Official Guide · CUMBRE Expeditions · 2026
Caracas · El Ávila

Caracas · El Ávila

Los Roques

Los Roques · Caribbean Sea

Salto Ángel

Salto Ángel · Canaima

Roraima

Roraima · Gran Sabana

First time
in Venezuela?

— or first time in a long time.

What nobody tells you before you land: visa, safety, money, weather, apps and what to pack. Everything in one place, no fluff.

Venezuela 2026 Practical travel Diaspora International visitors Gran Sabana CUMBRE Expeditions
01 · Visa & entry ✈️ International flight 02 · Safety 03 · Money & exchange 04 · What to pack 05 · Flights, SIM & apps 06 · Weather

01 · Visa & entry

Do you need a visa
to enter Venezuela?

It depends on your passport. Venezuela has visa-free or visa-on-arrival agreements with over 100 countries. Most Latin Americans and Europeans can enter without issue — but there are important details you need to know before buying your ticket.

Visa-free

Latin America in general, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, UK and many more. Stay: 90 days.

Visa required

United States, Canada and some Asian and African countries. Apply well in advance — the process can take weeks.

Venezuelans abroad

Enter with a valid Venezuelan passport. If expired, renew at the consulate in your country of residence.

Passport

Must have at least 6 months of validity at the time of travel. Carry a physical photocopy too.

💡 Entry tips

→Always carry cash when going through immigration — for the immediate transfer.
→The main airport is Simón Bolívar (CCS) in Maiquetía, 45 min from Caracas.
→Have your operator or accommodation contact ready — immigration may ask for it.
→There's an airport departure tax — usually included in the ticket, but verify.

✈️ CUMBRE Exclusive

How to get here
from wherever you are?

This is something nobody else offers: we help you manage how to get from anywhere in the world to Venezuela. We coordinate your international flight directly with our travel agency partner — you just show up, we handle the rest.

🌍 What's included

→Round-trip flight quote based on your city of origin
→Direct coordination with our partner travel agency
→Available as part of your expedition package
✈️

Coming from abroad?

We'll quote your international flight

No matter your city of origin, we coordinate the full logistics with you.

Get my flight quote →

02 · Safety & getting around

Yes, Venezuela is Venezuela.
And yes, you can travel safely.

We won't sugarcoat it: Venezuela has high-risk areas, and Caracas requires strict common sense. But it also has world-class natural destinations that are completely safe if you travel with the right operator.

✅ Safe destinations for tourism

→Gran Sabana (Roraima, Kavak, Saltos)
→Canaima & Angel Falls
→Los Roques (flight from CCS)
→Mérida & The Andes
→Morrocoy
→Historic Caracas areas with a guide

⚠️ Basic rules, always

→Don't take out your phone on the street unnecessarily
→Use only trusted transport (Ridery, Yummy)
→Don't wear visible jewelry or flashy watches
→Carry only the cash you'll use that day
→Always share your itinerary with someone
→Travel with a certified operator in the interior

"I arrived very scared based on everything I'd read. The reality was completely different — the people are incredibly warm and welcoming. The trick is to get informed and not improvise."

— Spanish visitor · Gran Sabana 2025

⚠ Important

Avoid moving alone at night in cities, especially Caracas, Maracay and Valencia. Natural tourist areas in the interior are considerably safer.

⛰️

Already know where you're headed?

The Roraima expedition is waiting for you

Route, gear, packages and everything you need for Venezuela's most extraordinary expedition.

See expedition →

03 · Money, exchange & cash

Venezuela's monetary system.
Complex but manageable.

Venezuela runs a dual system: bolívares (VES) and US dollars (USD) circulate in parallel. In tourist destinations, the dollar is the de facto currency.

USD
De facto currency in tourism
VES
For local markets & transport
EUR
Accepted at many tourist spots
✓Bring USD cash — it's the most practical and safe option for tourism
✓Prefer bills of $20 or less — easier to get change
✓Zelle works widely for payments between individuals
✓International cards work at some places, but not always
!Avoid street exchange — use formal exchange houses or your operator
!Local ATMs have very low withdrawal limits
!Don't display large amounts of cash in public
How much cash to bring? For an expedition like Roraima, USD 300–500 in personal spending money is more than enough if your package already includes meals and transfers.

04 · What to pack — and what to leave behind

Smart packing starts
before you open the suitcase.

Venezuela has everything in major cities, but in remote areas like Gran Sabana, if you didn't bring it, you won't find it.

✅ Bring this

→Personal medications (full supply)
→Insect repellent (DEET ≥20%)
→Sunscreen
→USD cash (bills of $20 or less)
→Power adapter (110V/60Hz)
→Charged powerbank
→Light clothing + one warm layer
→City shoes + trekking shoes
→Photocopies of all your documents

❌ Leave at home

→Jewelry, luxury watches or flashy accessories
→More than one visible camera
→Very visible branded clothing
→All your cash in one place
→Drones without prior permits

💊 Preventive health

→Venezuela does not require a yellow fever vaccine — not even for Gran Sabana. Check with your doctor if you're coming from a high-risk region.
→Malaria in jungle areas: consult your doctor about prophylaxis.
→Tap water is not safe to drink — always use bottled water.
→Bring a basic kit: painkillers, antidiarrheals, antihistamine.

05 · Flights, SIM & essential apps

The logistics nobody
explains on your ticket.

Traveling to Venezuela requires a bit more logistical planning than other destinations. But once you have the system figured out, everything flows.

✈️ Main flights

Miami, Madrid, Bogotá, Panama City and Lima have flights to CCS. Airlines: Conviasa, Avianca, Wingo, Copa, Air Europa. Book in advance.

📱 SIM card

Buy a Digitel SIM on arrival — best coverage in cities. In Gran Sabana there's no signal from any carrier.

🚗 City transport

Ridery and Yummy Rides are the local Uber equivalent. For the interior, use your operator's transfers. Street taxis not recommended.

🌐 Internet

WhatsApp almost always works. Instagram and browsing can be slow. Download offline maps before leaving.

📲 Apps you need before arriving

→WhatsApp — main communication for absolutely everything.
→Ridery / Yummy Rides — safe transport in cities.
→Maps.me — offline maps that work without internet.
→Google Maps — download Venezuela's offline maps before you leave.
→Zelle — payments to locals if you have a US bank account.
→Binance — if you use crypto, USDT has a very favorable exchange rate.
→Google Translate — download the offline pack. Venezuelans speak fast and use a lot of slang 😄

06 · Weather

Venezuela has every climate.
Sometimes on the same day.

Venezuela is tropical but with such varied geography that the climate depends entirely on where you are. Don't pack the same for Caracas as for Gran Sabana or Mérida.

☀️ Dry season

December — April

Ideal for most destinations. Sunny days, cool nights. Gran Sabana at its most accessible.

🌧️ Rainy season

May — November

Waterfalls at their peak. Fewer groups. More dramatic landscapes.

🏙️ Caracas (2,950ft)

→Eternal spring: 64–82°F year-round
→Afternoon rain in wet season
→Light clothes with a light jacket

⛰️ Gran Sabana / Roraima

→Summit: 41–64°F, frequent wind and rain
→Savanna: 77–90°F with intense sun
→Raincoat + warm layer mandatory
⛰️

Ready for the adventure?

Discover the Roraima expedition

The complete guide to Venezuela's most extraordinary expedition — route, gear, logistics and everything you need.

See expedition →

Ready to take
the first step?

You have the info. You have the destination. All you need is the team to take you there. Reach out, no commitment.

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