Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

Good tourist information on Venezuela is hard to come by. The country's Ministry of Tourism (MINTUR) was formed in 2005, to either directly replace or oversee several other rudderless bureaucracies. However, they offer precious little in the way of information or help geared toward individual travelers, and their website is entirely in Spanish. Your best bet is to search the Internet, or deal directly with hotels and tour operators working in Venezuela. The following websites contain useful information pertaining to the country.

• http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/venezuela: The University of Texas Latin American Studies Department's database features an extensive list of useful links.
• http://think-venezuela.net: Although somewhat clunky and poorly organized, Think Venezuela is still probably the best all-around general tourism site on Venezuela.
• www.embavenez-us.org: The website for the embassy of Venezuela in the United States has current information and a small section of links.
• http://english.eluniversal.com: The English-language site of one of the country's main daily newspaper, El Universal.

In Venezuela -- MINTUR (tel. 0212/208-4511; www.mintur.gob.ve) is the national tourism ministry. Its main office, located at the intersection of avenidas Francisco de Miranda and Principal de La Floresta, is open weekdays during business hours. The staff can give you a basic map and some brochures for hotels and attractions; however, they are not really geared to serve as an information source for individual tourists.

For the best tourism information in the country, contact the established tourism agencies, including Akanan Travel & Adventure (tel. 0212/715-5433 or 0414/116-0107; www.akanan.com), Cacao Expeditions (tel. 0212/977-1234; www.cacaotravel.com), Lost World Adventures (tel. 800/999-0558 in the U.S., or 0212/577-0303 in Caracas; www.lostworldadventures.com), and Natoura Adventure Tours (tel. 0274/252-4075; www.natoura.com). Most bookstores and many hotel gift shops around the country stock a small selection of maps and useful books (some in English) on Venezuelan history, culture, and tourism.

Telephone Dialing Info at a Glance -- Venezuela's phone system features a standardized system of seven-digit local numbers, with three-digit area codes. Note that you must add a zero before the three-digit area code when dialing from within Venezuela, but not when dialing to Venezuela from abroad.

• To place a call from your home country to Venezuela, dial the international access code (011 in the U.S. and Canada, 0011 in Australia, 0170 in New Zealand, 00 in the U.K.), plus the country code (58), plus the three-digit Venezuelan area code (Caracas 212, Isla de Margarita 295, Mérida 274), plus the seven-digit phone number.
• To place a local call within Venezuela, dial the seven-digit local number. To call another area within Venezuela, you must add a 0 before the three-digit area code. If you are calling from a cellphone, or between competing cellphone companies, you must also add the 0 before the three-digit area code. For information, dial tel. 113; to place national collect calls, dial tel. 101.

Entry Requirements

You need a valid passport to enter Venezuela. Upon arrival, citizens and residents of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand who enter by air or cruise ship are issued a free general visa valid for 90 days. You can extend your visa for up to 60 days at the Caracas office of the national immigration agency, Dirección de Identificación y Extranjería (DIEX; tel. 0800/664-3390 or 212/483-2070; www.onidex.gov.ve; Avenida Baralt, Edificio 1000, El Silencio, across from Plaza Miranda). In theory, you can apply for two consecutive extensions. The extensions cost between BsF45 and BsF70 ($21-$33/£10-£16), depending on the length of time you apply for. The office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm.

If you plan to enter Venezuela by sea or land, it is advisable to try to obtain a visa in advance from your nearest Venezuelan embassy or consulate, although, in practice, this is usually not necessary. When applied for in advance through a Venezuelan embassy or consulate, the visa costs BsF65 ($30/£15). However, you may be charged more depending on the processing fees and policies of your local embassy or consulate. I've heard reports that you may face an arbitrary charge of between BsF5 and BsF21 ($2.35-$9.80/£1.15-£4.80) at some of the crossings along the borders with Colombia and Brazil.

Venezuela requires children under 18 traveling alone, with one parent, or with a third party to present a copy of their birth certificate and written, notarized authorization by the absent parent(s) or legal guardian granting permission to travel alone, with one parent, or with a third party. For more details, contact your embassy or consulate.

