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Venezuela
Piranhas, oil, plastic beauty queens and a tough-talking president with his own TV show - Venezuela's reputation is all heat and flash. Add the world's highest falls, the world's highest cablecar and the world's weirdest bird (the oilbird, who lives in caves and feels its way with whiskers), and you've got a pretty sensational brew. But the country also has its gentler pleasures - samba in Caracas, sunsoaked beaches and the chance to spot an ocelot.

Here're some sights you really shouldn't miss:

Cueva del Guácharo
Venezuela's longest cave system, the Guácharo Cave is a spelunker's delight. The 10.2km (6.3mi) cave is inhabited by the guácharo (oilbird), which lives in total darkness and leaves the cave only at night in search of food. From August to December, there are some 10,000 of them in the cave, along with a maze of stalactites and stalagmites.

Unique to this part of the world, the curious oilbird has a radar-location system (similar to bats) and enormous whiskers that enable it to navigate and feel about in the dark.

You can camp at the entrance to the cave after closing time and watch the hundreds of birds pouring out of the cave mouth at around 18:30 and returning at about 04:00. Hours: 8:00am-4:00pm

Angel Falls
Angel Falls is the world's highest waterfall and Venezuela's number-one tourist attraction. Its total height is 979m (3211ft), of which the uninterrupted drop is 807m (2646ft), about 16 times the height of Niagara Falls. The cascade spills off the heart-shaped Auyantepui, one of the largest of the tepuis (sandstone-capped mesa), into Devil's Canyon.

Angel Falls is not named after a divine creature, but after an American bush pilot, Jimmie Angel, who landed his four-seater airplane atop Auyantepui in 1937 while in search of gold.

The waterfall is situated in a distant, lush wilderness with no road access. Most visitors who visit by boat opt to stay overnight in hammocks at one of the camps near the base of the falls. The trip upriver, the surrounding area and the experience of staying at the camp are nearly as memorable as the waterfall itself.

Archipiélago Los Roques
Los Roques is a group of nearly 300 shimmering, sandy islands and islets that lie in aquamarine waters north of Caracas. Unlike other Caribbean islands, there are no high-rise hotels, no mass tourism and no cruise ships. For those who appreciate beaches, snorkeling and diving, a trip here is worth every bolívar.

The whole archipelago, complete with surrounding waters (2211 sq km/854 sq mi), was made a national park in 1972. With the exception of the resident pelicans, the majority of the islands are uninhabited and can be visited by boats from Gran Roque. The surrounding waters are known for their sealife, particularly lobsters.

FEATURED BLUELIST

» Andean Highs
By: Weezo

» Planet Blog
Our travel blog has authors reporting back from all the hidden crevices in the world, where they unearth some great finds, report on issues and raise some interesting points. In keeping with the theme, check this post:

Used to be that if Americans were feeling frisky, all they had to do was drive over the border into Tijuana to indulge in the vices not so easy to find back home. Maybe they'd even pick up a black market velvet Elvis. Or a Bart Simpson piggy bank. Or a box of Chiclets.

Not so simple these days. As of January 2007, Americans looking to take advantage of all that Mexico has to offer will need a passport. This is also true for those looking to see what Canada is all 'aboot.' Folks heading to the Caribbean will need to remember their all-important passport when visiting the islands - at least if they're going by land. Cruise ship passengers get a little bit of a reprieve due to a strong lobby - almost as strong as the NRA, only this time, Gopher's in charge, not Charlton Heston. You will need two forms of ID - your birth certificate and a driver's license - to embark and disembark the ship at all ports. Of course, all this is slated to change as of January 2008, so you might as well just get a passport.

The situation is ever-changing, so you might want to check here for the most up-to-date information. Of course, our take is you should already have a passport anyway, just in case you need to get the hell outta dodge.

This month, Tom, who has defected from our US office to our Melbourne office, recommends that anyone headed to Buenos Aires check out a great neighbourhood called San Telmo for its 'old, cobblestone streets, weird old market and rundown turn-of-the- century bars. It's currently undergoing a bit of a renaissance but it's still got a fantastic atmosphere. Try a vintage bar like El Federal - it's been going since 1864 and seems to be running on the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' ethos.'

Now here's a spin on travel insurance. When you buy a World Nomads travel insurance policy and contribute to a Footprints Community Project, Lonely Planet will add a further 5% of your policy price to your chosen project. Read more »

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