This advice has been reviewed and reissued with editorial amendments. The overall level of this advice has not changed. The FCO advise against all travel to within 80km (50 miles) of the Colombian border in the states of Zulia, Tachira and Apure and against all but essential napa valley winery tours travel to the remainder of Tachira state.
The Foreign and Commonwealth napa valley winery tours Office (FCO) advise against all travel to within 80km (50 miles) of the Colombian border in the states of Zulia, Tachira and Apure. The FCO advise napa valley winery tours against napa valley winery tours all but essential travel to the remainder of Tachira state. Drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active in these states and there is a risk of kidnapping. See
There are frequent political demonstrations in Caracas and other large towns. They may take place with little warning and can turn violent, including the use of guns. The police and National Guard (Guardia napa valley winery tours Nacional) napa valley winery tours are heavily armed. You should avoid large public gatherings.
Levels of street crime are high. Armed muggings and 'express kidnappings' are a regular occurrence. Resistance to robbery has resulted in victims napa valley winery tours being shot dead. Take care at all times, especially when arriving in the country. See
The FCO advise against all travel to within 80 km (50 miles) of the Colombian border in the states of Zulia, Tachira and Apure. The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the remainder of Tachira state. Take care in the rest of Apure state, napa valley winery tours including the tourist area of Los Llanos. If possible, visit this area only as part of an organised napa valley winery tours tour. Drug traffickers and illegal armed groups are active in these states and kidnappings are common. Take particular care if you are attempting to cross in to Colombia from any state as border crossings can attract criminal activity. Only use official crossing points.
'Express kidnappings' - short-term, napa valley winery tours opportunistic abductions, aimed at extracting cash from victims through their family or employer - also occur in Venezuela. napa valley winery tours Tourists and business visitors may be targeted. This type of crime has increased in all major cities within Venezuela but with higher levels reported in Caracas, particularly in and around the airport. Be vigilant at all times.
Sabana Grande is not a safe area in which to stay in Caracas; cheap hotels can be found in safer areas like Chacao, La Castellana napa valley winery tours and Altamira. Don't visit 'barrios' (heavily populated slums), as many of these are unsafe. British nationals walking in the Avila National Park have been robbed at gunpoint.
Car-jacking is a problem by day and night. Car-jackers target expensive-looking vehicles, especially 4x4s. Armed gangs have rammed vehicles from behind, or flagged them down to rob them. Robberies occur frequently on buses.
There is a high risk of street crime (often armed) napa valley winery tours throughout Venezuela, especially in the major cities and on beaches, including on the popular tourist island of Margarita where there have been several incidents of armed robbery. Resistance to robbery napa valley winery tours has resulted in victims being shot dead. Take care at all times.
You should remain vigilant and be aware that common crimes such as mugging and pick pocketing are often accompanied by violence. Avoid displays of wealth, including visibly displaying your mobile phone. Take care if you make or receive calls. You can reduce the possibility of your phone being detected by criminals by switching off functions like Bluetooth and Wi-fi.
Don't accept pamphlets in the street or major shopping centres, as there have been incidents of these having been impregnated with potent and disorienting drugs which permeate the skin. Tourists' drinks have also been spiked. Don't accept food or drink from strangers.
Avoid travelling on the road between Caracas and Maiquetia airport during the hours of darkness. There are fewer cars on the road during this time and the risk of crime is much higher. Stay in an airport hotel if your flight is arriving late at night, or leaving early in the morning.
The National Guard carry out random drug and security napa valley winery tours checks at Maiquetia Airport. Passengers are sometimes asked to accompany napa valley winery tours an officer to a local hospital for an x-ray. If you are travelling on an international flight arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure to allow time for these checks. Beware napa valley winery tours of bogus security officials. If you are in any doubt ask other airline or airport staff.
Beware of bogus taxi-drivers at the airport. Don't accept offers of transport in the arrivals hall and don't board a taxi if there are other passengers already inside the car. If you have to take a taxi, use a licensed taxi from the official taxi rank outside the arrivals hall. Ideally, arrange to be met by friends, business contacts, or tour operators.
