10 Reasons to Love Venezuela and Its People

As Venezuela continues to roil in violent political unrest, our hearts are with the people of the this beautiful nation. And, as a reminder of all the things that are great about Venezuela, here is our list of 10 reasons to love Venezuela and its people.

1. A nation that honors its past. Unlike so many countries across the Americas, Venezuela honors and recognizes its indigenous peoples, of whom there are an estimated 500,000 remaining. The constitution acknowledges that the nation is multicultural and multilingual, and representatives from indigenous tribes hold seats in local and national government.

Read Related: With the Death of Hugo Chavez, Uncertainty in Venezuela

2. A diverse melting pot. Venezuela is a broad mix of cultures, from Spanish to African to indigenous, with influences from Italy, Germany, Portugal and even the United States. While Spanish is the official language, 30 indigenous languages are spoken, as is Arabic, Portuguese, German, English and Italian.

3. A sports loving nation. Baseball, an import from the U.S., is Venezuela’s most popular sport, followed by soccer and basketball. The Venezuelan national soccer (football) team is expected to make a strong showing in this year’s FIFA World CUp, to be held in Brazil.

4. A beautiful people. Venezuelans love their beauty pageants, and with good reason. The country has won more worldwide beauty pageants than any other nation. It even won back-to-back Miss Universe pageants–the only nation that can claim that.  

5. A rich culinary culture. Venezuelan cuisine mirrors its diverse culture, with heavy regional influences. From Latin American staples like beans and rice and empanadas, to grilled and shredded meats to African and indigenous dishes based on root vegetables, Venezuela has one of the richest culinary traditions of the Americas.

6. A legacy of dance and music. Venezuela’s melting pot extends to the dancefloor, where popular and traditional dances include the calipso, fulía, cantos de lavanderas, sebucán, and maremare. The joropo, the country’s national dance, is accompanied by the cuatro, a four-string, ukelele-type instrument indigenous to Venezuela.

7. Its greatest modern artist is a woman. Maria Sol Escobar, known as Marisol, is an internationally-acclaimed Venezuelan sculptor who was born (1930) in Paris and has lived in Caracas, Europe and the U.S. Her work in heavily influenced by indigenous ceramic sculptures and vessels from Venezuela.

8. Birthplace of a hero. Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, was the birthplace of Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), the revolutionary who freed Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia from Spanish rule.

9. A land of great natural beauty. Venezuela has one of the world’s biggest variety of ecosystems within one country, from tropical Gulf of Mexico beaches to Amazonian rainforest to desert plains to the snow-capped Andes. It is home to Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall and Venezuela’s number one tourist attraction. At 979m (3211 ft), it is about 16 times higher than Niagara Falls.

10. A resilient people. Venezuelans have witnessed a volatile 20th century and periods of uncertainty in the 21st century, including the current turmoil embroiling the nation. But its people remain hopeful, optimistic, and willing to risk their lives and security for the betterment of their country.