Ciudad Guayana
Venezuela · Americas
About Ciudad Guayana
Ciudad Guayana (English: Guayana City) is a city in Bolívar State, Venezuela. It stretches 40 kilometers along the south bank of the Orinoco river, at the point where it is joined by its main tributary, the Caroní River. The Caroní flows through the city from south to north, dividing it into its predominant halves — the old town of San Félix, to the east, and the newer area of Puerto Ordaz, to the west.
Ciudad Guayana was officially founded in 1961 by the unification of two former settlements, but the modern history of San Félix can be traced back to the eighteenth century. Located within the city limits are Cachamay Falls (part of Parque Cachamay) and Llovizna Falls. There are three bridges across the Caroní, and another crossing over the Orinoco, the Orinoquia Bridge, which was inaugurated in 2006. With approximately one million people in the greater metro area, Ciudad Guayana is Venezuela's fastest-growing city with its important iron, steel, aluminum and hydroelectric industries. Additionally, Ciudad Guayana is one of Venezuela's top-five most vital shipping locations (especially for most of the goods produced in Bolívar state), as ships and barges can easily access the port from the Atlantic Ocean via the Orinoco River.
Due to its planned nature, the city has a drastically different feel from many other South American cities. The towers of the Alta Vista district recall Barranquilla, and many of the residential neighborhoods have architecture and landscaping that are similar to suburbs in the United States from the 1950s through 1980s, such as subdivisions and 'cookie-cutter' homes, neatly-paved sidewalks, and manicured, patterned lawns. This is partly due to the presence, in the 1960s and early 1970s, of US Steel, an American company with ironworks operations in the region. US Steel built housing for hundreds of its American immigrant workers and their families, who lived in Puerto Ordaz (and other communities) until the nationalization of the Venezuelan steel industry forced the company and its workers to cease operations.
Ciudad Guayana is located in a very strategic spot for the country of Venezuela. Many international visitors have traveled there throughout its young history, from Pope John Paul II to many former American presidents, such as G.W. Bush; various musicians, artists, and even filmmakers, like Steven Spielberg, have visited, utilizing the scenic landscaping and city parks for movies.
Ciudad Guayana is served by Manuel Carlos Piar International Airport in Puerto Ordaz.
Ciudad Guayana travel guide
Understand
Ciudad Guayana was founded in 1961 by merging two towns on both of the riversides of the Orinoco, San Félix and Puerto Ordaz as a single city. The (BR-174) which connects the Orinoco towns of Ciudad Bolivar and Ciudad Guayana (or Puerto Ordaz) to Brazil. Buses run this route regularly. Puerto Ordaz is Venezuela's fastest growing town and is known for some spectacular waterfall parks within the city itself. The visitor infrastructure is still young but the university has long provided a good audience for interesting restaurants and nightspots. San Felix is the colonial town but has no historic building of note and contains the poorer sections of the sprawling urban area. Puerto Ordaz was founded in 1952 as an iron ore port. Many industries have settled in it, since its geographical position gives it many advantages, but the mining and particularly iron being its main industry. The iron ore is transformed into high grade iron ore pellets in local factories. The bulk of the areas production is exported. The state of Bolivar is also rich in bauxite, gold, diamonds and various kinds of clays for brick production. Since its foundation it has grown from two fledgling towns into the Guayana region's most important industrial center, and a hub of growth in a typically under populated region of Venezuela. The city stretches 40 kilometers along the south bank of the Orinoco. With approximately 1,300,000 people, it is a large city by Venezuelan standards. It is also the country's fastest-growing city, due to its important iron industry. It is also one of Venezuela's five most important ports, since most goods produced in Bolívar are shipped through it into the Atlantic Ocean, via the Orinoco river.
The Caroní River is a major river of the Orinoco basin in South America, having its source in South Eastern Venezuela, in the Guiana Highlands. It is a blackwater river, with the dark color of the water due to leaching from decomposed plant sediments, not from the amount of iron around the riverbed as is often suggested. The Caroní river meets with the Orinoco river and merges into it for approximately 13 km. The two rivers meet where Ciudad Guayana (city of Guiana) now exists. This city was created by the fusion of old cities of San Felix and Puerto Ordaz, on either side of the river.
Getting there
By plane There are several flights per day that link Puerto Ordaz with the capital Caracas (airlines Aserca, Aeropostal, Rutaca) with an estimated duration of 50 minutes. Flights everyday to Margarita island with Conviasa airlines with a duration of 45 min. Flights to Canaima (Gran Sabana) with small planes and airlines can be found in travel agencies and the airport.
By train
By car
By bus The main bus terminal is 1 Terminal de Pasajeros de San Felix. There are daily bus services from the capital Caracas, taking just over 13 hours. Regional buses also connect frequently with neighbouring Ciudad Bolivar. Express buses run from Santa Elena de Uairen, Maracay, Valencia and Caracas to the Puerto Ordaz bus terminal, which is somewhat out of town.
By boat
Getting around
The main routes are served by buses and porpuestos. Some of the main sights are only accessible by taxi.
See
Parque La Llovizna. A spectacularly beautiful island in the Rio Caroni with many streams and waterfalls. Parque Punta Vista. See the Rio Caroni join the Rio Orinoco Parque Loefling. A small zoo of endemic animals Parque Cachamay. Spectacular rapids of the Rio Caroni Guri Dam and Reservoir - Hydroelectricity provides some two thirds of Venezuela's energy needs, most of which comes from Guri. You can take a tour round the facilities.
Sleep
Budget Casa de Lobo, Calle Zambia 2, Manzana 39, Villa Africana (near Castello). Apparently the cheapest accommodation in town, not so easy to find, free coffee, kitchen use and Internet.
Mid-range
Splurge
Go next
The city has a Brazilian consul, on the way down to the Gran Sabana. This is the second last place before reaching the border where you can ask for a Brazilian visa (necessary for US, Canada, ...). The last place is at Santa Elena de Uairén, 12 km from the border. Getting the visa takes usually 1-3 days.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.