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Country Guide > South America > Venezuela | |
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Travel - Internal Air Almost all large towns are connected with scheduled services operated by domestic airlines, including Aeropostal (website: www.aeropostal.com), Aerotuy (website: www.tuy.com) and Avensa and Servivensa. There are various discount tickets offered by Avensa and Servivensa, including special student and family prices. For further information, contact your local travel agency. Air travel is the best means of internal transport but services are often overbooked and even confirmation does not always ensure a seat. Travellers are advised to arrive at the airport well before the minimum check-in time in order to obtain confirmed seats. Schedule changes and flight cancellations with no advance warning are also likely. Departure tax: Bs600. Sea Ferries link Puerto La Cruz with Margarita Island (travel time – two hours 45 minutes). Rail The only railway runs between Barquisimeto and Puerto Cabello, with no air conditioning. There are plans for a considerable extension to the rail network. There are ambitious plans in progress for a 1400km (870 mile) national network to be constructed in the near future. Road Traffic drives on the right. Internal roads between principal cities are of a high standard, with 17,050km (10,595 miles) of paved motorways, 13,500km (8400 miles) of macadam highways and 5850km (3635 miles) of other roads. All vehicles must carry a spare tyre, wheel block, jack wrench and special reflector triangle. The quality of roads is variable but the main roads in Caracas and to the interior are good. In the event of an accident, both vehicles must remain in the position of the accident until a Traffic Police Officer arrives, otherwise insurance companies will be unable to pay claims. Drivers routinely ignore red lights. Bus: There are fairly cheap interurban bus services; quality of travel varies a lot, however. Car hire: Self-drive cars are available at the airport and in major city centres but are expensive. Documentation: National driving licences are valid for one year. International Driving Permits are also valid. Urban Caracas has a 35-station metro, which is comfortable and inexpensive. Conventional bus services have badly deteriorated in recent years and there has been a rapid growth in the use of por puestos (share-taxis). These are operated by minibus companies and tend to serve as the main form of public transport in Caracas and major cities. Fares charged are in general similar to those on the buses, although they are higher during the evenings and at weekends. Taxis in Caracas are metered but the fare can nonetheless be negotiated with the driver. It is customary not to use meters after midnight; the fare should be agreed before setting out. Taxi fares double after 2000. Taxi rates are posted at the airport. Motorcycles may not be used in Caracas after 2200. Travel times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Caracas to other major cities/towns in Venezuela.
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