Frequently Asked Questions
We receive so many questions from people who are interested in visiting Caracas and Venezuela that we simply do not have the resources to answer them individually. In this section, we aim to provide accurate and up-to-date answers to all the most frequently asked questions about Caracas and Venezuela but please remember that we are not doctors, lawyers, bankers or diplomats and it is always your responsibility to check with your doctor, tour operator, local Venezuelan embassy or similar expert for the most up-to-date information before you visit any foreign country.
This page was last updated on February 3, 2010.
We have organised our questions and answers under a few main headings to make it easier for you to find the information you are looking for. Click on any of the headings below to go straight to the relevant questions:
"El Sistema", the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel
SAFETY
How safe or dangerous is Caracas? What are the safe areas in Caracas? Which dangerous areas should I avoid?
Caracas can be safe or it can be potentially dangerous, much like most other large cities. It depends on which part of the city you're in, what time of day it is, and how prudent or how reckless you are. Like most big cities in the world, Caracas has areas where you will be secure day and night and it has parts that you shouldn't visit unless you've got a good reason and are suitably accompanied. In between, there are parts of the city that are safe during the day but are best avoided at night.
Our Carefree Caracas map, which we are currently developing, will show the city in terms of visitor interest and safety levels using our concept of GREEN and YELLOW zones. A GREEN zone is interesting and safe at any time of the day or night even if you don't speak Spanish and it's your first time in Caracas, while a YELLOW zone is safe enough and interesting during the daytime but you should probably not be there after dark unless you're part of a group that includes someone local who knows the area.
Many of the areas that are not classified as GREEN or YELLOW in the CareFree Caracas map are not dangerous but some can be, while others are industrial zones or residential suburbs that are of no interest to tourists. However, all of the most interesting buildings, venues, monuments and amenities of Caracas are located in the GREEN and YELLOW areas and we recommend that you keep to these areas. Caracas has so many rewarding attractions that you don't need to waste your time or risk your safety outside of our recommended zones. Caracas is also a very easy city to explore safely as you can see on our ABC of finding your way around Caracas page.
Please remember that when we say that you can safely walk around the streets on your own at any time of the day or night in a GREEN area, we don't mean that no crimes are ever committed in these areas. We mean that they are as safe as most parts of London, Paris, New York and other big cities, none of which are completely free of crime.
We are currently developing our Carefree Caracas map, which we hope to publish in 2009. In the meantime, we recommend that visitors treat the historic centre around Plaza Bolivar, the Bellas Artes museum area, the district of La Candelaria, and Sabana Grande as YELLOW areas, while most of Chacao (which includes Chacao itself, Altamira, La Castellana and Los Palos Grandes) is a GREEN area. Las Mercedes, famous for its restaurants and nightlife, is also a GREEN area but there is no nearby metro station so you'll need to take taxis unless you are staying in a hotel.
See our "ABC of Finding your Way around Caracas"" page for more detailed information.
How safe is the Caracas airport? How dangerous is the airport in Caracas? How can I get from the airport to Caracas safely?
Caracas has a modern International Airport located on the Caribbean coast, linked to the city by a fast motorway. The journey time is about 30-50 minutes, depending on which part of Caracas you're heading for, but this can double during the rainy season (June to November) after heavy rain. Security at the airport has been greatly increased in recent years but if you are not being met at the airport you will be approached by many people offering taxis, money-changing services or cut-price trips to other parts of Venezuela.
The golden safety rule is that you should decline all unsolicited offers; this is true not only of Caracas but also of most other cities in the world. If you want to arrange to be met by a reliable English-speaking driver/guide, we recommend that you contact one of our Carefree Caracas Approved Guides.
If you're not being met, change your money (US dollars are best) at the Italcambio office in the arrivals hall and either take one of the black Explorer taxis that are always lined up outside or the airport bus, which leaves from the nearby National Terminal. The bus goes to Parque Central, where there is a nearby metro station, and also stops on the way at Gato Negro where there is also a nearby metro station. During the day, the metro from Gato Negro will get you into the centre of Caracas faster than the airport bus but the Gato Negro area should be avoided after dark.
Are there any safety precautions I should take in Caracas?
