Puerto Colombia, Henri Pittier National Park, Venezuela
Check the stats. Six Miss Universe, five Miss World and a Miss Earth. As well as bearing some of the most beautiful women on the planet, Venezuela can also brag about being home to the longest Caribbean coast of any country. Beautiful women on beautiful beaches? Yeah, we thought that might interest you.
To reach the beach of Puerto Colombia, embrace your inner Bruce Parry and forge your way into the depths of the Henri Pittier National Park, Venezeula’s oldest and most diverse protected-area where pumas, monkeys and snakes are just some of the jungle critters creeping in the shade of its palms. If you pass through the colonial town of Choroni and onto the little fishing village of Puerto Colombia, you’ll find a buzzing beach town embracing its Afro roots.
Backed by a dense tropical cloud forest, take a hike through the hills (as former dictator Juan Vicente Gómez once did in order to escape), then kick back on the beach – the sand is soft on the foot and golden on the eye, while the water is Caribbean-clear. As soon as the sun starts to sink the drumming starts to rise – Puerto Colombia is famed for its tambores or drum dancing. So with rolling rumba beats, fresh juice and empanada stalls serving up the sunset snacks, this Afro beach vibe is unlike anywhere else in Venezuela…
WHEN: a year round sun spot
WHAT TO PACK FOR OUR BEACH OF THE WEEK:
A tambores beating beach like Venezuela’s Puerto Colombia, requires an equally uplifting playlist. Add Torsten Krol’s Robinson Crusoe-esque ‘The Dolphin People’ into this Porter day pack and as you keep the beach barnet in check with Shu Uemura’s Shape Paste, you’ll be mingling with the local ladies before you can shout “Chávez".
the bag: Porter day pack, Oki-ni, £255
the swimwear: Azur shorts, MYO, £138
the playlist:
Punta del Este (Arnej’s Minimal Drum Dub) by Blake Jarrell
Cumbia de los Muertos by Ozomatli
Sunny by Boogie Pimps
Quiero Tus Caricas (DJ Meme Club mix) by Hot Hands & Karyna
the products: Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shape Paste, £22 and Shiseido sun protection SPF50, £33.50
the read: The Dolphin People by Torsten Krol
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