VENEZUELA PRACTICALITIES

Facts and Figures

Area: 916,445 sq km/353,841 sq miles.

Population: 25,017,387

Capital: Caracas

Passport/Visa requirements

British citizens require a passport valid for 6 months from the date of departure, but a visa is not necessary if entering on a completed Tourist Entry Card, which is valid for a touristic stay of up to 90 days (no extension possible).

Geography

Venezuela, is at the northern tip of South America between Colombia and Guyana with a rich and beautiful variety of geographical features. You have the Andes Mountains and the Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest and the Guyana Highlands, home to Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, all separated by central plains called the llanos. The economy is dependent on the two major sectors of tourism and petroleum.

Climate

The climate varies according to altitude. Lowland areas have a tropical climate. The dry season is from December to April and the rainy season from May to December. During the rainy season, there is the possibility of flooding in certain low-lying areas, such as the Llanos and in some valley of the Andes. Various parts of Venezuela, including Caracas and the eastern part of Sucre, are vulnerable to earthquakes, although there have been no serious earthquakes for many years. The best time to visit is between January and April.

Language

Spanish is the official language of Venezuela, but English is widely used and understood.

Money

Venezuela’s currency is the Bolívar (Bs), which is divided into 100 centimos. US dollars are the most favoured foreign currency so it is best to have cash and travellers cheques in US$.

Religion

Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Time

GMT - 4 hours

Brief History

In the year of 1498 the territory was discovered by the famous explorer Christopher Columbus. Then in the year of 1520 the first European settlement was founded by a Spanish missionary. The territory was incorporated in the viceroyalty of the New Granada in the year of 1718.

The people of Venezuela called for their independence from the Spanish rule in the year of 1811. It was the time of South American independence movement when Venezuelan creoles were led by Francisco de Miranda and Simon Bolivar. But the independence of Venezuela was not confirmed until the year of 1821. From the year of 1830, the country was ruled by military dictators. The dictatorship was overthrown after Marcos Perez in the year of 1958.

Today's politics are dominated by President Hugo Chávez, the leader of a coup attempt in 1992, who formed his own party and, drawing on the support of millions of disaffected poor people, won the 1998 presidential election. Despite attempts by the opposition to remove him, Chávez's position remains secure for now. In the 2005 parliamentary elections, his party won a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

Getting Around

By Plane: As distances are relatively long and land travel time consuming, Venezuela has an excellent network of commuter airlines servicing the entire country and all major tourist destinations.

By Bus: Regular and inexpensive buses service all of terrestrial Venezuela. Most popular destinations are also serviced by expreso (express), ejecutivo (executive), and/or de lujo (luxury) buses.

Tipping

Most restaurants include approximately a 10% service fee in your bill. Still, leaving an additional 5-10% on your way out is widely expected. Also, tipping hotel porters, help at posadas, and tour guides, is customary. Taxi drivers, however, do not expect a tip unless they help you with your luggage.

British Embassy

Airport Departure

Depature tax = US$40.Direct transit passengers are exempt.

Health

Visitors to Laos are typically advised to make sure they are up to date with their Malaria and Tetanus, Yellow Fever and Hepatitis A. Diphtheria, Rabies and Typhoid are also sometimes required depending on the season and region.

What to pack

Venezuela is a tropical country. Clothing should be light and cool, although bringing a light sweater or jacket for going out at night is recommended. If you are planning to visit the Andes, it is strongly recommended that you bring a warm jacket. In Caracas fine restaurants and nightclubs have dress codes. Pack a coat and tie, or long dress, if you want to dine and dance in elegance. Otherwise the country is fairly casual.

Communications

The international country code for Venezuela is +58 and the outgoing code is 00. City codes are also required. Internet cafes are available in Caracas and tourist resorts.

Food and Drink

The food in Venezuela today is a mixture of influences - these include African, native Indian and European cuisines which has evolved over the centuries. It also shares many Caribbean influences in its flavours, techniques and ingredients. It is a flavoursome but not necessarily hot cuisine. Common ingredients include sweet peppers, garlic, onions and coriander as flavour enhancers.

Electricty

110 volts, 60Hz. American two-pin plugs are generally used.