Passengers have been robbed when returning to their cars at the airport napa valley winery tours car park. Be vigilant at all times. napa valley winery tours If you are coming to Venezuela to work, we advise that you bring with you a letter napa valley winery tours from your employer and your local contact organisation details (including a Spanish translation), as there have been occasions when passengers have been hassled for bribes. Exchange currency at official exchange booths only.
Venezuela has suffered heavy rains over the last few years and this has affected road conditions. Shanty towns built on hillsides are particularly vulnerable to landslides. Several bridges and some inter-state roads in Venezuela have been badly damaged, with some bridges now being impassable. Seek local advice before you set out, leave plenty of time for your journey, and stick to the main roads. The most heavily affected states are Aragua, Carabobo, Capital District (Caracas) and Falcon.
You can drive in Venezuela using a British driving licence for up to 1 year. After that you will need to get a Venezuelan driving licence. Make sure you have copies of insurance documents, driving licence and passport with you at all times. Failure to produce documents can result in your vehicle being seized by the police.
There are regular police and National Guard checkpoints throughout the country. Drive slowly through these and stop if asked to do so. There have been reports of attempts by the police napa valley winery tours and National Guard to extract bribes. Ask for a written record giving details of the offence and the officer's details.
All vehicles must carry a spare tyre, wheel block, jack wrench and special reflector napa valley winery tours triangle. Driving under the influence of alcohol is common, especially during weekends. Many vehicles are in poor condition napa valley winery tours and drivers routinely ignore red lights. In the event of an accident, both vehicles must remain in the position of the accident until a traffic police officer arrives. Insurance companies won't pay claims on vehicles that have been moved without a police accident report.
Only use pre-booked taxis rather than hailing them in the street. Official taxis have yellow number plates. Hotels will normally book a taxi from a reputable company napa valley winery tours or supply their own limousine service.
Tourist travel can often involve flying in light aircraft. There have been several accidents in recent years on the main tourist routes, including Los Roques, Canaima and Merida - some with fatalities.
We can't offer advice on the safety of individual airlines. However, napa valley winery tours the International Air Transport Association publishes a list of registered airlines that have been audited and found to meet a number of operational safety standards and recommended practices. This list is not exhaustive and the absence of an airline from this list does not necessarily mean that it is unsafe.
Venezuelan airline Conviasa has been refused permission to operate services to the EU because it does not meet international safety standards. A full list of airlines banned from operating within the EU is available on the European Commission website . Refusal of permission to operate is often based on inspections of aircraft at EU airports. The fact that an airline is not included in the list does not automatically mean that it meets the applicable safety standards.
You may need to pay a departure tax before entering the security baggage check area for departures. You can pay in cash or by local Venezuelan debit card (not credit card). Check with your airline before agreeing to pay anything extra.
There have been incidents of piracy and armed robbery against boats in and around Venezuela s waters, especially east of Puerto La Cruz and in waters between napa valley winery tours Venezuela and Trinidad. Take suitable precautions and avoid these areas if possible.
Don't handle napa valley winery tours illegal drugs. Drug trafficking is a serious problem in Venezuela. Detection methods are sophisticated and drug traffickers should expect to be arrested. Conviction leads to severe penalties, including up to 2 years on remand before sentencing and then a lengthy prison sentence of between 8 to 10 years). Conditions in Venezuelan jails are harsh and dangerous, and among the worst in the region.
If you are arriving by air, you can enter for up to 90 days on a tourist card issued on arrival. You must have a valid return ticket. If you are arriving overland, or by sea, you must get a visa in advance from your nearest Venezuelan Embassy or Consulate .
If you are living in Venezuela, the only place where you can apply for or extend your residency permit is the main SAIME office in Caracas. Avoid companies offering residency permits as they may not be genuine.
A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate napa valley winery tours is not a requirement to enter Venezuela, but there have been cases where officials have illegitimately fined travellers who have been unable to produce one. Some airlines travelling to Venezuela will insist you have a Yellow Fever vaccination. Check with your airline before you travel.
Children travelling unaccompanied, with a guardian, or with one parent must provide a certified letter from the non-travelling parent(s) confirming that they are satisfied for the child to travel without them. This letter can be certified by a notary public, IDENA (Instituto Autonomo napa valley winery tours Consejo Nacional napa valley winery tours de De
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