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Venezuela Travel Warnings from FCO

SUMMARY

We advise against all travel to within 80 kms (50 miles) of the Colombian border in the states of Zulia, Tachira and Apure. Terrorist and illegal armed groups are active in these states and there is a risk of kidnapping.

The incidence of street crime in Venezuela is high, armed muggings and “express kidnappings” are on the increase. You should exercise caution when arriving in, and travelling around, Venezuela. People carrying large amounts of money, wearing valuable watches or jewellery or using mobile phones in the street are especially vulnerable. See the Crime section of this advice for more details.

The road to and from the airport to Caracas is dangerous and there have been muggings and kidnappings by bogus taxi operators at Caracas International Airport (Maiquetia). Where possible you should avoid travelling on this route during hours of darkness, and particularly between 2300 and 0400hrs. Journey times can be unpredictable and you should allow extra time for any journey to and from the airport.

Around 13,000 British nationals visit Venezuela every year. British nationals have mainly required consular assistance in Venezuela for drug- trafficking, muggings and other theft. Do not handle illicit drugs: penalties are among the most severe in the Americas, and the prisons among the most dangerous. See the Local Laws and Customs section of this advice for more details.

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. There have been no significant terrorist attacks in Venezuela in recent years, but there have been a number of small explosions caused by improvised explosive devices, the most recent in April 2007 outside the Bolivian Embassy. These incidents were related to the internal and regional political situations. You should exercise vigilance and be especially wary of suspect packages and parcels.

For further information read Security and General Tips and Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas.

Crime

We advise against all travel to within 80 kms (50 miles) of the Colombian border in the states of Zulia, Tachira and Apure. Terrorist and illegal armed groups are active in these states and there is a risk of kidnapping.

There is a constant risk of street crime (often armed), especially in Caracas and other cities. Contrary to the advice in at least one widely used travel guide, we consider that Sabana Grande is not a safe area in which to stay in Caracas. Budget hotels can be found in safer areas such as Chacao, La Castellana and Altamira. It is not advisable to visit "barrios” (heavily populated slums), as many of these are unsafe. British nationals walking in the Avila National Park have been robbed at gunpoint. The risk of crime is higher after dark. Try not to go out alone. People carrying large amounts of money, wearing valuable watches or jewellery or using mobile phones in the street are especially vulnerable.

Carjacking is also a problem by day and night. Car-jackers tend to target expensive-looking vehicles, especially 4x4s. You should not resist if you are subject to an armed hold-up. We are also aware of reports of armed gangs that ram their intended victim’s vehicles from behind, or attempt to flag them down in order to rob them. Resistance to robbery has resulted in victims being shot dead. Robberies occur frequently on buses.

Do not accept pamphlets in the street or major shopping centres, as there have been incidents of these having been impregnated with potent and disorienting drugs, which permeate the skin. Tourists’drinks have also been spiked.

“Express kidnappings” – short-term, opportunistic abductions, aimed at extracting cash from the victim – continue in Venezuela. Victims can be targeted or selected at random and held while criminals empty their bank accounts with stolen cash cards. Once the ransom is paid the victim is usually quickly released. Tourists and business visitors have been targeted.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad

Political Situation

Political opinion in Venezuela is polarised. Demonstrations may take place with little warning and can turn violent. Many Venezuelans carry guns and the police and Guardia Nacional are heavily armed when involved in crowd control situations.

Demonstrations are a regular occurrence in Venezuela. You should exercise caution in Caracas and other major urban centres and avoid large public gatherings. Larger demonstrations are announced in advance in the local media, including the English language newspaper "The Daily Journal".

LOCAL TRAVEL

Journey times on the road between Maiquetia Airport and Caracas can be long and unpredictable. You are advised to allow extra time for your journeys.

We recommend that you avoid travelling on the road between Caracas and its international airport (Maiquetia) during the hours of darkness, particularly between 2300 and 0400hrs. There are fewer cars on the road at this time and the risk of crime is much higher. We advise that you stay in one of the hotels close to the airport if your flight is arriving late at night, or leaving early in the morning.

