Things to Do in Venezuela in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Venezuela
Long-run averages for December in Caracas
80°F (27°C)
High Temp
65°F (18°C)
Low Temp
4.2 inches (107 mm)
Rainfall
86%
Humidity
10
Sunny-Day UV
⚠ Mountain hikers, watch the sky. Afternoon thunderstorms still roll through. Trails turn slick fast. Visibility drops without warning. Pack proper gear and start early.
Making the most of December in Venezuela? Browse tours and activities in Venezuela on GetYourGuide.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + December kicks off the dry season across the Llanos plains and the Andes. Wildlife viewing at Hato Piñero turns reliably spectacular. Hiking trails around Mérida shed their mud. The preceding months are behind you.
- + Caracas feels fresher now. Humidity drops slightly from November's peak. Early mornings in Altamira or El Hatillo hit 18°C (65°F). That crispness vanishes by March. Savor it while you can.
- + Peak season arrives for coastal trade winds along the Caribbean shore. Playa Colorada in Morrocoy National Park comes alive. Eastern beaches near Cumaná deliver steady, predictable breezes. Kitesurfers and sailors, take note. The conditions are prime.
- + Festive energy builds through December. Colonia Tovar leads the charge. Glühwein and roasted chestnuts fill cobblestone streets by mid-month. A Germanic Christmas lives here, improbably, in the Venezuelan mountains. Strange. Wonderful. Worth seeking out.
Considerations
- − International flights into Simón Bolívar International Airport tighten after December 10th. Last-minute fares become a genuine splurge. The diaspora returns home for the holidays. Book early. Pay less.
- − Caracas dries out. But the Andes can still surprise you. Afternoon clouds swallow Pico Bolívar by 3 PM. Summit attempts need very early starts. Cable car rides to Mérida's peaks require the same discipline. Beat the weather.
- − Pre-holiday traffic surges hit Caracas and Maracaibo from around December 15th. A 20-minute cross-town drive stretches to an hour. Honking horns. Exhaust fumes. Plan accordingly. Leave earlier than you think.
Short on time in December? See day trips around Venezuela on GetYourGuide.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Angel Falls Overflight and Canaima Lagoon Tours
December delivers Salto Ángel at full, thunderous power. Tributaries are full from the rainy season. Skies over Canaima National Park are clearing. You hear the roar before you see the mist. The world's highest waterfall crashes into Devil's Canyon basin. Flights from Ciudad Bolívar or Puerto Ordaz provide the only real view. From above, tepuis rise like stone islands in a green sea. Book through licensed operators (see current options in booking section below). Include the lagoon boat ride. Feel the spray.
Booking Tip: Secure your spot 10-14 days ahead. Morning flight slots are best. Light cuts through mist then. Choose operators with boat transfers across Canaima Lagoon. The tea-colored water passes indigenous Pemón communities. Weather cancellations happen. Build flexibility into your schedule. Patience pays.
Andean Hiking and Páramo Exploration
Trails around Mérida hit peak accessibility now. The route to Laguna Negra is firm underfoot. October-November rains have passed. The páramo ecosystem glows green. Frailejón plants stand like fuzzy sentinels. Air at 3,000 meters (9,842 ft) is cool and thin. Scent of damp earth and alpine flora follows you. Volcanic gravel crunches. Paramo birds call in the distance. Multi-day treks into the Sierra Nevada work now. Your gear stays dry. Daily downpours are gone.
Booking Tip: Book guided treks a week or two ahead. Guides must register with Inparques. Day hikes to Los Nevados arrange faster. Local outfitters in Mérida often need just a day's notice. The booking widget below shows current options. Check it.
Caribbean Sailing and Morrocoy National Park Island-Hopping
December trade winds dominate waters between Tucacas and the Morrocoy keys. Canvas snaps. Hulls cut turquoise water. No outboard drone here. Island-hop to Cayo Sombrero. Sand blinds you white. Water shifts aquamarine to deep navy over coral. Salt spray hits your face. Lancheros sell fresh pineapple. Snorkeling improves enough for parrotfish and sea fans. Venezuela does not specialize here. But it suffices. Pure Caribbean immersion. One day. All senses.