Yes, and they are exactly the same as you should take in any other big city i.e.
(1) Find out which areas you should avoid and avoid them. In Caracas this means that if you don't speak fluent Spanish and don't know the city well you should keep to our GREEN and YELLOW zones.
(2) Don't flaunt wealth by wearing expensive jewellery or drawing large wads of cash from your wallet when paying for something.
(3) Try not to look like an obvious tourist by, for example, consulting your guidebook or map in the street or asking passers-by for directions. It's always better to do these in a shop or Internet cafe.
Try to dress like the locals, which in Caracas means smart casual clothes. Generally, Venezuelan men of all ages are conservative in dress and appearance. Men don't wear shorts in the streets and almost always have their hair cut short but not too short. Moustaches are quite common but beards less so. Women usually wear jeans or other types of trousers and the younger they are the more likely they are to wear "tight and bright" tops. Visible tattoos and body piercings, except for earrings, are rare. However, Venezuelans are particularly fond of T-shirts with English words or phrases, which for women are often deliberately or innocently suggestive, so if your T-shirt says "New York", "Bad Girl", "Night Clubber", "Hard Rock", "Harvard Boat Club", "Be My Guest", "Sexy Kitten" or "Keep on Partying", you'll blend in with the locals.
Are the taxis in Caracas safe? How do I find a safe taxi?
Most taxis in Caracas are safe but for maximum peace of mind we suggest that tourists use the licenced taxi firms that have designated stands. They usually have new, white cars with black and yellow markings, as shown on the right, although there are other equally reliable firms that have white and blue markings. If the car isn't new and clean and doesn't have the name of the company prominently displayed, don't take it. Taxis don't have meters so you need to ask the price first. Most taxi drivers don't speak English so if you don't speak Spanish you'll need to have your phrasebook handy.
Is it safe to hitch-hike in Venezuela?
No. As a rule, Venezuelan drivers do not stop and give lifts to anyone and you should be wary of anyone who does. You can travel all around Venezuela safely and cheaply by bus and it's not worth trying to save a few pounds by hitching.
Are there any poisonous snakes, spiders, centipedes or other animals in Caracas or Venezuela?
There are poisonous snakes, spiders and centipedes in Venezuela but you'll have to make an effort to find them. If you take an excursion to a rainforest, your guide can take you on a nocturnal expedition to photograph tarantulas and snakes but unless you make the effort, you're unlikely to encounter them. In Caracas, there are no hazardous animals. In the nearby cloud forests, there are some poisonous snakes and centipedes but, again, you're unlikely to encounter them unless you specifically take the trouble to search for them. If you don't like spiders of any kind, you'll love Caracas because it is rare to see one, presumably because for most of the year there are few flying insects.
ATTRACTIONS
What are the main tourist attractions in Caracas? What is there to see and do in Caracas?
The Ávila National Park, the historic centre, the museums, galleries and concert halls in the Bellas Artes area, the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra, the huge range of high quality restaurants, shopping, nightlife in Las Mercedes, social tourism ... it depends on your personal interests and how much time you are spending in Caracas.
Caracas was the birthplace of Simón Bolívar, who is buried in the Panteón Nacional, and the city contains numerous buildings associated with Venezuela's struggle for independence, such as the house where Bolívar was born (the Casa Natal), the Bolivarian Museum and the Consejo Municipal which has an expert, English-speaking guide. For cultural attractions, the Museum of Modern Art, the Teresa Carreño centre (ballet and orchestral concerts), the Ataneo cultural centre, the Museum of Natural Science and the National Art Gallery are all within a few minutes walk of Bellas Artes metro station, while the La Estancia centre is particularly recommended on Sundays when it usually offers free concerts at 11am. For nature, the Parque del Este and the walk up the Ávila trail to Sabas Nieves are two of the best attractions.
Caracas is a shopper's paradise and prices for genuine designer clothes and accessories are usually much lower than in Europe or America, thanks to the lower rents, wages and electricity and fuel costs. Caracas has many air-conditioned shopping malls such as the Centro Lido (a short walk east of Chacaito metro station), Centro Sambil, Centro San Ignacio (which becomes a popular nightlife centre in the evenings), and Centro Commercial Ciudad Tamanaco or CCCT. Our What to See and Do in Caracas page gives more information about some of these attractions.
