Caracas

Caracas Travel Guide

Whether gazing at the city's sprawling skyline from the 17th-story window of a high-rise hotel or strolling in the shadows of looming concrete edifices, one wistfully dreams of what Caracas might have been like had its sudden growth spurt occurred during any other architectural moment than the 1970s. Reckless and desperate in its quest for modernity, Caracas, with a few notable exceptions, sacrificed elegance and grace for the unbridled visual of its charmless urban center. But what redeems Caracas is the Caraqueños themselves: a diverse, young, and lively population that colors the grimy streets of the capital with laughter, music, and unrestrained enthusiasm. Hip, fast-paced, and altogether cosmopolitan, Caraqueños still manage to retain a warmth and amiability you may not expect to encounter in a city this vast.