Venezuelan Embassy Locations -- In the U.S.: 1099 30th St. NW, Washington, DC 20007 (tel. 202/342-2214; fax 202/342-6820; www.embavenez-us.org)

In Canada: 32 Range Rd., Ottawa, ON KIN 8J4 (tel. 613/235-5151; fax 613/235-3205; www.misionvenezuela.org)

In the U.K.: 1 Cromwell Rd., London SW7 2HW (tel. 020/7584-4206; fax 020/7589-8887; http://venezuela.embassyhomepage.com)

In Australia & New Zealand: 7 Culgoa Circuit, O'Malley, Canberra, ACT 2606 (tel. 02/6290-2967; fax 02/6290-2911; www.venezuela-emb.org.au)

Customs

You may bring into Venezuela all reasonable manner of electronic devices and items for personal use (including cameras, personal stereos, and laptop computers). Officially, you may bring in up to $3,000 (£1,500) worth of miscellaneous merchandise -- tobacco, liquor, chocolate, and the like. However, this is only loosely enforced. The guiding rule is to try to not attract the interest of immigration officials. Once their interest is piqued, they could decide to give you a hard time.

Money

In January 2008, Venezuela changed its unit of currency from the bolívar (Bs) to the bolívar fuerte (BsF). The change simply involves chopping three decimal points off of the severely devalued bolívar. So BsF1 is equivalent to the old 1,000 Bs. The former currency was popularly referred to as bolos, and it's my guess that the new currency will be called simply fuertes to distinguish it. During 2008, for an indefinite period, both currencies will freely circulate until the general public, banks, and businesses have had sufficient time to make the complete change. The new bolívar fuerte comes in paper bills of 2, 5, 10, 20, and BsF50, while there are coins of BsF1, as well as 1, 5, 10, 12.5, 25, and 50 céntimos. There are 100 céntimos (cents) to each BsF. In terms of the old bolívares, paper bills come in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 bolívares. There are coins of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 500 bolívares. There are even coins for céntimos (fractions of a bolívar), but the currency has devalued so much that these are virtually meaningless and increasingly rare. Tip: Many taxis, small shops, and restaurants are reluctant (and sometimes unable) to change larger denomination bills, so it's always good to try to keep a few smaller notes and coins on hand.

Currency Exchange & Rates -- At press time, the official exchange rate was BsF2.15 to US$1, and BsF4.37 to £1. However, the black-market exchange rate is radically different from the official rate. At press time, the unofficial exchange rate was approximately BsF4.50 to the dollar and BsF9.15 to the British Pound. The most common place to exchange hard currencies for bolívares at the black-market rate is the Simón Bolívar International airport. While this is technically illegal, and you should be careful about whom you deal with, it is very common. Note that if you are dealing with a Venezuelan-based tour agency, be sure to ask if they would be willing to buy your dollars, euros, or pounds at a more favorable rate. They usually are willing and able to exchange currency for you, and this takes some of the risk out of dealing with an unknown entity at the airport.

Prices in this guide are listed at the official exchange rate. Most restaurants, tour agencies, and attractions set their prices in bolívares fuertes. On the other hand, many hotel prices, particularly at the higher-end hotels, as well as tours and car rentals, are quoted in and pegged to the U.S. dollar.

Many banks do not exchange foreign currencies, and those that do often make the process cumbersome and unpleasant. But there are currency exchange offices in most major cities and tourist destinations, as well as 24-hour exchange offices in both the national and international airport terminals at the Simón Bolívar International Airport. While the official money exchange bureaus at the airport and around Caracas exchange at the official rate, you may find money exchange offices (casas de cambio) in outlying cities and tourist destinations that give a better rate. All credit card purchases and ATM withdrawals are charged at the official exchange rate.

Note: Exchanging your dollars, euros, or pounds at the black-market rate will more than double your buying power.

ATMs -- ATMs are readily available in Caracas and most major cities and tourist destinations. Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587; www.visa.com) are the two most popular networks; check the back of your ATM card to see which network your bank belongs to. Use the toll-free numbers to locate ATMs in your destination. It might take a few tries, but you should be able to find one connected to either, or both, of the PLUS and Cirrus systems that will allow you to withdraw bolívares against your home bank account. However, these will be sold to you at the official exchange rate.

Traveler's Checks -- In an era of almost universally accepted bank and credit cards, traveler's checks are becoming less and less common. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops that cater to foreign tourists will still accept and cash traveler's checks -- some will actually change them for you at or near the going black-market exchange rate -- but most will only change them at the official exchange rate, and they often exact a surcharge as well. Money-exchange houses will only change traveler's checks at the official rate and usually charge an additional 1% to 5% fee.

Credit Cards -- Credit cards are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions in all but the most remote destinations. American Express, MasterCard, and Visa have the greatest coverage, with a far smaller number of establishments accepting Diners Club. It is currently common practice to have to show a passport or photo ID when making a credit card purchase in Venezuela. Remember, credit card purchases are billed at the official exchange rate.

