Maturin is a peaceful city which is relatively clean compared to other mid-sized Latin American cities. Crime is far less a problem than in Caracas or Valencia, and Maturin’s people are serious, industrious and very friendly. Few, however, speak English with fluency. It has some nightlife, and there are a number of good restaurants in town, with a wide variety of cuisine, with especially good Italian, Arab, and seafood fare. U.S.-type fast-food restaurants abound. There are McDonald’s, Wendy’s Subways, and a number of pizzerias. There are several fine hotels situated in Maturin, including the five-star Stauffer and Morichal Largo Hotels.
There are many interesting travel opportunities from Maturin. The Caribbean coast and the coastal cities of Puerto la Cruz, Cumana and Carupano are 2 ½ to 3 hours drive. There are many lovely beaches stretching all along the coast. Boat trips and diving around Parque National Mochima, which lies off the coast from Puerto La Cruz, and has an abundance of little islands, are popular. There is also a ferry to the much larger and popular Isla Margarita from Puerto la Cruz. Margarita Island is also accessible by direct flight from Maturin. Car rentals and buses are available. Por puestos, will take you to Puerto la Cruz or almost any other city within the surrounding states. A por puesto is a taxi that waits until it has 5 customers going to the same city.
Some other travel destinations from Maturin include: Canaima and Angel Falls, the world’s tallest waterfall, Trinidad and Tobago, the Orinoco River Delta where overnight river trips include fishing for piranhas, and the town of Caripe where the Guacharo Bird Cave is located. Camping is fairly safe in Venezuela, but in some areas it is recommended that you travel with a group of people. Air travel is fairly inexpensive within the country.
Maturin’s climate is hot. (90 degrees F. or more in the daytime, depending on overcast conditions). It is recommended that mostly cotton clothing be worn. In the evenings it does cool off quite a bit, but you’ll never even notice that you forgot to bring your jeans and long-sleeve shirt. From mid-November to February it gets a little cooler in the evenings, but still tropical. The only time a sweater or long-sleeve shirt may be needed is when you go to the movies or some restaurants that keep the air conditioning on high.
There are five major supermarkets in Maturin at this time: Unicasa, Cada (with a number of branches), Fiorca, Sigo and Makro (like Sam’s Club). Produce is relatively inexpensive. For a bit of adventure there is a very large public market where produce, meat, fish, live chickens, clothes, baskets, and various other items are sold. The best time to go there is early Saturday mornings. Everything is fresh, but don’t wear sandals, and be ready to smell a variety of aromas. There are many American food products available in Maturin, especially at Sigo, but they are more expensive than local products. Lastly, the fresh juices, found in coffee shops and restaurants everywhere, are wonderful. They are called “batidos” and are made by pureeing the fruit in a blender with ice and either water or milk. Strawberry, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, papaya, banana, and passion fruit (parchita) are a few that are available year around.
