Today, Caracas is a sprawling urban jungle home to 5 million inhabitants (a quarter of the country’s total population), where impressive contemporary architecture is a stark contrast to the poor barrios of the suburbs, now spilling up the valley sides. Caracas, spreading for some 20km over the Guaira valley floor, is by far the most modern, metropolitan city on the continent and is the focal point of Venezuela’s trade and industry. The 360km² metropolitan district, constantly thronging with tireless Caraqueños is a hive of activity, with a wealth of shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars nightclubs, commercial plazas, cinemas, theatres and museums. Hotels in Caracas |