To report lost or stolen credit cards or traveler's checks, call the following numbers: American Express, tel. 0212/206-0222 or 0212/206-2796; Diners Club, tel. 0500/600-2424 or 0212/503-2461; MasterCard, tel. 0800/100-2902; and Visa, tel. 0800/100-2167 or 0212/285-2510.

When to Go

Peak Season -- November through February, when it's cold and bleak in Europe and North America, is the peak season in Venezuela, but you can enjoy the country any time of year. Venezuelans travel a lot within the country on holidays and during the school break lasting from late July through early September. It is often difficult to find a hotel room or bus or airline seat during these holidays, as well as during Christmas and Easter vacations. April through June is a fabulous time to enjoy great deals, deserted beaches, and glorious solitude in the more popular destinations.

Climate -- Venezuela has two distinct seasons: rainy (June-Oct) and dry (Nov-May). The rainy season is locally called invierno (winter), while the dry season is called verano (summer). However, temperatures vary principally according to altitude. Coastal and lowland areas are hot year-round, and temperatures drop as you rise in altitude.

Set at an altitude of some 1,000m (3,280 ft.), Caracas has an average temperature of 72°F (22°C), with little seasonal variation. Daytime highs can reach around 90°F (32°C) on clear sunny days. Nights get a little cooler, but you'll rarely need more than a light jacket or sweater.

Public Holidays -- Official public holidays celebrated in Venezuela include New Year's Day (Jan 1); Carnaval (the Mon and Tues before Ash Wednesday); Easter (Thurs and Fri of Holy Week are official holidays); Declaration of Independence (Apr 19); Labor Day (May 1); Battle of Carabobo (June 24); Independence Day (July 5); Birth of Simón Bolívar (July 24); Día de la Raza, or Discovery Day (Oct 12); and Christmas Day (Dec 25).

Health Concerns

Common Ailments -- Your chances of contracting any serious tropical disease in Venezuela are slim, especially if you stick to the major tourist destinations. However, malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, hepatitis, and leptospirosis all exist in Venezuela, so it's a good idea to be careful and consult your doctor before a trip here.

Yellow Fever, while very rare, does exist in some remote areas of Venezuela. A yellow fever vaccine, though not required, is often recommended and is good for 10 years. If you do get a yellow fever vaccine, be sure to carry a copy of the proof of vaccination.

Malaria is found predominantly in the jungle areas of the Amazonas and Bolívar states, as well as in the Orinoco Delta. Malaria prophylaxes are often recommended, but several have side effects and others are of questionable effectiveness. Consult your doctor as to what is currently considered the best preventive treatment for malaria. Be sure to ask whether a recommended drug will cause hypersensitivity to the sun; it would be a shame to travel here for the beaches and then have to hide under an umbrella the entire time. If you are in a malarial area, wear long pants and long sleeves, use insect repellent, and either sleep under a mosquito net or burn mosquito coils (similar to incense but with a pesticide).

Of greater concern may be dengue fever, which reached epidemic proportions in 2001 and again in 2003. Dengue fever is similar to malaria and is spread by an aggressive daytime mosquito. This mosquito seems to be most common in lowland urban areas, although dengue cases have been reported throughout the country. Dengue is also known as "bone-break fever" because it is usually accompanied by severe body aches. The first infection with dengue fever will make you very sick but should cause no permanent damage. However, a second infection with a different strain of the dengue virus can lead to internal hemorrhaging and may be life-threatening. Take the same precautions as you would against malaria.

Although cholera exists in Venezuela, your chances of contracting cholera while you're here are very slight. Avoid tap water and all unpeeled fruits and vegetables in more remote areas and at any hotels, restaurants, or public facilities that are obviously unsanitary.

The most common health concern for travelers to Venezuela is a touch of diarrhea. The best way to protect yourself from diarrhea is to avoid tap water and drinks or ice made from tap water. Those with really tender intestinal tracts should avoid uncooked fruits and vegetables likely to have been washed in tap water, unless you can peel and prepare them yourself.

Vaccinations -- No specific vaccinations are necessary for travel to Venezuela, although it is recommended that you be up-to-date on your tetanus, typhoid, and yellow-fever vaccines. It is also a good idea to get a vaccination for hepatitis A and B.

Health Precautions -- Staying healthy on a trip to Venezuela is predominantly a matter of being a little cautious about what you eat and drink, and using common sense. Know your physical limits and don't overexert yourself in the ocean, on hikes, or in athletic activities. Respect the tropical sun and protect yourself from it. Also try to protect yourself from biting insects, using a combination of repellent and light, loose long-sleeved clothing. I recommend buying and drinking bottled water or soft drinks, although the water in Caracas and in most of the major tourist destinations is reputed to be safe to drink.