IMMIGRATION BASIC INFO

To visit Venezuela, your passport must have at least six months of validity before its expiration. The stamp you get on your passport when going through custom, last for 90 days after arrival. Make sure after receiving your passport that your stamp is readable. Travelers from most countries don’t need visas. Normally the return ticket is enough.

UPON ARRIVAL

Caracas international airport is located in a small coastal town called Maiquetia, 24 Kms away from the capitol city. Normally most international tourist will arrive through this airport. A mere 400 mts separate the National and International Terminals. To get from one to the other you may simply walk the connecting pass way or take the free shuttle bus connecting of them.

Both airports offer a varied range of facilities: tourist office, car rental,  telephone offices, post office, restaurants, cafes, fast-food, travel agencies, ATM machines, souvenir and bookstores. But only the International Terminal has a bank and money exchange offices or “Casa de Cambio” in Spanish.

Upon arrival you may be approach by people offering services such as, money exchange, transportation services, help with your luggage, etc. It is advisable not to speak to these people, just be polite and say “no gracias”. One of our guides or hotel transportation services will be there waiting for you. He or she will be holding a sign with either your name on it or the name of our company and logo. This person has been instructed on your status and will provide with the help you require. If by any chance this person is not there, don’t get nervous! Simply go to the Tourist Office located to the left of the arrival’s hall as you enter, and wait there for him.

Due to the small amount of domestic flights, if you arrive in the afternoon you will most probably spend the first night there. If this is the case, hotel personnel will be waiting for you at arrivals. Then they will take you to the local hotel to rest . The next day, you will be taken back to the national terminal early in the morning to catch the first flight to your destination.

We recommend not to stay in Caracas unless you have a guide. Some of our trips offer a night or two in Caracas, so if you want to visit the city let us know!

Venezuela is a safe place to travel. Most people are polite and welcoming, if you avoid risky areas, you will be just fine. Normally some of our clients stay longer than the duration of our package. For those of you doing so, We’ll provide all the information, services and help you require to make sure you enjoy our beautiful country all the way to the end.

MAKE YOUR TRIP AND ARRIVAL COMFORTABLE AND EASY

When you fly to timetables 5 or more hours away from your country, a period of adaptation is required. There are several Dos and Don’ts in order to make this recuperation period shorter and less harmful to your mind and body.

Follow these useful tips for easing your trip and making it more enjoyable.

* Set your watch to local time after takeoff.

* Wear loose clothing and shoes during the flight.

* Stand up, walk and stretch your muscles during flight.

* Drink plenty of fluids (alcohol is not recommended).

* Eat yogurt a few days before coming. This will help your stomach to adapt to the local food without any problems.

* If you’re coming from Europe or any country further east, you will fell very tired and sleepy the first few afternoons of your trip. Try not to take any naps the first couple of days, this will  accelerate your time adjustment.

* Try to spend more time occupying yourself. The first couple of days it is best to be outdoors most of the time.

* Bring some snack and food from home to ease the adaptation of your stomach to our local food. This is also great, because you can then share some of your home snacks with the local people and make a good impression on them. Since we have a social approach to tourism, some of the places you’ll visit will have kids and as you know, kids love candy and snacks all over the world.

* Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, have a bottle next to you at all times.

* Take warm clothing on overnight buses, they’re freezing!!!

FOOD AND WATER

While traveling with us, our guides will make sure you eat well, plentiful and healthy. All of our meal’s schedules are properly planned and balanced to make sure your food consumption throughout the trip is safe. However, we do want you to taste most of our local cuisine (which  can be heavy and fried) so we have arrange the meals in a way that whenever you’re eating one of our national heavy meals, we make sure that the other meals on the same day counterbalance the  heavy ones.

Water: Always ask about the water origin. Only drink bottled water or the water that your guides tells you is Ok to drink. One of the greatest things in Venezuela are the natural fruit juices so make sure your drink either factory bottled juice or the one you guide gives you. The same goes for ice, only take ice if you know that it is factory ice or if given by your guide. You will be provided with safe water throughout our trips at all times.

Meat: Don’t eat uncooked or undercooked meat unless you know its freshness. When eating pork or chicken make sure is thoroughly cooked. Try not to eat any local meat without asking your guide first. Some places will sell you meat of different animals that your stomach might not take well. Sometimes they sell meat of illegally killed animals endangering the species even more. So don’t be an accomplice of an animal extinction.

Vegetables: Make sure to eat veggies that have been properly washed, with either lemon or vinegar. Your guide will again be very careful with all your food consumption. But always be aware of such threats to your health. Again while traveling on one of our trips you will be provided with safe veggies and meat.

We know you will want to try new food. Just be careful and when you’re by yourself make sure you know the origin of your food.

SECURITY AND SAFETY

If you take the proper precautions, security and safety should not be an issue. It is important to keep these things in minds when traveling in Venezuela:

* Keep your money and passport always attached to your waist in a safety bag, money belts are recommended and always wear them under your clothes. Don’t carry wallets, documents, money or other valuables in you back pockets. Credit and debit cards can be use and are a good way to have money in tight circumstances. When using the ATM machine make sure no one is around you. Do not accept advises from any one unless you trust him. If you need help have your guide help you.

