Imagine a world full of beautiful people having the most mind-blowing sex known to man. Now envision this world somewhere along the Caribbean coast, where white sandy beaches meet scantily clad beauties shaking it to salsa beats. Is this world too good to be reality? Or is this reality the country of Venezuela?

If you opted for answer choice one, you need to visit Venezuela. If you opted for option two, you know you need to visit Venezuela!

A 2000 survey conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide found that Venezuela held the highest population of sexually content people in the world. A different study, conducted later that year, also found that the country ranked highest in terms of emphasis put on physical appearance, which makes it no surprise that more Miss Universe winners have hailed from Venezuela than from any other country. And what is even more interesting is that the country’s national sense of pride surrounding physical beauty, fashion and overall appearance is not only adopted by women but by men as well. To such an extent, in fact, that the country has recently begun holding an annual male beauty pageant.

Venezuela is located on the Caribbean coast of South America. Most of the country’s major cities, such as Caracas, are located along the coast. And a majority of the country’s population resides in these cities. Venezuelans spend a lot of time at the beach and their choice of swimwear is anything but boring. Bikinis tend to be on the skimpier side and it’s not uncommon to see people bathing topless or even naked.

Venezuelans are typically warm and affectionate people. It is common in the culture to greet friends with warm hugs and kisses on cheeks. In fact, warm greetings are not only the norm but considered to be a sign of good manners. Women typically hug and kiss members of both sexes. Men, on the other hand, limit kisses to females and give men hearty handshakes.

The main style of dance in Venezuela is the salsa. Salsa is a dance that combines European and African influences and can be found in any South American country. Anyone who has danced the salsa knows how intimate it can be. Of course, it’s also a light-hearted and fun dance that can be shared between friends and lovers alike.

Venezuelans take a more secular approach to sexuality and relationships despite the country’s Catholic influence. Couples tend to live together before marriage, or in lieu of it. And while adultery is frowned upon, divorce isn’t. In fact, it is a common occurrence and the country is seeing an increase in the number of single-parent households.

Homosexuality in Venezuela is not out in the open. While most Venezuelans are tolerant and accepting of the LGBTI community, old mentalities and the machismo that is typical of many South American cultures keep the community from becoming too mainstream.

And while Venezuela does not condemn same-sex unions, just last year the country’s Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriages could not be constitutionally authorized. This ruling came four years after the LGBTI rights organization Affirmative Union of Venezuela, or Association Civil Union Afirmativa de Venezuela, requested that the court review specific constitutional articles to see if they used discriminatory language against same-sex couples.

It should be noted, however, that the decision was not unanimous. “In a lengthy and impassioned dissent, Judge Carmen Zuleta de Merchan says that the rest of the magistrates failed to recognize the implicit rights that the Venezuelan constitution grants same-sex couples and says the ruling is based on social and religious prejudices long ingrained in the Venezuelan society.”

Because Venezuela is a country that has yet to fully embrace homosexuality, the gay community is more or less invisible and largely ignorant about HIV and HIV prevention. In an effort to combat the lack of information getting through to this community, a number of well-known gay Venezuelan photographers embarked on an effective and risqué campaign in 2002. These professionals took highly erotic photos of pornographic nature and placed them on postcards that were passed out at different venues frequented by the gay community. The main message being sent was that condoms result in better sex. The campaign’s goal has been to spread the word about safer sex in order to combat the AIDs epidemic.

In another courageous and artistic attempt to educate people about HIV and AIDs, the NGO, Accion Solidaria, put out a calendar late last year that spread messages about the fatal disease. What made the calendar so interesting and successful was that it featured a number of Venezuelan celebrities posing nude. These starlets and TV personalities conveyed messages of safer sex, contraception usage and facts about HIV. In order to make the calendar available to the mainstream, however, props and scenery were cleverly placed around the models to make the pictures less X-rated.

Prostitution is legal in Venezuela and is regulated by the government. There are many laws set around the profession. For example, involving a minor in the act of soliciting sex is punishable by three to six years in prison and can be even more severe if the minor is under 12 years of age. Despite its regulation, many prostitutes still answer to pimps and there is evidence of human trafficking into the country that makes it impossible to regulate all the prostitution going on within the country‘s borders.

Sex education has recently become mandatory in Venezuela but it is full of false theories and by no means comprehensive. An example of false sex education to teens is the promotion that HIV is contracted by disobeying parents and choosing to engage in sexual activity. Also, many Venezuelans are under the impression that HIV and other STDs are only contracted by homosexuals, prostitutes, promiscuous women and drug users. To make matters worse, studies have shown low condom usage among various groups including men, prostitutes and teens.

In a world where HIV is becoming more of a reality with each passing day, such misconceptions and statistical nightmares are incredibly alarming. The good news is that the current government is making the effort to remedy the problem by allocating more funds to social programs, healthcare and sex education.

Venezuelans clearly have the right attitude and mentality when it comes to sexuality, free-spiritedness and beauty. And with more emphasis put on the proper programs and schooling, the people of Venezuela will be able to enjoy themselves for generations to come.