About Francisco Salas Expertise Knowledge on air transportation, tourism in Venezuela and Caribbean, government organizacion, private sector investment oportunities, Venezuela logistics, Banking/Finance and Real Estate in Venezuela and Florida USA (Real Estate Broker and Mortgage Broker Lic. in Florida) Principal at Florida Home Trust Realty LLC, Miami FL.
Experience Civil Engineer, Aeronautical Engineer, Airplane Pilot Instrument rated, Master in Planning and Management
Organizations Venezuelan Chamber of Construction, Board of Directors Aeropuerto Caracas OMZ (SVCS)
Education/Credentials SM. Aeronautics and Astronautics MIT 1986
MS Infrastructure Planning and Management Stanford University 1983
MS Engineering Stanford University 1983
Civil Engineer Universidad Metropolitana 1980
Awards and Honors Sigma Xi The Scientific Research Society MIT Chapter 1985
Expert: Francisco Salas Date: 3/26/2008 Subject: Las Piedras, locations
Question QUESTION: HI Francisco:
I have read your answers to others regarding Aruba to Venezuela. You are most helpful. We have two extra days from Aruba and I'm thinking of flying to Las Piedras at LSP airport. We are interested despite the time. Exactly where is this city? When I look it up on the map, different websites give me more than one location and this occurs on more than one website. From Aruba to Las Piedras.what are the cities that it is closest too? How far away is Caracas or Valencia? What city or resort area would you recommend staying at and what limited sites would be best to concentrate on seeing from there in just two days. In the alternative, is it any better to fly to Caracas from Aruba, because of the sights? Please advise.
ANSWER: Hello Deborah:
There is nothing to see at Las Piedras, the real city name is Punto Fijo and also Cardon, is a city that serves one of the worlds largest oil refinery complex.
It is a deserted area. It is only 50 miles from Aruba, a flight takes less than 15 minutes.
My recommendation is that you can fly from Aruba to Maiquetia (that is Caracas International Airport) and from that airport fly for a 2 days one night at Los Roques. Once in Los Roques, let me suggest Posada La Corsaria and fly LTA (Aerotuy) from Maiquetia airport to Los Roques. Los Roques is paradise. You can find lots of information by just going to google.com and enter Los Roques
Caracas is only 200 miles from Aruba, a flight can take about 30 minutes in a jet airliner. Valencia is about the same flying time, is only 70 miles from Caracas.
Best regards,
Francisco
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Francisco,
Thank you for your extremely prompt and helpful answer! I am especially glad you told me there is nothing to see from Las Piedras! I took a good long look at Los Roques. It sounds like a truly amazing place and I would love to go there. However, since we will be spending most of our time on the Beach in Aruba, it might be best to sightsee in Venezuela. What is/are the cheapest airlines from AUA to Caracas? What can we see there or book for a 2 night/one day tour? Or is Valencia a better sightseeing spot? I did not see any direct flights from Aruba to Valencia. Is "Maiquetia" the same as "Simon Bolivar" Airport? Thank you. Deborah
Answer Hi Deborah:
There are three other sites besides Los Roques that deserve a special trip:
One is CANAIMA with a visit to Angel Falls (world highest waterfall), is a National Park and a completely different ecosystem.
Aerotuy (LTA) and RUTACA fly to Canaima.
The other is Merida, a nice city located in the Venezuelan Andes, has the longest and highest cable car....nice climate and views if you like mountain sites
The third one is Hato Garza or Hato Piņero: Any of the two has variety of tropical Flora and Fauna, that is a great example of the LLanos (Venezuelan flatlands) bird watchers are delighted
and also worth staying a nite is: La Mision near San Felipe, a colonial mansion with beautiful tropical gardens that you can tour on a white Arabic horses that pull a carriage.....
Tell me how many persons are in your group and when (date) and I can help with the travel arrangements...
Forget Valencia.....
Yes, Maiquetia Airport that serves the city of Caracas, is officially named: Aeropuerto Internacional Simon Bolivar de Maiquetia
