Caripe

Caripe sits in a valley at around eight hundred metres in the Turimiquire massif, high enough to be cool and green in a hot part of the country, and it has long been a coffee and citrus district with orange groves on the slopes around the town. It is the base for visiting the Cueva del Guácharo a few kilometres away, and the surrounding hills give walks to waterfalls, caves and viewpoints in cloud forest.

What you actually see

• The orange groves - citrus and coffee farming on the surrounding slopes.
• The cloud forest - the wet forest on the higher ground around the valley.
• The cave access - the town is the base for the Cueva del Guacharo.
• The waterfalls - falls in the hills reached on foot from the valley.

When to go

December to April is the driest. The altitude keeps it cool year round and nights are chilly. The wet season brings frequent afternoon rain.

Honest expectations

The town itself has few sights and works mainly as a base. Roads in the mountains are winding and slow. Accommodation is limited and basic.

Nearby

Cueva del Guacharo is nearby, and Mochima is north.