Getting There

• From Europe: British Airways fly from London to Simón Bolívar, the international airport for Caracas three times a week direct. There are also services from Paris (Air France), Amsterdam (KLM), Madrid (Iberia), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Rome (Alitalia), and Lisbon (TAP).
• From North America: Direct flights with American Airlines (New York, Dallas, Miami), Delta (Atlanta), United Airlines (Miami, Chicago), Continental (Houston, New York) and Servivensa (Miami, New York). Also from Miami, Aeropostal.
• Within the Caribbean: Aeropostal have services from Port of Spain (daily except Sunday and Wednesday to Caracas), while BWIA flies daily. Air France flies from Guadeloupe and Martinique on Sunday. Cubana flies twice a week, Aeropostal five times a week from Havana. From Aruba to Caracas: ALM, Servivensa and Air Aruba daily, Aeropostal and Avior three a week; to Las Piedras/Punto Fijo on the Paranaguá Peninsula, Servivensa daily. From Curaçao to Caracas: ALM daily, Aeropostal four a week, Avior three; to Las Piedras, Santa Bárbara three a week (if you have no onward ticket from Curaçao, you must buy a return).

Airport Information

To avoid overbooking the Government obliges airlines to post a passenger list, but it is important to obtain clear instructions from the travel agent regarding confirmation of your flight and checking-in time.

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Passengers leaving Caracas on international flights must reconfirm their reservations not less than 72 hours in advance, it is safer to do so in person than by telephone; not less than 24 hours for national flights (if you fail to do this, you lose all rights to free accommodation, food, transport, etc if your flight is cancelled and you may lose your seat if the plane is fully booked). Beware of counterfeit tickets; buy only from agencies. If told by an agent that a flight is fully booked, try at the airport anyway. International passengers must check in two hours before departure or they may lose their seat to someone on a waiting list. Handling charge for your luggage US$0.50.

Airport Facilities

228 km from Caracas, near the port of La Guaira: Maiquetía, for national flights, Simón Bolívar for international flights, adjacent to each other (5 min walk – taxis take a circular route, fare US$2.25; airport authorities run a shuttle bus between the two every 10 minutes from 0700). NB Following the storms at the end of 1999, which damaged the airport and its surroundings, some international flights were diverted to the city of Valencia and many internal flights were using Charallave airport, south of Caracas. Many facilities close on 1 January, including duty and money exchangers. Several casas de cambio open 24 hours (Italcambio, good rates, outside duty-free area; also Banco Industrial, branch in international terminal and another, less crowded, in baggage reclaim area). If changing TCs’, you may be asked for your purchase receipt; commission 2½%. There are cash machines for Visa, Amex and Mastercard. Pharmacy, bookshops, basement café (good value meals and snacks, open 0600-2400, hard to find; cafés and bars on 1st floor viewing terrace also good value), tourist office (see Tourist Infomation). No official left luggage; ask for Paulo at the mini bar on the 1st floor of international terminal. Look after your belongings in both terminals. Direct dial phone calls to USA only, from AT&T booth in international departure lounge. CANTV at gates 15 and 24, open 0700-2100, long-distance, international and fax services. When several flights arrive close together there are long queues for immigration.

From airport to Caracas

Taxi fares from airport to Caracas cost US$18 minimum, depending on the quality of the taxi, the part of city, or on the number of stars of your hotel, regardless of distance. Overcharging is rife and taxi drivers can be aggressive in seeking passengers. Fares are supposedly controlled, but it is essential to negotiate with the drivers; find out what the official fare is first. After 2200 and at weekends a surcharge of 20% may be added, you may get charged up to US$40. Drivers may only surcharge you for luggage (US$0.50 per large bag). If you think the licensed taxi driver is overcharging you, make a complaint to Corpoturismo or tell him you will report him to the Departamento de Protección del Consumidor. The airport shuttle bus (blue and white with “Aeropuerto Internacional” on the side) leaves from east end of terminal, left out of exit (in the city, under the flyover at Bolívar and Av Sur 17, 250 m from Bellas Artes metro, poorly lit at night, not recommended to wait here in the dark), regular service from 0700 to 2300, bus leaves when there are enough passengers; fare to international terminal US$3.50. The bus is usually crowded so first time visitors may find a taxi advisable.

Always allow plenty of time when going to the airport, whatever means of transport you are using: the route can be very congested (two hours in daytime, but only 30 minutes at 0430). Allow at least two hours checking-in time before your flight. Airport bus or por puesto to airport can be caught at Gato Negro metro station.

Sea

Ferry: see Getting Around - Sea - Ferries, , for details of Windward Lines and other ferries.

Ports of Entry: Do not try to clear Customs and Immigration without an agent in commercial port, well worth the fee. Get your tourist card at a Venezuelan embassy before arriving, although if you arrive during a major storm officials may make an exception. The time a yacht may stay in Venezuelan waters is to be increased from six to 18 months.

Security: During the busy hurricane season security problems increase; thieves arrive by night in boats with bolt cutters and fast engines and steal dinghies, motors and other items left on deck. Best security is in marinas. Porlamar even has trouble with swimmers during the day. Fewer problems in the outer islands of La Blanquilla, La Tortuga, Los Roques, Los Aves and Los Testigos, but trouble reported in coastal anchorages eg Cumaná, Mochima, Morrocoy, Puerto La Cruz. Take all precautions possible.

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