Venezuela

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Quick Facts

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Capital

Caracas

Population

24,000,000

Government

Republic

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)

Languages

Spanish

Calling Code

+58

Nationality

Local name

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Introduction

Playa Colorada

© All Rights Reserved snatterand

Bordered on the north by the ever-popular Caribbean Sea, Venezuela offers travellers the best of two worlds: beautiful sandy beaches along the warm blue waters of the Caribbean; and the stunning diversity of South America's inland. Indeed, if you care to venture beyond the beaches, Venezuela has a wealth of fantastic destinations. A trip to the world's tallest waterfall, Angel Falls, is unmissable. Nor is one to the impressive Andean range in Venezuela's western reaches. And for those adventurous travellers, the Venezuelan Amazon jungle boasts a remarkable set of exotic animals, including the tapir, jaguar, armadillo, anteater and the fearful anaconda.

Brief History

Geography

Venezuela shares international borders with Colombia, Brazil, Guyana and has ferries to Trinidad and Tobago. For more information on ferries read the article Caribbean ferries.

Regions

Venezuela is grouped into 23 states, which are grouped into 9 administrative regions.

• The Andean Region includes the states of Mérida, Táchira, Trujillo and the Páez Municipality of Apure
• The Capital Region includes Miranda, Vargas and the Capital District
• The Central Region includes Aragua, Carabobo
• The Central-Western Region includes Falcón, Lara and Yaracuy
• The Guayana Region includes Bolívar, Amazonas, Delta Amacuro
• The Insular Region includes Nueva Esparta, Federal Dependencies
• The Llanos Region includes Apure (excluding Paez Municipality), Guárico, Barinas, Cojedes, Portuguesa
• The North-Eastern Region includes Anzoátegui, Monagas, Sucre
• The Zulian Region only includes the state of Zulia

Cities

• Caracas
• Maracaibo
• Ciudad Bolívar
• Valencia
• Barcelona
• Mérida
• Ciudad Guayana

Sights and Activities

Los Llanos

Los Llanos is a vast grassy and swampy plain covering parts of the centre and south of Venezuela. This is one of the best places in the country to see wildlife, including anacondas, capybaras (the world's largest rodents) and caimans. Numerous birds live here as well, and with some luck you might even spot predators like jaguars. This area is thinly populated and several of the ranches are your best bet regarding sleeping and taking tours.

Canaima National Park

Canaima National Park is located in the southeast of the country and is one the UNESCO World Heritage list. It covers a vast table mountain landscape, with some parts covered in thick rainforest. It is also of interest for geologists and those keen on visiting on of the most Famous Waterfalls, the Angel Falls. La Gran Sabana is also part of this park. Angel Falls:

Sunrise at Angel Falls

© All Rights Reserved snatterand

Coro and its Port

One of the sights on the UNESCO World Heritage list, this port town is located northwest of the capital Caracas along the coast and is one of the best examples regarding colonial architecture with over 600 significant buildings to admire. Building styles include Spanish and Dutch influences.

Los Roques Archipelago

Los Roques is a beautiful chain of islands is located about 170 kilometers from the mainland of Venezuela and is the perfect place in the country to enjoy the Caribbean style life with beaches, diving, snorkelling and relaxing being your main activities here. Apart from around 40 islands there are approximately 250 coral reefs to choose from. The turtle sanctuary is of special interest as well.

Isla Margarita

A beach destination, but heavily developed and mainly visited by Venezuelans on holiday, attracted by the island's duty free status and package tourists from North America and Europe.

Merida and surroundings

Great mountain atmosphere with the Andes in the background. Home to the highest funicular in the world at over 4,700 metres above sea level. Many outdoor activities to choose from.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Most of Venezuela has a tropical climate with temperatures mostly around 30 degrees Celsius during the day and 20 degrees or more at night. Of course, in the Andes Mountains temperatures drop significantly and Merida has temperatures which are about 5 degrees less, both during the day as well as the nights.
Although most of the country has a wet season from April to October, there are huge variations throughout the country. While the northern coastal area has relatively little rain, especially in the western half (like Maracaibo), the southern parts of the country are much wetter with more variation as well. This applies to Llanos for example, the lowlying area around the Orinoco river. Temperatures in the south can hit 38 degrees in the warmest months.
On the southeast plateau at the border with Guyana temperatures are somewhat lower, but the rainy season is the same.

Getting there

Plane

Simón Bolívar International Airport of Maiquetia (CCS) near the capital Caracas is the main international airport, with a second one near Maracaibo: La Chinita International Airport (MAR). Aero Postal offers flights from both airports to Florida, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Aruba and Curacao. Iberia has flights to and from Madrid, while Lufthansa serves Frankfurt and Air France serves Paris. Other destinations are mainly within the region, Havana and a few American cities.

By Car

You can cross into Venezueal from both Brazil and Colombia. Border with the latter one might sometimes close for a short while, but they are open nowadays. Borders with Guyana are closed, you have to travel via Brazill. Have your documentationa, insurance, driver's licence and maybe a visa in order. If you leave the country, fill up on petrol, as prices are one of the lowest in the world.

By Bus

There are several options of getting to and from Colombia. There are direct buses between Caracas and Bogota, the capital of Colombia. If you want to visit the northern Caribbean coast of Colombia from Venezuela, there are direct buses from Caracas all the way to Santa Marta and Cartagena. These buses also travel to and from Maracaibo in Venezuela. It is often cheaper to use only domestic services in both countries and cross borders on foot.

To and from Brazil, the main crossing is between Santa Elana de Uairen and Pacaraima in Brazil. There are direct connections between Manaus and Boa Vista in Brazil to Ciudad Bolivar further north in Venezuela.

