Things to Do in Venezuela in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Venezuela
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- December sits in the dry season lull - afternoon thunderstorms drop from daily to maybe twice a week, meaning you can plan Angel Falls flights without the usual 'maybe tomorrow' dance
- Christmas lights transform Caracas into something unrecognizable - the normally tense capital loosens up with food stalls on Avenida Francisco de Miranda selling hallacas (corn tamales wrapped in banana leaves) that locals queue 30 minutes for
- Morrocoy's water clears to swimming-pool visibility - the Caribbean coast gets its annual gift of minimal river runoff, so the cays 30 km (19 miles) west of Tucacas look like the postcards for once
- Island hoppers catch a break - Los Roques flights that cancel 40% of the time in July suddenly become reliable, and posadas that book out months ahead suddenly have last-minute availability
Considerations
- Christmas week prices jump 200-300% - what locals call 'precio navideño' hits everything from beach posadas to arepa stands, and the increase sticks through Three Kings Day (January 6)
- Caracas traffic becomes weaponized - what normally takes 45 minutes can stretch to three hours as everyone hits malls for holiday shopping, making airport transfers a calculated risk
- Some inland destinations practically shut down - heavy rains in October/November wash out roads to places like Santa Elena de Uairén, and repairs don't start until after the holidays
Best Activities in December
Angel Falls Flyover Tours
December's your sweet spot - the world's tallest waterfall still flows strong from October rains, but pilots can see through the clouds. Morning flights from Canaima have a 75% success rate versus 30% in July. The tepuis emerge from their usual cloud blankets, giving you those impossible photos of 979 m (3,212 ft) drops against blue sky.
Caracas Cable Car to El Ávila
December's trade winds clear the usual haze - from 2,100 m (6,890 ft) up, you can see the Caribbean 30 km (19 miles) north. The teleférico runs again after years of closure, and locals hit the summit trails on weekends for the cool 15°C (59°F) mountain air that's a blessed escape from the capital's heat.
Morrocoy Cay Snorkeling
The dry season turns these 30-odd coral cays into Caribbean perfection - visibility hits 25 m (82 ft) and the water hovers around 26°C (79°F). December's when you can swim between islands without fighting currents, and the usually-murky mangrove channels clear enough to spot seahorses.
Andean Páramo Trekking
Mérida's high-altitude grasslands hit their stride - December brings crisp 12°C (54°F) mornings with zero rainfall, perfect for 4,000 m (13,123 ft) passes. The frailejones (giant sunflower relatives) are in full bloom, turning the landscape into something that looks more alien than South American.
Los Roques Bonefishing
Bonefish migrate through the archipelago's flats in December, and the weather window means guides can find them. The 40-km (25-mile) stretch of white-sand flats between Gran Roque and Cayo de Agua becomes a natural aquarium when the sun hits right.
December Events & Festivals
Caracas Christmas Markets
The normally security-conscious capital drops its guard for street markets that take over Plaza Bolívar and Parque Central. Vendors sell everything from artificial trees to imported ham, while food stalls dish out pernil (roast pork) sandwiches that locals will wait 45 minutes for. The markets run nightly from December 10-24.
Parrandas de Agua
Falcon state's unique Christmas tradition - neighborhoods compete with homemade fireworks and drumming that starts at 4 AM on December 23rd and doesn't stop until Christmas morning. The town of Churuguara becomes a 48-hour percussion festival that locals swear cures hangovers.