There have been cases of passengers being robbed at gunpoint by bogus taxi-drivers at Caracas airport (Maiquetia) and being “express kidnapped”(see Crime section). You are advised not to board a taxi if there are other passengers already inside the car. Do not accept offers of transport in the arrivals hall. If you have no alternative but to take a taxi, ensure it is one of those parked at the official taxi rank outside. If possible, you should arrange to be met by friends, business contacts, or tour operators. Only licensed taxis bearing a clearly identifiable number should be used.

The airport itself can be a dangerous place. Be on your guard for bogus officials luring you into a quiet corner on the pretence of carrying out extra security checks. If approached by an officer purporting to be an airport official, even if they are in uniform and/or present credentials, you should try to ensure that you remain in a busy area of the airport and, if possible, check with other airport or airline staff that the officials are genuine.

There have been several instances of travellers being overcharged when paying airport tax for both international flights and internal flights within Venezuela. You are advised always to check the amount printed on the receipt issued for the tax (normally a sticker affixed to the back of your ticket) before handing over any money. Currently the airport tax from Caracas to Margarita Island is US$8. International departure tax is normally included in the cost of your ticket. Check with your airline before agreeing to pay anything extra.

When taking a taxi in Caracas or other towns/cities, it is advisable to use only pre-booked taxis rather than hailing them in the street. Official taxis have yellow number plates. Hotels will normally book a taxi from a reputable company or supply their own limousine service.

When travelling in the interior of the country, especially in more remote rural areas, you should be aware that ambulance services are not reliable and hospitals often lack adequate medical supplies and equipment. It is advisable to have contact details for nationwide ambulance services, such as ServiMedic Venezuela: Telephone 0212 395 27 03; servimedicvzla@telcel.net.ve, who can help you get back to Caracas or other major cities in the event of an accident.

Road Travel

It is possible to drive in Venezuela on a British driving licence for up to one year. After that it is necessary to obtain a Venezuelan driving licence. You should ensure you have copies of insurance documents, driving licence and passport with you at all times. Failure to produce documents can result in the vehicle being seized by the police.

There are regular police and National Guard checkpoints throughout the country. You should drive slowly through these and stop if asked to do so. There have been reports of attempts by the police and National Guard to extract money for spurious reasons. In such cases you may consider asking for a written record giving the basis of the offence and also for the penalising officer’s details.

All vehicles must carry a spare tyre, wheel block, jack wrench and special reflector triangle. In many areas roads are poor and potholed and a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is common, especially during weekends. Many vehicles are in poor condition and drivers routinely ignore red lights, especially at night. In the event of an accident, however badly traffic may be blocked, both vehicles must remain in the position of the accident until a Traffic Police Officer arrives. Insurance companies are unable to pay claims on vehicles that have been moved without a Traffic Police accident report.

For more general information see: Driving Abroad

Air Travel

Visiting tourist destinations in Venezuela can often involve flying in light aircraft. Safety standards are variable and there have been several significant accidents since 2003 on the main tourist routes, including Margarita and Canaima/Angel Falls and, more recently Los Roques, three with fatal consequences.

In general it is better to seek out established companies operating modern multi-engined aircraft. Local and International travel agents should be able to advise on whether or not the airline has a good safety record.

Sea Travel

There have been incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships and small vessels in and around Venezuela's waters, especially east of Puerto La Cruz and in waters between Venezuela and Trinidad. Mariners are advised to take appropriate precautions and avoid these areas if possible.

For more general information please see: River and Sea Safety

LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS

Do not handle illicit drugs.

Drug trafficking is a serious problem in Venezuela. Arrests for drug trafficking is common and conviction leads to severe penalties, including up to two years being held on remand prior to sentencing and lengthy prison sentences (usually ten years) in harsh and dangerous conditions in Venezuelan jails. Many prisoners carry firearms and violence is common.

It is an offence to photograph military or strategic installations (eg. military airports, and the Presidential Palace). Innocent pastimes such as plane spotting are not recognised as such in Venezuela and should be avoided.

For more general information for different types of travellers see: Travel Checklists

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Visas

If you are arriving by air, you can enter for up to 90 days on a tourist card issued on arrival. You should also have a valid return ticket. If you are arriving overland, or by sea, you need to obtain a visa in advance from your nearest Venezuelan Embassy or Consulate.

You must not overstay the 90 days or you may be arrested and fined when departing. Extensions of up to 60 days can be arranged at any DIEX (Department for Foreigners of Ministry of Interior) office on payment of a fee plus presentation of passport, tourist card, photograph and return ticket.