HEALTH
Are there any special health issues in Caracas and Venezuela?
Venezuela does not present any more health hazards than any other tropical country and if you take the obvious precautions you'll have nothing to worry about. Most of the popular travel guides have sections dealing with health and you should consult the most up-to-date one but, above all, you should consult your doctor before you leave.
Do I need to take anti-malarials? Is malaria a risk in Caracas
Depending on the time of the year, there may be a few mosquitoes in Caracas but they won't be malarial. In some rural parts of Venezuela, malaria is present and you'll need anti-malarial medication. Discuss this with your doctor before you leave. Note that you can visit rainforest areas such as the Rio Caura without taking anti-malarials as the water there is rich in tannin that stops mosquitoes from breeding.
Do I need rabies protection?
Rabies is present in Venezuela, just as it is in mainland Europe and most parts of the world. The risk is not high but it's not worth taking. We recommend that you have up-to-date protection before travelling anywhere outside of a rabies-free country.
Is AIDS a risk in Venezuela?
AIDS (SIDA in Spanish) is not rampant in Venezuela but obviously it is present, as it is all over the world. If you're hoping to have sexual encounters with Venezuelans or with other tourists, please make sure you have condoms. They are on sale in pharmacies in the larger towns but may be hard to find elsewhere. You might prefer to bring your own.
Is it safe to drink the tap water?
Like most countries in the world, Venezuela does not have highly purified tap water. We wash fruit and vegetables in it and even brush our teeth with it but we don't drink it. Bottled drinking water is available everywhere. For the same reason, avoid ice in your drinks unless you know it has been made from mineral water. In cafes and bars it always will be but at some street stalls it might not be.
What do I do if I fall ill or have an accident?
The nationwide emergency services number is 171 but assuming you have suitable travel insurance you will probably want to use a private doctor or hospital. The standard of private medical care in Caracas is high. One of the best known private hospitals in Caracas is the Clinica El Avila (tel: 276 1533), a few blocks north of Altamira metro station.
VISAS & OTHER DOCUMENTS
Do I need a visa to visit Venezuela?
If you're arriving by air from Europe, the USA and most other English-speaking countries such as Canada or Australia, you don't need to get a visa in advance. On the plane, you'll be given a form to fill in that gives you a Tourist Entry Card valid for 90 days. Note that in addition to your passport (which should be valid for at least six months from the date of your entry) you'll officially need to have a return ticket or a ticket for an onward flight, though we've never been asked to show one. If you're entering Venezuela by any other method, you'll probably need a visa; check with your local Venezuelan embassy. Remember that a Tourist Entry Card means exactly what it says - if you're planning to do any kind of paid work while you are in Venezuela you will need an appropriate visa.
NB! Don't rely on the information we give here, as visa requirements sometimes change. Always check with the Venezuelan embassy in your country before booking your holiday.
Do I need to carry my passport at all times?
Technically the answer is yes but in practice a photocopy of the page containing your photograph and passport number is generally acceptable if you are asked for identification in the street but you must always have some form of identification. In Venezuela, everyone must carry identification at all times. For Venezuelan nationals this takes the form of a laminated ID card called a "cedula" or C.I. ("Cedula de Identidad"). If you are asked for your cedula, for example when paying by credit card, you can give your passport number instead.
What documents do I need to hire a car in Venezuela?
You'll need your passport and a suitable driving licence. Many national driving licences (e.g. a UK licence) are accepted but an international licence is better.
MONEY
What is the currency in Venezuela?
The Venezuelan currency is the bolívar and the current exhange rate is 4.3 to the US dollar. Note that if you are checking exhange rates on currency conversion websites such as xe.com, the abbreviation used for the bolívar fuerte is VEF.
How do I change money in Venezuela?
We recommend that you do it legally. Taxi drivers and waiters will often offer you black market rates that sound attractive but do you really want to go into a dark corner and hand over your wad of dollars to a complete stranger, especially when it is illegal? In Venezuela it is much easier to change US dollars than any other currency so we recommend that you bring US dollars in $100 notes, which you can change at the Italcambio office at the airport or at their other branches in Caracas and other major Venezuelan cities. Older guidebooks may say that hotels can change dollars for you but they are no longer allowed to do so. Don't bother with travellers' cheques; in theory you can cash them in banks but it will take hours. If you find yourself in a remote part of Venezuela with no nearby banks, you will always be able to find someone willing to accept dollars but not euros, pounds or anything else.