Booking Tip: Book full-day sailing charters from Tucacas or Chichiriviche a few days ahead. Public ferries to main cays need early arrival. Hit the dock by 8 AM. Skip the lines. Private lancha tours negotiate on the spot. More options exist if arranged a day prior. Check the booking section for current sailing tour availability.
Llanos Wildlife Safaris from San Fernando de Apure
Los Llanos grasslands begin drying in December. Wildlife concentrates around remaining waterholes. Prime time begins. Capybaras graze in family groups. Pink river dolphins surface in slow channels. Anacondas bask on muddy banks. Howler monkeys chorus at dawn. Caimans splash. Birdsong fills the air. Night drives reveal red caiman eyes in flashlight beams. Giant armadillos scurry. Heat is intense. The wildlife justifies it. Pack patience. Bring water.
Booking Tip: Book eco-lodges or hatos 2-3 weeks ahead for December. These are all-inclusive, multi-day experiences. Guided boat and jeep safaris included. Demand experienced, naturalist guides. Current tour packages appear in the booking widget. Start there.
Historic Center and Cable Car Exploration in Caracas
Caracas in December carries a certain energy. The jacaranda trees might still be blooming purple, and the cooler mornings make walking the historic center pleasant. Start at Plaza Bolívar. Feel the worn cobblestones underfoot and hear the bells of the Cathedral. The musty, paper-scented air inside the Biblioteca Nacional is a stark contrast to the diesel and arepa grill smells of the street. Then, take the cable car from Parque Nacional El Ávila up to Galipán. As you ascend 2,100 meters (6,890 ft), the city noise fades into a mountain quiet broken only by wind and birds. At the top, the temperature drops noticeably. You can sip a thick hot chocolate while looking down at the coastal sprawl.
Booking Tip: The cable car (Teleférico de Caracas) often has lines, on weekends. Go on a weekday morning for the shortest wait. For the historic center, consider a guided walking tour to navigate the complex layers of history. Book these a few days ahead. Current tour options are listed in the booking section below.
Where to Stay in Venezuela in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Nochebuena
Known in English as Christmas Eve. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Navidad
Known in English as Christmas Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Nochevieja
Known in English as New Year's Eve. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Nochebuena
Known in English as Christmas Eve. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Navidad
Known in English as Christmas Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Nochevieja
Known in English as New Year's Eve. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Nochebuena
Known in English as Christmas Eve. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Navidad
Known in English as Christmas Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Nochevieja
Known in English as New Year's Eve. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Venezuela Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
For Angel Falls, the flight is the only way. The multi-day river trek to the base, while an adventure, is often still too wet and muddy in early December to be enjoyable. The aerial view is more striking.
In Caracas, skip the generic downtown hotels. Look for guesthouses or boutique stays in the neighborhoods of Altamira, Los Palos Grandes, or El Hatillo. You'll get tree-lined streets, better cafes, and a more walkable, local feel.
The best arepas aren't at sit-down restaurants. Find the corner stalls where the grill is constantly going. Listen for the sizzle of the corn dough hitting the budare (griddle) and look for the golden, slightly crispy exterior. Ask for 'raspada' (shredded beef) or 'reina pepiada' (chicken-avocado salad).
If you're heading to the coast, remember that December 8th (Immaculate Conception) and December 25th are major national holidays. Many businesses, transport services, and even some tour operators will be closed or running limited schedules. Plan movement and groceries accordingly.
Avoid These Mistakes
Underestimating travel times. Venezuela is huge. A 'short' hop from Caracas to Ciudad Bolívar for an Angel Falls trip is still a full day of travel by road or a booked flight. Don't try to cram too many regions into a short December trip.
Packing only for beach heat. The thermal shift in the Andes is real. Travelers show up in Mérida with shorts and tank tops, then spend their first evening shivering and buying overpriced sweaters from tourist shops.
Changing large amounts of money at the airport. The exchange apparatus is complex. It's far better to bring crisp US dollars in smaller denominations and use the widespread, secure digital transfer services that locals use for everyday transactions.
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