Tourist Information

Local Tourist Office

Corpoturismo, Apartado 50.200, Caracas, main office for information is Unatur, floor 35, Torre Oeste, Parque Central, T5749553/5765696. The tourist office at the international airport has good maps, helpful; some English spoken, open 0700-2400; tourist office at national terminal open 0700-2100. When manned both offices are useful, will book hotels, reconfirm flights, English spoken, better service than the Corpoturismo office in the city. Two useful website is http://paginasamarillas.infoguia.net/

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• Isla de Margarita: A tourist information booth on 4 de Mayo has map, coupon booklet, La Vista tourist magazine. Travel agencies can also provide a tourist guide to Margarita. An outspoken and well-informed English-language newspaper, Mira, is published on the island; the editor/publisher acts also as an inexpensive tour guide; Av Santiago Mariño, Ed Carcaleo Suites, Apdo 2-A, Porlamar (T095-613351). The best map is available from Corpoven.

Tourist Offices Overseas

Germany Im Rheingarten 7, D-53225 Bonn
T0049228-400920, F0049228-400922
Website: http://www.botschaft-venezuela.de/

UK 56 Grafton Way, London W1P 5LB
T020-73876726, F020-73833253

USA 1099 30th St, NW, Washington DC 20007
T1-202-3422214, F3426820
Website: http://venezuela-us.org/

Tour Companies & Travel Agents

• Isla de Margarita: Supertours, Calle Larez, Quinta Thaid, T618781, F617061. Tours of the island and elsewhere. Zuluoga Tours, San Nicolás entre Arismendi y Mariño No 16-40. Helpful. Ask travel agents about excursions on the sailing catamaran, Catatumbo, recommended.
• Chichiriviche: Valadero Tours, 2 blocks from Banco Industrial on opposite side. Tours to islands US$16-19 per person, and to other parts of the country. Cheaper tours available with Morrocoy Tours, behind gas station near Hotel La Garza, or from Ulrich’s Lodge restaurant on main street towards port.
• Mochima: Three companies offer trips to the islands: Transtupuerto, on Paseo Colón opposite Hotel Diana, T667138, trips to closest islands (Islas Chimanas and Las Borrachas) for US$8, day tour around several islands with stops US$30-40, includes snorkelling equipment and soft drinks; Transporte Turístico Virgen del Valle, offers similar deals (food extra); Transtupaco, next to Hotel Meliá, no tours, they act as a taxi to the islands. Alternatively, you can reach the islands with the Embarcadero de Peñeros, on Paseo Colón, behind the Tejas Restaurant. Departures from 0900-1000, return at 1600-1630; US$6 per person. Tourist office in Puerto La Cruz, Coranztur (Paseo Colón opposite Hotel Diana, T688170, open Mon-Fri 0800-1200, 1400-1730) provides tour operators for day trips to various islands for swimming or snorkelling; 6-hr trip to four islands costs US$15 per person, including drinks. The islands to the east (Isla de Plata, Monos, Picuda Grande and Chica and the beaches of Conoma and Conomita) are best reached from the port at Guanta (taxi from town, or por puesto from Freites between Av 5 de Julio and Democracia, and ask to be dropped off at the Urb Pamatacualito).

NB Boat trips to the islands are cheaper from Santa Fe or Mochima.

Further Reading

GAM, the monthly Guía Aérea y Marítima de Venezuela, gives details of all flights into and within the country, but also of hotels, travel agents, car hire, etc. The Guide to Venezuela (925 pages), by Janice Bauman, Leni Young and others, in English (freely available in Caracas) is a mine of information and maps, US$11. Elizabeth Kline’s Guide to Camps, Posadas and Cabins/Guía de campamentos, posadas y cabañas in/en Venezuela is published every other year and gives a comprehensive survey of these establishments. (Apartado 63089, Caracas 1067-A, Venezuela, T02-9451543, Email: ekl...@cantv.net).

For information on the national parks system, and to obtain necessary permits to stay in the parks, go to Instituto Nacional de Parques (Inparques), Museo de Transporte, Edificio Sur, Avenida Rómulo Gallegos, Parque del Este (exit Parque del Este metro opposite park, turn left, office is a few hundred metres further on up a slight incline), T2841956, F2344238, Caracas, or to the local office of the guardaparques for each park.

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