Venezuela - Immigration
Note: All US citizens now require a visa for entry into Venezuela, and these must be obtained prior to entry.
Arrival at any port, or an encounter with any official without the appropriate visa could result in denial of entry, or possibly detention and seizure. While foreign Venezuelan consulates can provide instructions and may process visa applications, travel to Venezuela by the US flagged yachts or carrying US citizens should be considered at this time to be HIGH RISK.
See this comment posted by an American yacht who visited Los Roques in November 2016.
Passports must be valid for at least six months on entry.
For most nationalities, a tourist visa is required in advance if arriving by sea. It is only those visitors arriving by scheduled air carrier who will be issued with a 90 day Tourist Card on arrival.
Ensure that both your passport and visa are stamped on arrival. Do not overstay the 90 days or you may be arrested and fined when departing.
If planning to apply for an extension to your visa, ensure this is done before the existing one expires.
There are convenient Venezuelan consulates in Aruba, Bonaire, Martinique, Barbados, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Grenada.
A passport (or certified copy) should be carried at all times when traveling inland, as the police and military do spot checks.
Last updated: April 2018
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And what does that translate to?
It seems for the moment not good to visit Los Roques and Las Aves. Alejandro who looked after the cruisers and was harbour master and a sort of Agent is no more there. Officials take what they get from the yachts. The islands are not safe for the moment, to use Alejandros word’s: it is “Wild west”.
The Aves are now under the prodection from Los Roques, same problems.
Trees van Mierlo says:
Oct 01, 2018 11:19 PM
1 Oct 2018: we just returned from a 2 week holiday in los Roques and las Aves ( barlovento) it is paradise for us. We felt safe. If you want to go there, be sure to stock enough provisions. Shops were empty because the freightboat did not arrive for 2 weeks. In los Roques we were escorted by a local friend. We paid for coastguard, customs and immigration 5 US dollar per boat. the national park was for us ( 40ft sailboat and 2 persons) 215 US dollar… This was much more than we counted for. Even our friend was stunned. But the Bolivar rate was just changed. 1 week later it could be half the price or lees, he assured us. I think we were there with a bad timing (for rates). We stayed and had a wonderful time with the sweetest people (great Spa!) and enjoyed the lovely remote anchorages, the red footed booby’s in the marshes of Barlovento and beautiful snorkeling spots.
We intend to visit Bonair at July 2019. Is there anyone nearby now or at this time?
The situation in Los Roques is changing on a daily basis. Read the latest reports from cruisers adjacent (top right) in the report “Los Roques, Las Aves, Bonaire & Curacao: Latest Updates”.
Los Roques and Los Aves November 12-24, 2017
We had a great time in these islands. We had absolutely no security issues. All the immigration officials were extremely friendly as was everyone else we met. Although we had 6 stops to check in I would much rather do that then check into Antigua. With the current currency situation a 42 foot boat with 2 people cost $50. I was dinged for another $40 got get a transit visa since I’m American. The rules were that I was required to have a visa before I got to Venezuela so this was their work around. A Canadian traveling with me did not have to pay extra.
I checked on the exchange rate on dolartoday.com before I got there to know roughly where the unofficial exchange rate was currently. It was 50,000 bolivars to $1 but the best we could do was 30,000 bolivars to $1 but even with that rate everything was an incredible bargain. Beers at real nice beach bars were $.50 and a three course meal was $6 – think excellent cerviche for $1.
Free wifi was available in the main town square and in the same building as immigration by the airport. If you have long range antenna you can get it on your boat.
While we were there we only saw two other cruisers and had all the anchorages we stayed at completely to ourselves. It is just like the Bahamas without the people – endless white sand beaches, good snorkeling, good holding and great sailing.
Los Aves were equally spectacular and equally void of cruisers.
Based on some comments here and elsewhere I was a little concerned about stopping but it turns out we stumbled into paradise. I only wished I had time to stay longer