Venezuela is one of the most urbanized countries in South America and many of its 30 million inhabitants live in major cities across the nation.

Caracas is the political capital of the country and the largest city with nearly six million residents. Located in the coastal mountain ranges of the north near the Atlantic Ocean, Caracas is undoubtedly the center of cultural and economic activity in Venezuela. With many international businesses, museums, shopping malls and the like, Caracas offers international volunteers an authentic and bustling view of Venezuelan urban life.

Other cities, such as Maracaibo, Valencia, and Barquisimeto, have foundations in the 16th century colonization of the area and today remain important hubs of Venezuelan culture and commerce. Though respectably developed, life in these cities can be quite intense for foreign volunteers not accustomed to the urban environment of developing countries.

Over a quarter of Venezuelans live below the poverty line, and many of the noticeable effects of this phenomenon are concentrated in the nation’s bigger cities. The underperforming economy contributes to the great impact of volunteer programs in Venezuela.

Venezuela is also extremely biodiverse, residing at the northern tip of South America near the equator. Home to thousands of indigenous species and a dramatic terrain that ranges from the Andes Mountains in the West to the Amazon Basin in the South, this geographical wonderland is well worth travelling extensively after completing volunteer work. Many volunteering programs in Venezuela place volunteers in more rural, untamed areas, for example projects focused on environmental conservation or social issues of rural living.