Venezuela is only the sixth largest country in South America, but its diversity in landscapes and nature is more extensive than in many of the larger countries. In fact, comparing its geography really doesn't do it justice: the country is simply unique. To learn Spanish in Venezuela is a perfect way to get to know this one of a kind country with its loads of natural diversity.

Venezuela lies at the northern extreme of South America, bordered by Colombia to the West, Brazil to the South, Guyana to the East, and the Caribbean Sea to the North. It seems to be South America in miniature: there are fine stretches of the Andes, huge areas of Amazonian rain forests, fertile plains known as llanos, miles of Caribbean shoreline, and even a small desert. The nation also has a few geographical superlatives, including the world's highest waterfall and South America's biggest lake, two attractions one should not miss when taking Spanish courses in Venezuela. Venezuela is as much a Caribbean country as it is a South American one. Parts of its shoreline could easily be mistaken for that of some paradisiacal Caribbean island, and at night the discos in Caracas come alive with rhythms from all over the Caribbean. There are quite a few people from all over the world who learn Spanish in Venezuela experiencing all of its wonders.

Because of its proximity to the Equator, Venezuela experiences few climatic variations. There are really only two seasons: dry and wet. The dry season lasts from December to April, the wet one from May to November. The average temperature is about 27C, but cooler temperatures prevail at higher elevations, especially in the Andes, where jackets are needed. Christopher Columbus was the first European to visit Venezuela. He came in 1498 during his third voyage to the New World, and landed on the Peninsula de Paria. More explorers came a year later, and it was Alonso de Ojeda who gave the country its name. Arriving at Lake Maracaibo, he admired the stilted houses that the Indians had build above the lake and called the place Venezuela - "Little Venice." A year after the Spanish established their first settlement.

Venezuelans are infamous in South America for their easy-going nature and fun-loving spirit. Most Venezuelans come from a mix of European, Indian, and African roots, while a minority is exclusively white, black, or Indian. So take your chance to attend to one of the Spanish courses in Venezuela and discover one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in South America!