Apure Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

Map of Apure

• 7.894-67.4731 San Fernando de Apure
• 7.766667-68.2333332 Achaguas — a small town in the center of the state
• 7.246667-70.7291673 Guasdualito — a town close to the border with Colombia
• 7.841667-67.5166674 Biruaca
• 8.051944-69.3291675 Bruzual
• 7.65-67.66 San Juan de Payara
• 7.059722-69.4966677 Elorza

• 7.540444-72.1871948 El Tamá National Park — This extensive National Park crosses into Colombia, although there are few facilities for tourists.

Apure is the biggest plains state in Los Llanos and the state capital, San Fernando, is widely considered the capital of the region. Flat grazing lands stretch as far as the eye can see.

By highway from Caracas, head south via Cúa, passing through San Juan de Los Morros until you reach San Fernando.

San Fernando de Apure can be reached by road, a 6-hour drive from Caracas or up to 8 hours by bus. The city has a small airport about 30 min outside the center with daily flights M-F to Caracas and Puerto Ayacucho. Call Venezolana airline for more details (☏ +58 212 6512218).

The impressive savanna wildlife.

There's little reason to stay in San Fernando de Apure unless as a base for exploring the Llanos. But if you are passing through:

• Plaza Bolívar - the city's leafy central square.
• Barbarito Palace - in Plaza Camejo, this early 20th-century building was a wealthy trade center that was attacked by bandits trying to steal its merchandise on more than one occasion. After years of neglect, the building has now been restored and houses a museum with original mosaics and frescoes.
• San Fernando Cathedral — this 1960s construction was designed by German architect Robert Klein and is notable for its bell-shaped roof.

Stay at one of the hatos below and go on safari.

• Gran Hotel Plaza, Calle Bolivar, opposite Plaza Bolivar, ☏ +58 247 3421255, +58 247 3421504, [email protected]. 
• Nuevo Hotel Apure, Av Maria Nieves, ☏ +58 247 3422214. 
• Hotel Trinacria, Av Miranda, Centro Comercial Trinacria, ☏ +58 247 3423578, +58 247 3423778. 

• Hato El Cedral, Near Mantecal, in the lower Llanos of Apure (a 3-hour drive from San Fernando, head towards Mantecal/Elorza; after passing through Mantecal take a left to Elorza and the ranch entrance is 15 min down on the left), ☏ +58 212 7818995, [email protected]. 
• Hato el Frío (180 km west of San Fernando), ☏ +58 240 8083662, +58 416 5409420, [email protected]. An excellent ranch and biological station