Venezuela

Visa requirements

Citizens of the following countries may not require a visa to visit Venezuela for tourist purposes only for up to 90 days (a tourist-card will be issued instead): Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran (max. 15 days), Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nevis, New Zealand…

The country has been ongoing record breaking inflation and hyperinflation for more than 20 years, while also imposing oreign exchange control. Venezuela's currency is called Bolívar, or officially the Bolívar Digital (ISO code VED), after a third redenomination in 2021 to replace the Bolívar Soberano at a rate of 1:1,000,000. The Bolívar soberano (BsS.) had replaced the Bolívar Fuerte (BsF) in 2018 at a rate of 1:100,000. The Bolívar Fuerte had replaced the original Bolívar in 2007 at the rate of 1:1,000. One Bolívar Digital is therefore equivalent to 100 trillion original Bolívars (ISO:VEB in…

General

Travelers in Venezuela are obliged to carry identification. There are military checkpoints on many roads, so while traveling by car or bus keep your passport handy, ideally you should keep a color photocopy of your passport. Should your passport be stolen, this will facilitate procedures with your local consulate. The military presence is constant, yet is not usually cause for concern. That having been said, there are corrupt officials. It is wise to keep a close eye on your belongings when, for instance, bags are being checked for drugs. A soldier of the Guardia Nacional (Nation…

Spanish is the official language of Venezuela, accompanied by numerous indigenous languages (usually never heard except in the Amazon region). Venezuelan Spanish is also heavily influenced by Italian, a result of the large influx of Italian settlers. Hand gestures derived from Italy are sometimes common, and many colloquialisms are borrowed from Italian (for example: instead of saying "cerveza", which means beer, youngsters find "birra" cooler, which is in Italian); Italian also influenced the i…

Venezuela suffers from widespread poverty, corruption, and crime. Venezuela has one of the highest homicide rates worldwide. It is necessary to be vigilant when in crowded cities, as pickpockets and muggers may be around. Most sections of large cities are not safe to walk at night. Stay in populated areas. Always travel by vehicle at night. The outskirts of many cities are very poor and crime-ridden, and are not appropriate for tourists. When in doubt, ask local inhabitants or taxi drivers whether an area is safe or not. In general, if one looks like a (presumably wealthy) tourist, these secti…

There is a severe shortage of medical supplies in Venezuela, so you may have difficulty getting adequate treatment in an emergency. Ensure that you are covered by travel insurance that includes medical evacuations, as being evacuated to a neighboring country may be the only way to get proper treatment.

Most Venezuelans are laid-back regarding racial issues, since white or creole persons blend naturally with natives and Afro-Venezuelans in everyday life (education, living, politics, marriage). So the word "negro" can be used regardless of who's saying it, or who is being referred to in this way. Expressions like "negrito" or "mi negro" are often used as a term of endearment. You could hear someone calling "negra" to a woman, regardless of the race of the person. And in general, Afro-Venezuelans don't find it offensive, as they are simply variations on the Spanish word for "black". Similarly,…

Christmas is celebrated as a religious event. The unofficial start of the Christmas festivities is after the celebrations of "Feria de la Chinita", the second half of November, with various religious activities, processions, and music. In many places, neighborhoods get together for the "patinatas" night festivals, events usually sponsored by the local church but organized by the people. In some neighborhoods there is the "Parranda" where people go from house to house with music and Christmas son…