Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Venezuela depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for VenezuelaEmergency Numbers
- Police
- 171
- Ambulance
- 171
Currency
- Name
- Venezuelan Bolívar Soberano
- Code
- VES
- Symbol
- Bs.
Venezuela has experienced hyperinflation — USD is now the practical currency for tourists and widely preferred. ATMs unreliable. Bring sufficient USD cash. Note: Venezuela's political and security situation remains very difficult — check your government's current advisory before planning travel. Canaima National Park (Angel Falls) has a more stable tourist infrastructure than Caracas.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type A, Type B
- Voltage
- 120V
- Frequency
- 60Hz
Time Zone
VET (UTC−4) — no daylight saving
Best Time to Visit
December–April is the dry season — best for visiting Canaima National Park (Angel Falls — Salto Ángel, 979m; the world's highest waterfall), Los Roques archipelago (stunning Caribbean atoll), and Morrocoy National Park. Caracas is generally not recommended for tourists due to safety concerns — fly directly to Canaima.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10% | — |
| Guides | $10 USD per day | — |
Dress Code
- Casual throughout
- Practical outdoor clothing for Canaima and tepui treks
Social Etiquette
- Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) is genuinely one of the world's greatest natural wonders — 979m tall (15 times the height of Niagara), located in the tepui (tabletop mountain) landscape of Canaima National Park
- The tepuis (Lost World plateau mountains) of Venezuela were Arthur Conan Doyle's inspiration for The Lost World (1912) — unique ecosystems found nowhere else on earth
- Venezuela's political and economic collapse (2013–present) has caused 7+ million Venezuelans to emigrate — the largest displacement crisis in Latin American history
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- Venezuela's security situation is serious — kidnapping, armed robbery, and political instability are real risks; Caracas consistently ranks among the world's most dangerous cities
- LGBTQ+ activity is not criminalised; no marriage equality; social attitudes conservative
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Venezuelan Spanish) | Hola! / Buenas! | OH-lah / BWEH-nahs |
| What's up? (Venezuelan slang) | Que monda? / Que lo que? | keh MON-dah — Venezuelan-specific casual greeting |
| No problem (Venezuelan) | No pasa nada / Chevere | noh PAH-sah NAH-dah / CHEH-veh-reh |
| Angel Falls (local name) | Salto del Angel | SAL-toh del AHN-hel — named after Jimmie Angel, the US aviator who documented it in 1933 |
| Cheers! (Venezuelan) | Salud! | sah-LOOD |
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