Boat

Venezuela - Trinidad and Tobago vv
There is supposed to be a weekly car ferry travelling between La Guiria in Venezuela and Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago but check the port authorities if this option is still available for travellers. The ferry arrives late in Trinidad and onward transport to Port of Spain can be hard to find.

Venezuela - Colombia vv
In the west of Venezuela there are several river crossings to and from Colombia, but they are mostly used by travellers that want to visit Colombia on a daytrip from Venezuela. The most used crossing is from the Venezuelan town of Puerto Ayachucho in the Amazon/Orinoco area of Venezuela. Onward travel further into Colombia is either impossible by land or not recommended due to drug traffic and other hazards. Best to fly onwards.

Getting Around

By Plane

Aserca, Avior and Santa Barbara Airlines all have scheduled domestic flights to almost all airports in the country, including Caracas, Maracaibo, Merida and Ciudad Bolivar.

By Train

There are no options to travel between towns within Venezuela by train.

By Car

Although the main roads in Venezuela are in an acceptable condition, some might be potholed and minor roads are of less quality. This is why it is important that you are very well prepared and informed about your route. Take a good road map with you like the Venezuela Laminated Map by Berndtson & Berndtson.

Renting a 4wd is the best option and you can rent one at major airports and cities from both international and local firms. Traffic drives on the right and petrol is one of the cheapest in the world. You need either your national driver's licence or an international permit.

By Bus

Travelling around by bus is the most popular way for travellers and buses are generally comfortable, relatively fast and safe and not overly expenisve. The main long distance bus companies are Rodovias, Aeroexpresos Ejecutivos and Peli Express.

By Boat

The only notable ferries are to and from Isla de Margarita. Other boat trips normally would include the ones on organised trips, like to the Salto Angel (Angel Falls).

Red Tape

No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days for citizens from the following countries:
Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Espaa, France, Germany Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay.

Money

See also Money Matters

A currency control system operates in Venezuela, which means it is impossible to officially buy other currencies in the country. In practice, it is possible to change local currency to dollars and occasionally euros on the black market. The black market gives far higher rates of exchange than the official, government regulated ones. If you do not use the black market rate, Venezuela is a very expensive country to visit. The only way a tourist will usually encounter the black market is in the form of a man approaching you (at the airport for example), quietly saying 'dollars, euros'. Changing money this way has a huge amount of risk (you could be given old bills/notes or simply be led away and robbed), however it is the only way to get the best value for your currency and consequently the best value for your visit to Venezuela.

Venezuela adopted the Bolivar Fuerte (BS.F) in January 2008. This involved knocking 3 zeros off the old Bolivar rate. The current official exchange rate is 1.8 BSF = 1 USD (The black market rate is currently 6.5 BSF = 1 USD).

The 2008 currency change means that, currently, about 3 different mintages of coins are currently in circulation. A large, silver 500 bolivar coin is in fact only worth 50 centimos in the current currency. There are also 50 bolivar coins, worth 5 centimos. 1000 bolivar coins are worth 1 BSf, 2000 BSF notes are worth 2 bolivares. You will also notice that locals still talk in the 'old' currency rate, saying 4 thousand bolivars, when they mean (and expect to receive) 4 BSF. Notes are available in 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2 BSF amounts. Coins in 1, 5, 10, 12.5 (!) and 50 centavos and 1 bolivar.

Costs in Caracas and Los Roques are exhorbitant. A 2009 survey placed Caracas as the 15th most expensive place to live in the world (higher than London, Berlin etc.). Also be aware that cost does not equal quality - which often remains poor. A notable exception is petrol, which costs about 1 USD to fill a car.

Work

ONIDEX is the state department which issues work visas. They are based in Caracas (Capitolio and a new office for foreigners in Los Ruices). Officially all work visas must be applied for through the company you wish to work for, well before arrival in the country. The process can take up to 4 months and requires medical, yellow fever vaccination, and the completion of various relevant forms by employer and employee. A work visa is issued for one year only at a time. It may be renewed. In practice some foreigners work without visas, but this may invite trouble from various authorities.

Study

Language

Related article: Spanish: Grammar, pronunciation and useful phrases

Spanish is the official language of Venezuela, but the native indigenous languages are officially recognized by the Constitution.

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

See also Travel Health

Safety

See also Travel Safety

Most international flights arrive at Caracas airport. According to the British Embassy in Caracas, this is one of the most dangerous places in the country. Use extreme caution when exiting the airport. Ask for ID from anyone 'official' in the arrivals hall who may ask to see your documents or money. Be wary when taking taxis - be met by someone from your hotel, a friend, or a travel agency instead. Official airport taxis are black landcruisers. The driver should have ID and the car will carry a copy of this ID.

Backpacking or hiking in the jungle and mountains within 80 kilometres of the Colombian border should be avoided due to guerilla activity in the area and a high risk of kidnapping.

According to the UN Venezuela has the highest per-capita gunshot death-rate in the world. In Caracas about 40 people are murdered each day. This mostly occurs between gangs on the edges of the city.

Although central areas are safe during the day, many areas of Caracas are no-go areas to foreigners - especially the barrios (which are of little tourist interest anyway) and areas West and East of the centre. Exercise extreme caution when walking around after dark or in areas where there are few other people. Also be aware of pickpocketing on the metro system and in any crowded places. In the month before Christmas, crime rates reach epidemic proportions.

Also be aware in clubs of being given drugged drinks (the drug burundanga is frequently used here, as in Colombia and Thailand, or having your drink spiked. Drugs have also been administered to tourists in the form of someone offering a perfume sample in a shopping mall. Distractions (someone bumping into you or dropping something nearby) should make you aware that someone may be pickpocketing you. In queues, when about to pay, be aware of someone running past and taking the card or cash from your hand.

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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