Post: #1

Hey,

So I need to hop out of Colombia for a minute and hit up Venezuela. I'm in Bogotá, and the bus trip is about 20 hours.

So I'm gonna split it up and get a little Colombian travel time out of it. Go to Cartagena or Taganaga or something like that first, then Venezuela, then stop at the coast again on the way back.

Anyone here have experience with Maracaibo, Venezuela? It's about 30C/90F degrees everyday, though ''semiarid'' they say. Any info would be clutch.

Take it easy

Post: #2

just looked on youtube and i think ima have to add this to my list of SA places to visit....

Post: #3

yeah I have already written about the place on here. just do a search

Its my favourite town in the country.

Chill college town in the hillls with a pretty decent nightlife and cute girls.

Post: #4

Nueva Zamora de Maracaibo, located in the banks of Lake Maracaibo, has now emerged as one of the most important commercial centers of the Venezuela.

Maracaibo city is divided into two municipalities for administrative purpose. Maracuchos, the local inhabitants, are individualistic people, who boast of their cultural heritage and try to treasure it for future generations.

Maracaibo, also called, “La Tierra del Sol Amada”, which means “The Land Beloved by the Sun”, holds a key position in the economy, culture and politics of Venezuela. The growth of the city attracts many people to come around the city to spend a nice vacation over there.

Maracaibo had been an isolated place in the beginning of the last century, because of its unique geographical positioning in the bank of the lake. With the opening of the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge in 1962, Maracaibo became easily connected to the mainland. Now, Maracaibo is well connected to its transportation facilities including bus, taxi and ferry.

La Chinita International Airport connects Maracaibo to the rest of the world. The development in the transportation facilities, put in the economic growth of Maracaibo in pace. Now, the city has become a hub of commercial centers and large buildings. Apart from the economic growth, Maracaibo has become an important educational hub also. Maracaibo is home to many important colleges and universities.

Maracaibo feature many important land marks also. Our Lady of Chiquinquirá Basilic is the most important land mark of the city. Plaza de la Virgen de Chiquinquirá y todos los Santos is the beautiful park near the church, which feature a unique statue of Virgin Mary. The commitment to preserve the heritage is reflected in the restoration of the old town and maintenance of Santa Rosa de Agua, the wood houses over water.

Vereda del Lago Park, a tourist destination is a large lake front park, which feature sports facilities, ostrich farm, and zoo. Conoce tu Puente Museum is another attraction, which feature a historic museum and balcony to view the fantastic display of lights. La marina Park is another lake view park of Maracaibo.

Maracaibo offers opportunities for one day trips also. San Carlos Island in the Gulf of Venezuela is a favorite attraction of tourists, which feature a Spanish fortress, called Castillo de San Carlos. Costa Oriental, the center of oil industries in Venezuela, is a nearby attraction of Maracaibo. The historic cities such as Cabimas, Santa Rita, Lagunillas and Ciudad Ojeda are near by places of interest, to Maracaibo.

Accommodation is not a big problem in Maracaibo. Good restaurants and hotels are available in the city limit. The cordial behavior of Maracuchos, the local inhabitants, makes living in Maracaibo, a memorable experience. The ambience and attributes of Maracaibo, makes the vacation a life long treasure.

I hope information is useful!
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Post: #5

I've just spent a week in Maracaibo. I was thinking of writing up a few of my thoughts but I don't really have a 'data sheet' as such so I'll just add to this post.

I went to Maracaibo purely to get my Colombian tourist visa, but decided to hang around to see what the venezolanas were like. I'll say right now that my thoughts upon leaving Maracaibo were along the lines of 'please god let Maracaibo be a freakish mistake, no way it can be a true representation of venezuela'. Coming from living in Medellin for a year and then spending a few weeks in Cartagena (hottest girls in Colombia? get out of the tourist zone and check out the Centro Comercial La Castellana. I was impressed.) the change in quality was alarming.

The number one problem in Maracaibo is obesity. I'm talking about serious obesity the likes of which I didn't see once in my time in Colombia. There're fat people in Colombia but never did I see anyone who looked like they were just a few hamburgers away from needing to be transported by crane, like I saw on average at least 5 times a day in Maracaibo.

It was really strange to be honest. My first day checking out the city I went to the city centre where you find the basilica, parque bolivar and another big park with a statue of the virgin mary or something (Maracaibo's main tourist attractions, which I found extremely boring), and walking around you see all the ingredients for a sexy latina but somehow it just doesn't come together. The women in Maracaibo have a very healthy sens of vanity, you see a lot of high heels and boob jobs, good effort with the make up, nice colored skin etc, but a pretty face was a rare commodity and a girl with a pretty face who wasn't overweight was a fucking miracle.