* Don’t count money on public places.

* Don’t walk in dark streets, alleys, poor neighborhoods or isolated places.

* Whenever is possible, don’t travel alone.

* Keep a copy of your passport at hand and only get the original out when asked.

* Don’t wear a fancy watch or jewelry and don’t carry valuables in an open bag or unlocked luggage.

* Try always to move around the cities by taxi. If you take public buses make sure they take you where you want to go before boarding them. Don’t let valuables such as cameras, music players or any other electrical devices unattended.

* In overnight bus rides keep unnecessary belongings safely away in your big luggage in the lower compartment.  Only bring what you need for your trip. A small bag-pack 30lts or so works perfectly in these situations. Keep this bag with you at all times.

1. *Whenever is possible, try to get a travel insurance before coming in case of lost or stolen equipment. If this happens, make sue you report it to the authorities within 24 hrs. Make sure they give you some kind of written report. The insurance company will ask you for it, otherwise, they will not pay you for your lost equipment.
   

IMPORTANT THINGS TO BRING

- Mosquito repellent

- Small Sleeping Bag

- Headlight and Flashlight

- Sandals

- Water bottle

- Shorts or swimming suit

- Rain Jacket

- Fleece

- Hat or cap

- Sun Protection

1. -Dry bag
   

2. -Mosquito Repellent
   

3. -Sunglasses
   

4. -Luggage: In most of our trips you are going to be traveling constantly so we recommend not to bring a suitcase. One 80 Lts bag-pack and a small 30 Lts Bag-pack should be enough to bring your things and be able to move around quickly. Also bring a small dry-bag inside your luggage, in case you need to keep things dry when traveling in the country (around 15 to 30 lts).
   

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

If you’re feeling ill, notify your guide immediately. He is instructed on what to do in such cases and will look after you at all times.

The following is a list of things to bring with you. Most of them can be found in Venezuela, but they can be a bit pricey.

* A copy of your prescription (if you have any)

* Anti-diarrheal medicine

* Water sterilizing tablets such as iodine or a traveler water filter.

* Antacid tablets

* Aspirin or other painkillers

* Allergy medication

* Altitude sickness pills

* Digestive pills

* A small first aid kit with Band-Aids, scissors,  twisers, gauss, cotton, surgical gloves, alcohol and Anti-bacterial wipes. Also an extra small flash light, to keep in this kit.

* Contraceptives (they’re expensive here)

* Foot powder with fungicide.

* Chap-stick.

* Tea bags

* An extra pair of reading glasses or contacts lenses.

We recommend you have some kind of medical insurance. If you need medical treatment, call the 24-hour hot line on your health insurance policy. Make sure you write down the time of the call and  the name of the person you spoke with. Make sure you get his identity and reference number. Also make sure you get all the medical certificates and receipts form the hospital.

COMMUNICATION, INTERNET, TELEPHONES

Thanks to technology most of our clients bring mobile phones. There are three telephone companies in Venezuela: CANTV, Movistar and Digitel. Many of the places you’ll be visiting are quite isolated and do not have mobile phone service. In big cities and towns you mobile phone will have coverage. We do advise you to use your phones cautiously, remember you will be charged lots of money when using them abroad either when calling or when being called. Ask your guide to help you get a phone card that allows you to make calls in public phones.

Whenever is possible we will provide you or the group with a local pre-paid mobile phone. This phone will have all the emergency and important numbers registered on it. The phone is used to communicate with your guide or our office at any given moment. If you want to use this phone for international calls, simply buy a prepaid card and put some money on the phone. Our guide can help you get one.  You can also give this number to your love ones back home for them to call you.

Internet offices and cafes are spread all over the country. When in cities, ask your guide to take you or show you the way to the nearest internet place. Our broadband is not as broad as you might think, so we advise you to use the internet only for mail and social nets. You will be charged by the hour. The internet hour costs around 2 to 5 Bs depending on location. You can also bring your Wi-Fi devices since some of the hotels offer this kind of connections.

Faxes, copies, scanning, and other office services are also offered through small, privately owned businesses. Usually the businesses list services and prices in a visible location in order to easily gain the attention of the public. Prices may be less expensive than larger communication centers or cafés, but quality may be poorer.

TIPPING

Tipping procedures may vary depending on the location. Taxi drivers don’t use meters and normally the price is arranged before engaging the service. If you’re in a group in a night club, for example, and you want to go to the hotel earlier, ask your guide to get you the taxi and help you arrange the price. It is not necessary to tip the driver. If a taxi or bus driver carries your luggage a long distance it may be more customary to tip. Normally, all the meals are included with our package and your guide will take care of the tips. However, if you feel you have received a great service, by all means, tip! A tip between 5 to 10 Bs is appropriate.

If you want to tip any of the people involved in the trip, you may also do so. Just give the money to your guide and go with him to make sure he gives it to the proper person and translate whatever you want to say to him or her.

Finally, tipping your guide is a sign of a job well done. At the end of your trip, you will be given an envelope with a short trip survey and a smaller envelope will come within it. Put whatever tip you consider is fair to your guide in relation with the service he’s provided you. Sometimes, a nice present also works.