Passport validity

Your passport should have at least six months’ validity on arrival.

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate

A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is not a requirement to enter Venezuela, but there have been cases where officials have illegitimately fined travellers who have been unable to produce such a certificate. Some airlines travelling to Venezuela will insist you have a Yellow Fever vaccination jab before boarding the plane unless you can produce your vaccination certificate. You are advised to check with your airline before travelling to Venezuela.

Dual nationality

The Venezuelan Nationality and Citizenship Law, which came into force in January 2005, requires any dual national Venezuelan to use their Venezuelan identity documents to enter, reside in and leave the country. Dual British/Venezuelan nationals entering, leaving or residing in Venezuela should ensure that they are in compliance with these Venezuelan Government requirements.

Travelling with children

Adults travelling alone with children should be aware that Venezuelan authorities usually require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Venezuelan representation in the UK.

HEALTH

Medical facilities in Venezuela vary widely in quality. In large cities, private clinics provide good quality care for routine treatments. More complex treatments may require evacuation to Miami so you should ensure that your insurance covers this. Public health facilities are poor, with frequent shortages of medicines and funding. This is a problem reflected nationwide, and exacerbated outside major cities by the great distances involved in reaching them.

Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. In 2007 there was a marked increase in the number of reported cases of Dengue across the region.

There have also been cases of Yellow Fever in a number of different states of Venezuela. Many countries in the region, such as Brazil, require those arriving from Venezuela to have proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination. You should check with the relevant embassy before you travel.

Tap water is considered unsafe to drink unless it is first filtered and boiled. Bottled drinking water is widely available.
You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. NHS Direct (0845 46 47) can provide you with advice on the vaccination requirements for Venezuela.

For further information on endemic diseases, like malaria, health outbreaks and vaccination requirements for Venezuela you should check the websites NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel.

For more general health information see Travel Health
NATURAL DISASTERS
During the rainy season (which normally runs from May to November, though heavy rains can occur outside this time) there is the possibility of flooding in certain low-lying areas of the country (e.g. the Llanos) and in some valleys in the Andes (Merida State).

Venezuela is vulnerable to earthquakes. In August and September 2006 – tremors radiating from earthquakes with epicentres offshore were felt in Caracas and throughout the east of the country. The last major earthquake to affect Venezuela was in August 2006, 600km off the coast of Trinidad.

GENERAL

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake and that your insurance covers you for medical evacuations. Please see Travel Insurance

If things go wrong when overseas, please see: What We Can Do To Help.
Consular Registration
If you are staying in Venezuela for more than 90 days, you are advised to register at the British Embassy in Caracas on arrival (tel: 0212 263 8411) or on-line at Portal / Vuelta al principioEmbajada Británica, Caracas.

Purchasing property

We have had reports of growing difficulties with Real Estate/Timeshare investments, particularly on the Island of Margarita where title to land/property is not easily established. Potential purchasers are advised to take comprehensive legal advice and exercise caution in any investment transaction.

Money

Strict currency controls remain in place in Venezuela, but Bolivars can be obtained in the UK through banks and some travel agencies. It is best to obtain local currency where possible before travelling. Bureaux de change, including at the airport, will exchange US dollars for Bolivars, as will some major hotels. Some banks (e.g. Banco Mercantil) will buy US dollars for Bolivars or sell Bolivars against a foreign credit card. US dollar travellers' cheques are accepted at most Italcambios offices.
In most towns and all major cities, credit cards are accepted. However, it can be difficult to withdrawing cash from ATMs. There is also a serious problem with credit card fraud and cards being "cloned."

CONTACT DETAILS
Address: British Embassy
Torre La Castellana, Piso 11
Avenida La Principal de la Castellana
La Castellana
Caracas 1061
Telephone: (58)-(212) 263 8411 - switchboard number

Facsimile: (58) (21) 2 267 1275

Email: britishembassy@internet.ve

Office Hours: GMT: Mon-Thurs: 1200-2030; Fri: 1200-1715
Local Time: Mon-Thurs: 0800-1630; Fri: 0800-1315
Consular Section
GMT: Mon-Fri: 1200-1630 (Wed only: 1730-2000)
Local Time: 0800-1230 (Wed only: 1330-1600)
Website: HomeBritish Embassy, Caracas

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