NOTE: Don't change more money than you are likely to need because you can't change unspent Bolivares back into dollars when you leave Venezuela.
How much cash can I bring into Venezuela?
At the time of writing, tourists are allowed to bring up to $10,000, which is far more than you need for a holiday. If you are thinking of bringing more than $10,000 in cash (or cash equivalents) you should ask the Venezuelan embassy in your country for advice.
Can I get cash from ATMs with my credit card?
Yes, but it's not easy. Until recently, many Venezuelan banks accepted foreign credit cards but most have adopted a new security step which effectively means that only their own customers can withdraw cash from their ATMs. According to the ATM Location sections of the Visa and Mastercard websites, both cards are accepted by Banco de Venezuela ATMs. Only one of us in the CFC team here has a current UK Visa card and we tested it (Dec 1, 2009) in a dozen different banks, including Banco de Venezuela, Banesco and Banco Mercantile, without success. The only bank that allowed us to withdraw cash was Citibank. This has three branches in Caracas, the most convenient of which is on Avenida Francisco de Miranda, half way between Chacao and Chacaito metro stations, opposite the large blue building called Centro Lido. The best way to manage your cash in Venezuela is to bring US dollars and change them for Bs as you need to.
Do I have to pay a departure tax when I am leaving Venezuela?
Yes, plus an airport tax if you are flying. When we last checked on July 2, 2009, these were BsF 110 and BsF 137,50, respectively which is about $125 in total. You can check the current taxes at the airport's website, which is www.aeropuerto-maiquetia.com.ve (Spanish only, "impuesto de salida" is the departure tax).
NOTE: If you search on the Internet for words such as "aeropuerto maiquetia" you may be directed to a website called www.aeropuerto-maiquetia.com. This is a PRETEND SITE i.e it is a website operated by a company that has registered a domain name similar to the one you are looking for but is not affiliated in any way to the website you want. The link on this page takes you to the real website of the Caracas airport.
The two taxes are paid at separate locations so allow time for queuing! We recommend that you arrive at the airport three hours before your flight departure time.
COMMUNICATIONS
Do I need to speak Spanish to visit Caracas?
If you have booked a holiday in Venezuela with a tour operator in your own country, language will not be an issue. The major tour operators outside Venezuela all work with leading Venezuelan tour operators and the standard of the local tour operators here is very high. The Venezuelan tour operators who handle any excursions you make to places like the Angel Falls or Roraima always have people who speak fluent English and often German, French or Italian as well.
If you are an independent traveller, you'll find it harder if you don't speak Spanish. As a general rule, most Venezuelan professionals such as doctors and lawyers speak some English but most shop assistants, taxi drivers, police and customs officers, bank workers and bus drivers do not. However, as English is the international language of tourism most of the larger hotels and restaurants and many posadas (guest-houses) will have staff who speak English.
If you don't speak Spanish, bring a Spanish phrase book and you'll probably get by. Most Venezuelans are friendly, patient people who will do their best to help you. If your Spanish phrase book contains a pronunciation guide for "Spanish" Spanish (which is called Castellana here), remember that in Latin America you don't need to lisp, which means that "cerveza" (beer) is pronounced "ser-VAY-sa", not "ther-VAY-tha". You may also find that the spanish "double-L" that in Spain is pronounced like the "lli" in "million" may be pronounced as a hard J (as in "Jam") in Venezuela. The English "V" is usually pronounced as "B" so "Vino Blanco" (white wine) sounds like "Beano Blanco". In addition, the final "s" is often omitted in plurals and words such as "dos" (two) or "más" (more).
How do I phone home?