I found out later that this applied equally for the nightlife that I saw. One of the most popular streets full of nightclubs is the Calle Carabobo, which is kind of cool looking street where the buildings are all traditional arquitecture and painted bright colors. It's got some fancy places with big covers so you expect to see the cream of the crop there but no, instead i saw groups of literally up to 6 girls ALL FAT.

Another spot you expect to find some pretty girls in Latin America is the fancy mall. In Maracaibo that is the Centro Comercial Sambil, and while there were a few pretty girls it was a barren wasteland when compared to places like El Tesoro or Santa Fe in Medellin.

Apart from the girls I found Maracaibo to be an ugly and apparently very dangerous city. Never in Colombia did I see people living with the kind of fear they have in Maracaibo. Waiting to pick up a friend from their house they would look around nervously and tell me to keep the doors locked and window up so we dont get carjacked, getting dropped off by the taxi after going out they'd have me just about running the 50 meters to the front door. I was told not to catch the bus because I would almost defintiely get robbed. I've NEVER felt that kind of insecurity in Colombia.

Despite all this, I should say that I had a reasonable time in Maracaibo. I stayed with three different couchsurfers and found them all to be great people and great hosts. Very generous and eager to share their culture (and convince me that venezuela is superior to colombia). Just don't come if you're only looking to hook up with cute venezolanas.

...I should mention one major advantage of Venezuela is that foreigners are a much rarer sight than in Colombia and it shows. Girls stare and show obvious interest the likes of which I haven't experienced in Colombia. I have the feeling Venezuela is a lot like Colombia 10-15 years ago (like a lot of people have said on this forum). If I can just find a nice city without an obesity epidemic it might be worthwhile to hang around for a little while. I've heard good things about Valencia....

Post: #6

thanks for bumpin the thread up.

i've been thinking of doing a long wknd in venezuela but with the wrinkle of traveling from columbia. the options i'm thinking of is crossing land border to maracaibo or fly to caracas.

won't be there for the sex (wink wink), just want to look/see, keep a low profile & collect 1 last passport stamp before i apply to renew mine (US).

is it still as dangerous as other places say it is?

Post: #7

Rasta87 i want to give you a +1 but you dont have the rate button on your page, i dont know why.

Anyway, when you say the girls are overweight in Macaraibo, are you sure you dont mean they have phat booties? Guys who are not into phat booty women, they tend to call them overweight, not sure if that is your case.

Also, do you mind if you breakdown a cartagena datasheet? We have limited info about cartagena on here.

Post: #8

(02-09-2012 11:49 AM)rasta87 Wrote:  Another spot you expect to find some pretty girls in Latin America is the fancy mall. In Maracaibo that is the Centro Comercial Sambil, and while there were a few pretty girls it was a barren wasteland when compared to places like El Tesoro or Santa Fe in Medellin.

Woooowwwww! I am speechless!

My condo in Medellin is 3 block from Tesoro Mall, and about 7 blocks form Santa Fe, so I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CALIBER OF WOMEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

To say that women do not compare to what you typically see in these 2 malls is enough for me to feel relief I never bothered going to Maracaibo.

Damn, that is very sad. Chavez swears Venezuela is superior to Colombia, in what fucking way? Th bowmen were the only thing I was guessing he had any shot at comparing, and I now I see not even that.


Mixx

Post: #9

@GunznButta

I think if you're just going to cross the border for a weekend you should consider Merida. I still haven't been there but it can not possibly be worse than Maracaibo and it's much more of a tourist destination so you'll find hostels and all that.

In terms of danger, I really don't know. In over 14 months in colombia I was never robbed once but here in Venezuela the level of fear is on another level like I mentioned. Now I'm staying near a city called Maracay and they were just telling me how this week the local gang which hangs around the main tunnel on the road to the city throwing sacks of rocks at the cars so they stop and can be robbed, killed 4 policemen when they stopped their car, including one of the district bigwigs. The family I'm staying with now say that I MUST NOT catch the bus to the city because I will almost definitely get robbed and theres even grafiti around the place demanding that the mayor stop the muggings on public transport. As I've still never personally been affected by the violence it still seems all a bit over the top to me.

@Pitt
It's true that I'm not into girls with big asses. I like them flacas. But even so, while there might be some you could classify as fat booty girls, there is definitely an obesity problem. Even the local guys said that I was right when I asked them what the fuck was going on.

Cartagena data sheet on the way. Don't expect too much, I'm not one for details.

@MiXX
I'm not judging venezuela by Maracaibo. There's no way it's a fair representation. No fucking way!

Post: #10

I have never been to Merida but also heard greatt hings. University town apparently loads of nice women. has anyone here been?