Practical Information

Airlines and Continental Airlines both fly to Caracas but offer no direct flights to Venezuela's Margarita Island for now. Plans are already under way to make direct flights available. They have flights from most major cities and flights route through Miami International to Caracas with connection into Margarita.

Airport Passenger Assistance: [empty]

Entry Requirements - To enter Venezuela, a valid passport from the country of origin is required, along with a visa - obtainable from consulates-, a tourist card, and a return ticket. No special vaccinations are required, although those traveling to the jungle should consult their physician as to whether or not they need protection from yellow fever and maleria.

Electricity: The electric system of the island works with 110 watts with 60 cycles. There are some 220 plugs available, but you should always check at your hotel's front desk.

Water: Running water flows constantly, since a giant pipe comes from the mainland plant. Bottled water, domestic and imported, is available in supermarkets, marts, hotels and restaurants.

Sun protection: Venezuela is located just 8 degrees above the Equator. The sun here is very direct and protection is recommended when planning to spend long periods of time outdoors. A hat, or a visor, is also recommended.

Weather Temperatures: Not much rain at all if any and the wind has picked up enough that it is a very enjoyable breeze during the day and cooler at night. We just got through about 4 Months of rain on and off during the months of November til about the beginning of March. Great beautiful sunny warm days ahead from here on out.

Schedules: Stores are open regularly Monday through Saturday, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm then re-open at 3:00 pm til about 8 pm. Many shops and stores have siesta time... very few stores are open all the time or "corrido" as they call it. They mostly close for 2 hours a day everyday. During peak seasons, some big stores stay open until midnight. Bank offices open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, and on Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm.

Tourist Information: [empty]

Security: Nothing like a Venezuelan to make you feel at home! Local citizens are social by nature. There is a police force which guards the security of the area. However, you know you shouldn't leave your personal belongings unattended, there is in general some significant level of insecurity, but it will deppends a lot of the specific places you visit.

Money Related Information: The official currency in Venezuela is the Bolívar. There is in Venezuela a exchange control to protect the local currency. As of December 2006 the Bolívar exchange official rate is at 2,150 per US dollar. American Dollars are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist facilities, however, most retailer do not provide a competitive exchange rate. You can also use your travel checks and ATM cards (to withdraw money from the machines). There are many money exchange offices and several banks offering conversion of dollars and traveler's checks. Of course, all transactions with credit cards or ATM machines will be at the official rate.

Some ATM rules for foreigners in Venezuela are:

1. You will have to be lightening fast on entering the information or the system will time out;
2. Sometimes you have to select "Credit Card" even if you have a debit card or other;
3. Don't take too much cash at a time. In some machines this is limited to 200,000 Bolívares per transaction. You will need to use the machine a few times to get the cash;
4. If the machine asks you for the last two digits or the first two digits of your personal identification, just type in any two digits;
5. Remember some machines could not work with your card. Try another bank if this happens;
6. Surcharges for electronic services/transactions could be expensive, take care of it;
7. Notify your Bank in advance that you plan on using your ATM card in Venezuela while you are on vacation. If your bank sees activity on your account they 'may' put a hold on your transactions.

All major credit cards (Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diner's Club...) are accepted widely in hotels, restaurants, stores and everywhere. You will be asked to show a picture ID when purchasing with them, so remember to carry it with you.

Maybe the best option is to bring all your cash in US Dollars and exchange it on the black market. There are plenty of shady money changers in airports, ask the hotel or guest house where you are staying the most convenient place to go to exchange your money, just be careful with unknow people as in any other place in the world. If you have friends or known people in Venezuela, it is a lot better to ask them for somebody interested in exchange your money because it is not difficult to find people who wants to get some USD's in cash for their personal usage.

The rates you get for one US dollar:

- Official exchange rate: 2,150 (banks, ATM's, POS, Currency Exchange Office) remember about surcharges;
- Cash on the black market: 2,300 to 3,000 (it varies a lot, deppends on amounts, demmand of season, political situation or places, rates of shady money changers in airports use to be lower).

If you get 2,500 instead of 2,100 for a dollar, you will have about 20% more spending power.

Driving in Venezuela - The maximum velocity in most Venezuelan roads is 80kph (55mph), but speed limits are not enforced. Although most highways are in good condition, roads in the countryside may have potholes which can be unsafe at high speeds. There  are also gravel and dirt roads for which a 4WD can be necessary - especially during the rainy season from May to October. For this reason it is very important to be informed about your route: take a good road map with you, but inform yourself furthermore about the road conditions when you plan your trip . you will find this information e.g. on the website of cochera andina ( www.cochera-andina.com).

Another thing: In the countryside, farm animals and wildlife cross roads frequently - drive with caution. Pay attention e specially at night: streets and other cars as well as bikes often have poor lights or none at all.

