Where is Venezuela?
Venezuela is tucked in the northern corner of South America, boasting a coastline along the turquoise Caribbean Sea. It’s stuck between three main neighbours on the mainland: Colombia to the west, Brazil down south, and Guyana to the east. Beyond that, it shares maritime borders with island nations and territories like Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and even reaches out to the Netherlands’ ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao). So geographically, Venezuela sits in a vibrant and diverse patch of the world, mixing Caribbean vibes with the lushness of the Amazon and Andes.
Venezuela's Neighbours
Starting on the western border, Colombia stretches far and wide, wrapping around Venezuela through complex geography including mountainous Andes regions and sprawling plains. On the southeast side lies Brazil, which is mostly jungle and unspoiled wilderness, and it’s where you’ll find Venezuela’s vast Amazon basin. To the east, Guyana is both a neighbour and a touchy subject, because of the famous border dispute (more on that later). Beyond land borders, Venezuela’s coast faces many small islands and islets that pepper the Caribbean Sea, linking it culturally and economically to the wider Caribbean community.
Inside Venezuela: the regions
Venezuela is no one-trick pony. It’s split into several key regions: the Andes with chilly mountain air and colonial towns, the vast grasslands called Los Llanos where cowboys ride horses, the Amazon rainforest ecosystems alive with indigenous culture and wildlife, the Caribbean coast with booming cities and tropical islands, and the mineral-rich Guayana region in the southeast with the awe-inspiring Angel Falls. This variety means the maps are your best friend for figuring out where to go and what to explore next.
The Border Dispute with Guyana
The Essequibo region, claimed by Venezuela but governed by Guyana, is basically the geopolitical hot potato of the area. This territory is immense, about two-thirds of Guyana’s land, and abundant in natural resources like oil, which keeps the issue hot. The dispute traces back to colonial times and never really cooled off, with fresh tensions flaring in recent years thanks to energy discoveries. For travellers, it’s mostly a backdrop to be aware of. Crossing here means sticking to official routes and maybe keeping an eye on news headlines for any sudden updates.
