Recently this year, the US state department has downgraded the travel advice from “do not travel” to reconsider your need to travel”. This is a significant change in the travel advisory which is now on the same level as countries such as Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Colombia. Obviously, we think these travel advisories should be taken with a grain of salt as we often travel to places that are considered dangerous and government warnings do not reflect the reality of the situation on the ground.
But nonetheless, this does show that things have change in Venezuela and so that begs the question, is it safe to travel to Venezuela? And what are the current risks?
What are the main dangers?
In Latin America in general and not exclusive to Venezuela you should operate with a heightened sense of risk for things like robbery and mugging. There are numerous stories of people getting mugged while walking on the street at night, or bags snatched from motorbikes and in some cases even having weapons pulled on them. This does happen in Venezuela, however if you are taking transport such as taxis between locations especially at night and avoiding areas known to be more sketchy, then you really shouldn’t have a problem.
There are stories of kidnappings as well, however these are very rarely targeting tourists and honestly, you are probably far more likely to experience a violent crime in many US cities than many parts of Venezuela.
What to do if robbed?
Unfortunately, sometimes robberies do happen. Many travellers from Mexico City to Buenos Aires will tell tales of how they were robbed at gun point. If you do encounter this in Venezuela, the most important advice is to not fight back and to just give them what they ask for. Remember, everything (while inconvenient) is replaceable and it is important to come out of these events unharmed.
So, is it really dangerous?
Honestly, no. If you are a smart traveller and follow certain social rules you will likely have no issue in the country. Just like with any country/city there are good and bad areas. Talk with locals and find out where you shouldn’t go and what times are best to travel. Moving around in the daytime is always best and this goes for Venezuela as well. If you were to ask what the reality is like we would say it’s similar to Mexico and Colombia and these are destinations visited by many tourists from all of the world each year. All of these countries have places you should and shouldn’t go, however for the most part touristic areas are considered fairly safe and if you follow the rules you will likely not have an issue.
How to best travel safely in Venezuela?
The best way to experience Venezuela is always with local guides or on a group tour such as the group tour we are running this December for New Years.
Check out the details here
. Local information is invaluable when it comes to where and when to go, think about the city you live and everything you know about it, local insight is the best things for keeping safe.
What to do if your passport is stolen?
This is one of the most annoying things that can happen on a trip and can often mean the end of travelling for many people. What usually happens is you will have to contact your embassy or the embassy that represents your country and they will issue you a temporary passport (usually valid for 6-9 months) with only a few pages. This document will allow you to board flights back home to your country where you will be able to apply for a new document.
Do we think now is a good time to travel to Venezuela?
Yes! Absolutely we think now is a great time to visit the country. Venezuela is going through some big changes but is ultimately becoming slowly more open. This is a great time to visit the country and have tourists sites mostly to yourself. Venezuela is an amazingly beautiful country and it will likely become only more popular in future.
Is it safe for US citizens to travel to Venezuela?
Yes, there are no extra warnings for US citizens coming to Venezuela than other travellers. Since April, a new e-visa system has made it easier for travellers to visit the country if they required a visa such as for US and Canadian citizens. Read our blog here for more information on the Venezuelan e-visa process.
How can you travel to Venezuela?
Really it is as simple now as booking a flight, however, to get the most of your trip and to do it in the safest environment, joining a Saiga Tours Venezuela group tour is your best bet. Check out our Venezuela tours here.
To join us in Venezuela, send us an email to [email protected] to secure your spot.
