Signature Venezuela: Highlights of the Lost World

Transport

6 domestic flights; 1 canoe trip; 2 river boat journeys; 2 road journeys. 

Accommodation

Here you will stay at small, mid-range, friendly hotels, colonial or modern in style with well-equipped rooms, private bathroom. In the coffee country you stay on a traditional coffee farm (finca).

Meals

Breakfast daily, full board day 2-5, 8-11

Summary Of Nights

13 days, 12 nights: Caracas 1; Angel Falls 2; Orinoco delta 2; Caracas 1; Mérida 1; Páramo 1; Los Llanos 3; Caracas 1.

Trip Suitability

Generally this holiday is suitable for most visitors, including families with children. Should you have a disability, please contact us.

Guides

We carefully select our local partners, some of whom we have worked with for over 25 years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by the latter on their return.

Climate

The country is an all-year destination. The highlands have a permanent spring-like climate.  In the Gran Sábana grasslands the dry season is May-Nov, the best time for doing the canoe trip to Angel Falls. For wildlife watching in the llanos, the prime months are Dec-Jan after the rains, when rivers are full and it’s not so humid. The Orinoco jungle is hot and humid all year. If you decide to go to the beach as part of your holiday itinerary, the Caribbean coast is mostly dry and hot with plenty of sun – hottest in July-September when there may be rain showers.

Clothing And Special Equipment

Bring plenty of light cotton clothing and good, comfortable walking shoes. Some warm items (for the Andes) and a good waterproof jacket or umbrella are also useful. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple of light layers than one thick jumper. Sandals are a good informal option for evenings. Protection against the sun (sunblock, sun hat) and mosquito repellent are essential and you should bring swimwear. 

Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts. Good equipment is very important and can be hard to come by in Latin America.

How To Take It

Cash machines are available in all major cities and towns, and so taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds. 

We recommend that additionally you take a reasonable quantity of US dollars cash (no more than is covered by your insurance), which you can exchange into local currency, and possibly some travellers’ cheques, though these are gradually falling out of use (American Express are the most widely accepted). Dollar bills should be in good condition, soiled or torn bills may be refused. You can take sterling, but the exchange rate is not always competitive or even available, restricting the number of places where you can change money. 

There is a black market for US dollars in Venezuela. Never change money on your own on the street or from shady fellows at the airport, but follow the advice of our local representatives.

Currency

The unit of currency in Venezuela is the Bolívar.

Daily Spend

It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around US$45 per day should cover the cost of meals not included in the holiday price, drinks and the odd souvenir. Eat at the best restaurants and you will pay considerably more.

Tipping

Tips are welcomed and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income. 

Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.

Tipping guidelines can be found in our Briefing Dossier.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential. 

Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page. 

The Venezuelan Government has stated that visitors to the country must have travel insurance. Make sure you have a paper copy of your policy to hand for inspection when you check in for your flight in the UK or at Immigration in Venezuela.

Airport Taxes

If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.

Vaccinations

Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You should consult your GP for specific requirements, including advice on yellow fever and malaria tablets.

You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website. 

Visas

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins.  Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
APIS and ESTA – important flight information:

ESTA – if flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your application to ESTA online.
This costs $14 per person. This must be done by you personally.
Passports must also be machine-readable (MRP). Avoid locking suitcases if transiting the USA, as their customs authorities retain the right to break into them.

APIS – Many countries now oblige airlines to provide additional information about passengers prior to the flight departure. This Advance Passenger Information (APIS) must be supplied to us promptly in order to issue tickets and avoid fare increases. We will provide the airlines with the relevant details if we are booking your international flights. If the information is not provided you may be denied boarding.

When is the best time to visit Venezuela?

The country is an all-year destination. The highlands have a permanent spring-like climate.  The Caribbean coast is mostly dry and hot with plenty of sun. In the Gran Sabana grasslands the wet season is May-Oct. May to Nov is the best time for canoeing upstream to the Angel Falls. Climbing one of the tepuys is best done Feb-Apr. For wildlife-watching in the llanos, the prime months are Dec-Jan after the rains, when rivers are full and it’s not so humid. The Orinoco and Amazon jungle is hot and humid all year. Beach resorts can be very crowded at weekends and national holidays.

What is the official language of Venezuela?

The official language of Venezuela is Spanish.

What is the official currency of Venezuela?

The official currency of Venezuela is Bolívar Fuerte.  ATMs may not be usable if they require Venezuelan identity card numbers. Banks will offer advances on a credit card.  Money exchange offices and  many hotels exchange US dollars cash (very few accept euros or sterling and the rate will be poor). There is a healthy black market but consult our local representatives before endeavouring to acquire local currency this way.

What is the time difference between Venezuela and the UK?'

The time difference between the UK and Venezuela is GMT-5.5 hours (yes, really).

How long is the flight between Venezuela and the UK?

The average flight time to Caracas is 11.5 hrs. There are no direct flights from the UK to Venezuela, popular routes involve a change of plane in Amsterdam, Paris or Madrid.

What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events of Venezuela?

Carnival, countrywide, Feb-Mar. Most Venezuelan urbanites enjoy a 4-day weekend and choose to vacate the city and head for the beach. 
Easter (Holy Week), countrywide, Mar-Apr. Many Venezuelans spend this week away at beaches and other popular destinations.
Feast of John the Baptist, Caracas (June 24). Celebrations in his honour have occurred from colonial time to the present, mainly among the Afro-Venezuelan populations. The pueblos around Caracas resound with beat of African drums and exuberant dancing. The feast runs through June and includes erotic rites, purification rituals and divination.

Is it currently advisable to travel to Venezuela?

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against travelling to all of Venezuela.

You can read the full advice on the FCDO website.

For various historical, political and socio-economic reasons Venezuela has for decades neglected its tourist sector and has only a basic understanding of contemporary standards of accommodation and service.  In many places the local people and staff are friendly and welcoming, in others less preoccupied with visitors’ well-being. English is not always widely spoken, standards of security, cleanliness or attention to detail are not always excellent, especially in state-owned establishments. 

Which other countries combine well with Venezuela?

A tour in Colombia to the west, with daily flights from Caracas to Bogotá taking just 1hr 45mins; the Inca archaeological sites of Peru (daily flights Caracas to Lima take 4hrs).