features at
the town's most popular chicken joint. Whole (BsF110),
half (BsF70) or quarter (BsF30) bird servings come accom-
panied with mini arepas and fries; also does excellent
juices. Daily 11am-8pm.
Neno's Pizza C Bolívar T 0292 808 8478. A pizzeria that's
very popular with the locals. Excellent deep-dish-style
pizzas come with all the usual toppings and boxes for
takeaway. Personal size from BsF50, family size from BsF90.
Daily noon-10.30pm.
fruit; make sure you sample the
strawberries and cream on offer from
vendors around town.
Venezuela's first national monument,
the Cueva del Guácharo is a cave set deep
in the limestone mountainside inhabited
by oilbirds. You can take a tour (daily
8am-4pm; BsF30; T 0291 641 7543)
through the first 1200m of the cave,
during which gas-lamp-toting guides
point out distinctively shaped rock
formations. At the entrance there's a
museum dedicated to Alexander Von
Humboldt, who first made oilbirds
known to science.
Taxis will take you to the entrance of
Parque Nacional El Guácharo from the
centre for BsF30.
Hiking opportunities abound in
Monagas and a popular walk is the
Cerro Turumiquire , the region's highest
point at 2600m. Contact Viajes y
Turismo WM (Av Enrique Chaumer;
T 0292 415 0428) in the centro comercial
for more information on activities.
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DIRECTORY
Bank Banco Coroní on C Bolívar has a 24hr ATM.
Internet Centro de Conexiones, C Bolívar. Daily 8am-8pm,
BsF5/hr.
Pharmacy Farmacia El Cristo, Av Enrique Chaumer. Daily
8am-4pm.
Police Av Guzman Blanco, daily 8am-8pm.
Shopping You can buy artesan jewellery in the pedestrian
park in the middle of C Bolívar beside the Plaza Bolívar
most evenings.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus The bus terminal is a BsF25 taxi ride from the
centre. Buses run every two hours from 6.30am-4pm
(BsF30) to state capital Maturín, which has connections
throughout the country. To head directly to Puerto Ordáz or
Cumaná, por puestos depart intermittently from the
terminal. To get here from the coast, take a bus from
Cumaná in the morning (3 daily until 1pm; 3hr). If you miss
the direct morning buses, por puestos leave irregularly
from Cumaná bus terminal, or you can take a bus to
Maturín from where buses run regularly to Caripe.
ISLA DE MARGARITA
On the ferry to ISLA DE MARGARITA from
the mainland you're unlikely to see more
than one or two backpackers, as the
940-square-kilometre island is primarily
visited by well-to-do Venezuelans. While
prices are inflated and any cultural
authenticity has been supplanted by
rampant commercialism, Margarita can
still provide an entertaining taste of
mainstream Venezuelan-style tourism.
ACCOMMODATION
Campamento Kenya Sector El Guácharo T 0416 396
8376, E kenya002@hotmail.com. Friendly tour guide
and local legend Carlos Kenya runs his “Lost Boys”-style
homestay close to the Guácharo cave. There's a dormitory
and four cosy doubles with en suite. Carlos also runs tours
and vo lunteerin g projec ts throughout the region. Dorms
BsF40 , doubles BsF120
Hotel El Nuevo San Fransisco Av Enrique Chaumer,
at Plaza Bolívar T 0414 996 9047. Clean rooms have
hot showers, cable TV and fans. The hotel is opposite the
Plaza Bolívar, giving a very central location, useful for
the weekend when locals converge on the area to drink
and socialize. You won't see the hotel's name displayed
anywhere on this brown-tiled building, only the word
“hotel” written a number of different ways. BsF150
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Isla de Margarita has innumerable beach
communities and just a few developed
urban centres, PORLAMAR being the
largest and containing the lion's share
of inexpensive services. It's therefore best
to base yourself here and take day-trips
to the island's other attractions.
Ten kilometres north of Porlamar lies
the more peaceful town of Pampatar .
Founded in 1530, it was one of the first
settlements in Venezuela, and even today
it retains some of its former charm, with
the remains of a Spanish fortress, Castillo
 
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