Venezuela travel guide

Getting there

Most international flights use Simón Bolívar International Airport at Maiquetía near Caracas, though route availability changes frequently. Land borders connect with Colombia and Brazil, but conditions and opening times vary, so check before travelling.

Best time to visit: Dec–Apr – dry season; Jun–Nov for Angel Falls at full flow.

Tougher months: July to October – the heaviest rains in many regions, which can flood the plains and make roads difficult (though waterfalls are at their best).

Weather by month in Caracas

• 27°J
• 27°F
• 28°M
• 28°A●
• 28°M●●
• 27°J●●
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• 28°A●●
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• 27°N●●
• 26°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: America/Caracas. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 74 of 198 other passports can enter Venezuela without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 124 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Venezuela (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-06-27). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Venezuela travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Venezuela are based around Canaima National Park, Los Roques or Mérida. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$35–55 for a backpacker and US$90–160 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Venezuela page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: A, B. Voltage: 120 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +58.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Canaima National Park (Guayana Highlands · waterfalls): A UNESCO site of tepuis, lagoons and Angel Falls, one of South America's great natural wonders.
• Los Roques (Caribbean archipelago · beaches): A protected coral archipelago with pristine beaches, snorkelling and fishing.
• Mérida (Andes · mountains): A lively university city that is the gateway to Andean hikes, villages and paragliding.
• Gran Sabana and Roraima (Southeast · trekking): Rolling savannah dotted with waterfalls, leading to the classic multi-day Roraima trek.
• Los Llanos (Central plains · wildlife): Venezuela's cowboy country and one of the best places for wildlife safaris in South America.
• Coro (Northwest · colonial town): One of the oldest colonial towns in the Americas, with UNESCO-listed architecture near rolling dunes.
• Morrocoy National Park (North coast · islands): Mangroves and small sandy cays just off the mainland, popular with Venezuelan beachgoers.
• Isla de Margarita (Caribbean island · beaches): The country's biggest island, with long beaches, colonial forts and windsurfing at El Yaque.

Things to do

• See Angel Falls. Travel by boat and on foot through Canaima's jungle to stand beneath the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall.
• Trek Mount Roraima. Hike for days to the surreal summit of an ancient table-top mountain, a landscape of black rocks and crystal pools.
• Island-hop Los Roques. Sail between dazzling white-sand cays and snorkel in water so clear it looks unreal.
• Spot wildlife in Los Llanos. Look for capybaras, caimans, anacondas and scarlet ibis on the vast plains.
• Ride the Mérida cable car. Glide high into the Andes on the Mukumbarí cableway, among the highest and longest in the world.
• Watch Catatumbo lightning. Spend a night near Lake Maracaibo, where silent lightning flickers across the sky on most nights of the year.
• Explore the Orinoco Delta. Travel by canoe through a maze of waterways and meet Warao communities living in stilt houses.
• Wander colonial Coro. Walk cobbled streets of pastel adobe houses, then climb the nearby Médanos sand dunes.

Source: full Venezuela guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Arepas – stuffed corn cakes
• Pabellón criollo – shredded beef, black beans, rice and plantain
• Cachapas – sweet corn pancakes with cheese
• Tequeños – fried cheese sticks

Source: RoamSun Venezuela guide

Money and safety

Currency: Venezuelan bolívar (VES). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: A 10% service charge is often added; extra tips are appreciated..

Emergency numbers: 911.

• US dollars in cash are widely used alongside the bolívar; bring small, clean notes.
• Foreign credit and debit cards may not work and ATMs are unreliable, so plan how you will pay before arrival.
• Many governments advise against all or non-essential travel to Venezuela; check your government's latest travel advice before planning a trip.
• Crime, including armed robbery and express kidnapping, is a serious risk, especially in Caracas and other cities; avoid travelling after dark.

Source: RoamSun Venezuela facts