I booked Venezuela on a slight whim. Realised I could do visa on arrival, did a quick scan of highlights, and that was about the extent of my pre-trip research. I went in early 2025 and spent six days covering Caracas, the Orinoco Delta, and Canaima National Park – the main highlights. I came back equal parts stunned by how beautiful it was and slightly confused how I hadn’t realised that before.
One thing I’ll say right off the bat: you need to book through a reputable tour agency to make Venezuela work. Not just because it makes logistics easier (it does), but because a proper personalised itinerary with your name and passport details on it makes a real difference at the border. As in… possibly the only way to get let through at the border. More on that below. The company we used was Osprey Expeditions.
Here’s what I wasn’t expecting.
2026 Update: The situation has obviously changed recently. This post is intended to highlight the positive travel experience I had in 2025 and share observations. It is not intended to suggest you should visit at this time. Check travel advisories.
1. The nature is genuinely world-class
I hadn’t googled Venezuela much before going. If I had, I might have been less shocked. But also, maybe the surprise was part of what made it so good.
From the moment the plane started its descent, I was hooked. Within hours of landing in Caracas, I had macaws flying overhead in the suburbs. Not in a zoo. Just… around. Then came the Orinoco Delta, where the jungle and waterways felt completely untouched. And then Canaima.
Canaima National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, honestly, one of the most visually extraordinary places I’ve ever been. Hot take: the lagoon waterfalls at Canaima are actually more spectacular than Angel Falls itself. Angel Falls is incredible, obviously. It’s the world’s tallest waterfall at 979 metres and you absolutely should see it, but Canaima as a whole hit differently. The tepuis (those flat-topped table mountains), the lagoon, walking behind the Sapo waterfall… it was a lot. I was overwhelmed. But in a good way.
I was not a nature person before this trip. I am firmly one now. Especially birds… new appreciation for bird watching unlocked on this trip.
(Pack DEET. I left Venezuela with approximately 53 mosquito bites. The south of the country is genuinely relentless)
2. Caracas was more relaxed than I expected
Chaotic, yes. In the way most South American capitals are chaotic. But I felt comfortable walking around in the daytime, taking photos, wandering into museums, and asking locals for directions. I used a local cab app called Yummy Rides to get around without needing to flag anything down.
The highlight was the walking tour of Caracas I did through the historic centre – organised by the tour providers. The street art alone is worth it – enormous, colourful murals everywhere – plus the national monuments, plazas, and the sheer energy of the place. I came away genuinely impressed by a city I’d known almost nothing about beforehand.
3. National heroes are absolutely everywhere
Simón Bolívar, who led Venezuela and several other South American countries to independence, and Hugo Chávez are both omnipresent. Murals five storeys high. Statues in every plaza. Faces on the sides of buildings in tiny villages in the jungle. Plazas and streets named in their honour. It’s striking, and the scale of it genuinely tells you something about the country’s identity.
The Chávez mausoleum was one of the most interesting things I did on the whole trip. Yes, it was kind of eerie seeing the mausoleum in person. Seeing it patrolled by military, decorated, kept immaculately clean. Seeing it full of visitors. But this was fascinating. I went in knowing almost nothing about Venezuelan history – this was actually my first trip to South America – and came out having genuinely learned a lot.
4. It is expensive – budget accordingly
This was probably the biggest practical surprise. A Magnum ice cream costs $5 USD. Dinner with a couple of small plates and two beers came to around $40 per person. A helicopter flight over Angel Falls – something I’ve done elsewhere for $100-200 – was $500 per person here.
Beer, weirdly, is often the cheapest thing going. Sometimes under $1. Small mercies.
Practical money tips:
- Bring USD cash. It’s widely accepted and you’ll need it for most things. Budget generously and then add some more.
- Change is given in local currency, so don’t expect USD back.
- You actually don’t need to exchange money, because of the above. But you might get a slightly poorer rate in your returned change…
- Check prices of food before ordering. I went to a few small places where menus had no prices. Then got a nasty surprise when the bill came.
5. Card machines actually worked (sometimes)
I’d assumed foreign cards simply wouldn’t function here. Not the case. My card (UK) worked at airports and several larger restaurants. I didn’t try ATMs, but even getting occasional card transactions through was genuinely helpful. Don’t leave home assuming cash only, but don’t bank on cards everywhere either.
6. Getting into Venezuela was easier than I’d braced for
I’d mentally prepared for a long, complicated border experience. It was fine. I could get visa on arrival, which helps, but even so, it was smoother than expected.
The single best tip I can give you: sit at the very front of the plane. Book and pay for that seat in advance if you have to. I got off first, went straight to immigration, and was stamped and through within 45 minutes of leaving the aircraft. Anecdotally, people further back in the queue were waiting 2-3 hours.
They did want paper copies (not digital) of: your itinerary, hotel bookings, and inbound and outbound flight information. My tour agency had prepared a personalised itinerary with my name and passport number on it, which made this smooth. On the way out, they asked for all flights until I reached home.
7. The food wasn’t a highlight
I’ll be honest: I’d assumed everywhere south of the USA was a food paradise. Venezuela gently corrected this assumption. Arepas (maize flatbreads with fillings) and empanadas are the main staples. They’re fine. They’re perfectly decent. But I didn’t come home immediately hunting for a Venezuelan restaurant. Maybe I didn’t try the right things..
The beer is cold and cheap though, which counts for something after a sweaty day in the Orinoco.
Was Venezuela worth it?
Without question, yes. This was my first South American country and it set the bar somewhere unreasonably high. The nature, the history, the Orinoco jungle, Canaima national park, the macaws in the suburbs of Caracas – all of it was more than I expected from a destination I’d barely researched.
Six days felt like the right amount of time for the main highlights. I didn’t feel rushed. I wish I had done the beaches, but got to leave something for a future trip.
Book through a good agency, take USD cash, sit at the front of the plane, and bring enough DEET to supply a small army.
Venezuela practical info
Best time to visit: The dry season runs December to April. Better for visibility at Angel Falls and more comfortable travel generally. The wet season (May–November) means fuller waterfalls but harder logistics.
Getting there: Most international visitors fly into Caracas (Simón Bolívar International Airport). The airport is about 30 minutes from central Caracas.
Getting to Canaima/Angel Falls: There are no road connections. There are commercial flights from Caracas. Some tour agencies will arrange a private flight from Orinoco if that is your route. This is not bookable independently.
Currency: USD cash is king. Bring more than you think you’ll need.
FAQ
Is Venezuela expensive to visit? Yes. Budget around $40-50 per person per day for food and incidentals, and way more if you’re doing helicopter or premium experiences. The helicopter over Angel Falls costs around $500 per person. Bring USD cash.
What are the best things to do in Venezuela? The highlights are Canaima National Park (including Angel Falls and the lagoon waterfalls), the Orinoco Delta, and a walking tour of Caracas. Six days covers these comfortably.
Do you need to book a tour to visit Venezuela? For most visitors, yes. Independent travel is possible in theory, but logistics are complicated and there aren’t really online day tours. A good tour agency smooths everything out significantly and the personalised itinerary they provide is useful (/essential) at immigration.
When is the best time to visit Venezuela? December to April (dry season) is generally best for travel. June to October is whale watching season in coastal areas if that’s on your list.
What should I do after Venezuela? There are direct flights to Bogota, so you could head there, and if you’re into unique destinations, check out the remote town of Yopal while you’re at it! Alternatively, head onwards to Peru and check out highlights like Oxapampa or Lake Titicaca!