Venezuela has a very good public and private telephone infrastructure. There are many public telephones in the streets, in the metro stations and in the shopping malls. Venezuelans don't vandalise their public phones so most of them work most of the time. They are all card-operated and you buy the prepaid cards ("tarjeta CANTV", pronounced "tar-hetta can-tay-vay") from newspaper kiosks at street corners. There are also many communications centres ("centro de conexiones" or "centro de comunicaciones"), mosly located in shopping malls or metro stations, where you can make international calls.
How can I access my email or the Internet?"
Caracas is full of internet cafes. Every shopping centre has at least one and in Caracas you're never more than a ten minute walk from a shopping centre. Generally, the cost is low and the people running it will often speak English. For most tourists, the major problem is that the computers all have Spanish keyboards and it is not immediately obvious how to type the all-important "@" symbol. The answer is that you hold down the "alt gr" key to the right of the space bar and then press the "2" key.
How do I send a postcard home?
Post it when you get back home. The postal service in Venezuela is slow and unreliable. If you need to send anything important home, use an international carrier such as DHL or Pakmail; they both have branches in Los Palos Grandes (5 minutes walk from Altamira metro station) and other parts of Caracas.
DRUGS
What is Venezuela's position on hard vs soft drugs?
Venezuela doesn't have a position on hard vs soft drugs. It has a single, zero-tolerance position on illegal drugs, which is that you will go to prison for a long time, whether you're caught with a gram of cannabis or a kilo of cocaine. Don't even think about it.
What if I legally buy coca leaves in Colombia or Ecuador?
Don't bring them into Venezuela - they are illegal drugs here.
MISCELLANEOUS
Will my hairdryer/electric toothbrush/mobile phone charger work in Caracas?
You will need to check the specifications of your equipment. Venezuela uses the same electrical system as the USA i.e. 110VAC/60Hz mains and US plugs and sockets. Many European electrical goods are designed to work from a 240VAC mains supply and won't work in Venezuela. However, if the mains input specification is from 110V you just need to bring a US adaptor.
What can I bring back as souvenirs?"
It depends on how much you want to spend. If you just want to bring back an inexpensive taste of Venezuela, all you need to do is go into a supermarket and buy some local chocolate or coffee, which are among the best in the world. Venezuela is also starting to build a reputation for its new wine industry - look for the Altagracia label. For indigenous crafts go to the Hannsi shop in El Hatillo.
What kind of clothing do I need?
For Caracas, light summer clothes are all you'll need, as well as something light and waterproof for when it rains. The rainy season in Caracas is June to November; showers can be heavy but are usually brief. However, getting wet isn't a problem in Caracas - the sun will soon dry you out. If you're planning to visit Mérida in the Andes - and if you can't fit this into your first visit to Venezuela, put it at the top of your list for your second visit - you'll need some warmer clothes. In addition, if your itinerary includes an overnight bus journey, bear in mind that Venezuelan bus companies practice extreme air conditioning; it will be a balmy, tropical night outside but inside the bus you'll need a sweater or a blanket.
What time zone is Venezuela in?
Venezuela is four and a half hours behind Greenwhich Mean Time but being a tropical country it does not have daylight saving times. This means that noon in Venezuela is either 4:30 pm or 5:30pm in London, depending on the time of year.
Can you really pick a mango from a tree in the middle of Caracas?
No, we were using poetic licence. Mango trees are tall and the fruit is usually out of reach.
Where can you see a wild sloth in Caracas?
Two of us saw one in the main square in El Hatillo in 2005 but your best bet is the Parque del Este, next to Miranda metro station. The sloth shown on our home page was caught napping by one of us during a lunchtime walk through the park. But don't get your hopes too high - sloths are shy creatures and the chances of seeing one on any particular visit are quite low.
Gustavo Dudamel, the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra and El Sistema
Can you arrange tickets for SBYO concerts or visits to the Sistema centres? Can you tell me when Gustavo Dudamel's next concert in the UK/Europe/USA is? How can I buy tickets?
Unfortunately, the short answer to all questions of this kind is no, we can't help. We are looking into ways in which visitors could see the wonderful Sistema in action and will publish news of our progress when we've made some.
In the meantime, the website of the Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela provides a wealth of information in English and Spanish. Gustavo Dudamel's personal website (www.gustavodudamel.com) also has a section devoted to El Sistema, as well as information about his forthcoming concerts, including details of each venue, including how to book tickets.