Travel to Venezuela

Flying to Venezuela

National carriers LASER Airlines (www.laser.com.ve) and SBA Airlines (www.sbairlines.com) offer direct flights to Miami but not to any other US or European destinations. European carriers such as Air France (www.airfrance.com), Iberia (www.iberia.com) and Air Europa (www.aireuropa.com) operate direct flights from mainland Europe.

The major airport is: Caracas Simon Bolivar International Airport.

Airport Guides

Flight times

To Caracas: from London - 13 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); New York - 7 hours 30 minutes (including stopover); Miami - 3 hours 30 minutes.

Air passes

The oneworld Visit South America Pass (www.oneworld.com) is valid within Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile (except Easter Island), Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Participating airlines are American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), LAN (LA), Qatar Airways (QR), TAM (KK) and their affiliates. The pass must be bought outside South America in the country of residence. It allows unlimited travel to over 60 destinations. You can take as many flights as you like, but you must book a minimum of three flights.

The GOL South America Pass (www.voegol.com.br) is valid on GOL flights within Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. The pass can only be purchased by Brazilian citizens and passengers who live outside South America. It must be booked in conjunction with an international ticket and is valid for five to 30 days.

Departure tax

The exit tax and airport fee are usually included in the air fare; check with your airline before you travel.

Travelling to Venezuela by Rail

There are no international rail links with neighbouring countries. Plans to revive the national passenger rail network were drawn up at the end of the 1990s, but to date only a short section between Caracas and the nearby town of Cúa is in operation.

Driving to Venezuela

There are road connections with Colombia and Brazil, with international bus services available from both countries: average bus times are approximately 12 hours from the Colombian border at San Antonio del Táchira to Caracas, and up to 24 hours from the Brazilian border crossing, near to Santa Elena de Uairén to Caracas. By car, journeys may be up to 30% quicker.

Getting to Venezuela by boat

The main ports are La Guaira (www.bolipuertos.gob.ve), Puerto Cabello, and Maracaibo. Ferries between Venezuela and Trinidad have been suspended.

Cruise ships

Many of the major cruise lines call at the port of El Guamache on Isla de Margarita each year (www.bolipuertos.gob.ve/puertos/guamache.aspx). Some Caribbean cruises also include Los Roques archipelago and La Guaira on their itineraries.