Venezuelans are known to make their own rules when they get behind the wheel. Most drivers consider the symbolic references of traffic lights as mere suggestions-- so be careful when crossing an intersection, even when your light is green! Always use taxis belonging to a legitimate Taxi company. PLEASE >>> Do not accept rides from people in unmarked vehicles using their cars as a taxi just to be on the safe side. Be care with cab fares, in general they will inflate prices as soon as they note you are a tourist. Remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road. The rule of thumb is that the right-of-way belongs to whoever gets their vehicle's 'nose' out in the intersection first.

Don't be afraid to rent a car while you are on vacation in Venezuela. The roads are clean and clear and there are gas station everywhere. They have BP, PDV and Texco gas stations. All you have to do show them the grade of gas you want and point to the one you want and say full. Or you can try saying sin plomo to the attendants it means unleaded and say full por favor. Its easy to pay since you can see it on the pump and give the attendant the correct amount of bolivars.

Renting a car is not essential, but it does make it easier. Budget ( www.budget.com.ve) and Hertz ( www.hertz.com) all have offices at the airports.

National Holidays -Besides the patriotic holidays, like Independence Day (July 5th), the most popular holidays which most Venezuelans observe include: Christmas day, New Year's day, Carnival, and Holy week.

Fixed Holidays:

1 January New Year's Day

19 April Mov. Precursor de la Independencia

1 May Labor Day

24 June Battle of Carabobo

5 July Firma Acta de Independencia

24 July Birth of the Libertador (Bolivar Day)

12 October Dia de la Raza/Columbus Day

25 December Christmas Day

31 December New Year's Eve (unofficial but general)

Many businesses and commercial establishments close from the December 24 to January 1, inclusive.

Moveable Holidays:

Feast 2002 2003 2004 2005

Carnival Feb 11-12, March 3-4, Feb 23-24

Saints Week (Semana Santa) March 19-26 2005

Palm Sunday Mar 24, Apr 13, Apr 4

Holy Thursday Mar 28, Apr 17, Apr 8

Good Friday Mar 29, Apr 18, Apr 9

Easter Mar 31, Apr 20, Apr 11

Ascension (banks only) May 9, May 29, May 20

Carnival (Mardi Gras) is celebrated on Tuesdays. With the preceding Monday being granted a holiday, most Venezuelans vacate the city and head for the beach for this extra long weekend.

As a predominately Catholic country, Venezuela observes Holy Week (between Palm Sunday and Easter). Many Venezuelans spend this week away at beaches and other popular destinations.

Major Fiestas: The following fiestas are folkloric celebrations which can offer as much enjoyment to spectators as they do to those that participate in these colorful events.

January 6, La Paradura del Niño (The Parade of Baby Jesus)- Andes states of Táchira, Mérida, and Trujillo. March Los Tambores de Barlovento (The Drums of Barlovento)- Barlovento, Miranda state at the beginning of the rainy season. May 3 La Cruz de Mayo (The cross of May) - provincial towns.

Moveable Fiestas: Feast 2002 2003 2004 Corpus Christi Los Diablos de Yare -the main cities of the Federal District, Aragua state, Miranda state, and Cojedes state May 30, Jun 19, Jun 10.

Venezuela cuisine - The food in Venezuela is generally easy and flavorful. Caracas claims to have a greater variety of restaurants than any other South American city, and it would certainly be a pleasure to try and prove it, even if you failed. Venezuelan cooking has European, indigenous, and African roots - a heterodox cuisine formed over the centuries by immigrants.

Some native dishes:

Pabellon - stewed and shredded meat accompanied by rice, black beans, and banana

Hallaca - a traditional Christmas dish. Cachapa - a type of sweet corn pancake served with cheese.

Arepas - a type of round cornmeal biscuit.

Local products are very favorable. So that you can imagine it better (Dec 2006):

Cheap lunch: 12,000 Bs.

An arepa: 5,000 to 7,000 Bs.

An Empanada (typical breakfast) : 1,500 Bs.

A Coca Cola (from a street business): 2,000 Bs:

A local beer (in the supermarket): 1,000 Bs.

A Pizza Margarita (medium level restaurant): 16,000 Bs.

A Pizza Hawaii (pizza home service): 20,000 Bs.

A cocktail directly at the beach: 15,000 Bs.

Entry in a discothèque: up to 20,000 Bs.

Swimming trunks (on the market): approximately 40,000 - 90,000 Bs.

Swimsuits (on the market): approximately 60,000 - 120,000 Bs.

A McDonald's combo meal: 11,000 - 15,000 Bs.

Mineral water per liter (on the market): 1,000 Bs.

91 octane gasoline per liter: 70 Bs. (265 Bs. per gallon)
95 octane gasoline per liter: 97 Bs. (367 Bs. per gallon) (yes, that cheap)

Parking places per hour: 1,200 Bs.