Venezuela cannot be called a safe country, but by using some common sense, you can minimize risk. Venezuela is a tricky place to travel at present and showing up on a whim is a bad idea. Because of security concerns, we cannot recommend traveling here at present. There is a basic lack of services for the ordinary citizen β food, healthcare and personal security β so a traveler with no knowledge of the lay of the land could find themselves seriously out of their depth in a hurry.
Even before the currency shift, hyperinflation and a thriving black market were rampant. Never use ATMs or credit cards in Venezuela, as these will give you the terrible official rates as well. The only way we can truly recommend visiting is if you organize a trip with a Venezuela-based travel agency in advance. Some easy ways to minimize your exposure include avoiding Caracas altogether, always taking taxis after dark, avoiding public buses, not using your phone or camera on the streets, not wearing expensive jewelry or watches, and arranging for transfers from airports and bus stations in advance with your hotel or travel agency.
Take local advice seriously and carry a copy of your passport and entry stamp with you at all times rather than carrying your actual passport with you. We recommend using a travel agency in Venezuela, however independent and experienced a traveler you may be. Travel agencies know the most up-to-date information, can book internal flights and buses for you both impossible from abroad , and can assist with changing money and organizing transfers.
Internal flights should be reserved several weeks in advance due to overbooking and enormous demand as domestic routes shrink, and you should check in at least two hours in advance, preferably three, to ensure you can board. Long-distance buses are generally safe, but tickets are not always available at short notice. Many travelers go between cities using taxis as fuel prices are so low and the powerful dollar makes this affordable. You should avoid using buses to get around Caracas, and even the metro is not well recommended.
US and Israeli citizens require visas to visit Venezuela. These must be obtained in advance and in person from a Venezuelan consulate abroad, and are a headache. Citizens of most other countries can travel visa free. Most countries have an embassy in Caracas. Both Brazil and Colombia have consulates in other parts of the country to aide overland travelers who might need visas. A yellow-fever vaccination certificate and two passport photos are required for a Brazilian visa.
