Getting Around Caracas: Transport Guide

Taxis can be easily hailed in the street and are generally - but not always - safe. They have no meters so prices should be agreed on before getting in. Caracas traffic is notoriously bad and the metro is usually a better option.

The Caracas metro is clean, modern, safe and extremely cheap. A single journey costs just Bs.500, "ida y vuelta" (return ticket) is Bs.900 and a 10 journey "multi abono" ticket is Bs.4500. Because prices have changed little in recent years yet bus fares have outpaced inflation, the metro is frequently overcrowded, particularly during peak hours.

The metro system is backed up by a network of metrobuses that depart from certain metro stations and take fixed routes to areas of the city not reached by the underground. Like the metro, the metrobuses are cheap and clean, but passengers complain of bus shortages. Most services run only about every 20 minutes. The buses have fixed stops and will not pick up passengers away from these.

The ubiquitous minibuses, or por puestos, run along many main roads in Caracas, often ending up in obscure residential neighborhoods not reached by the metro. They can be flagged down anywhere and you can usually ask the driver to let you jump off whenever he stops, such as at traffic lights. Although sometimes useful - such as for reaching the Sabas Nieves entrance to El Avila from Altamira metro station - the buses are more expensive than the metro (Bs.1000 a ride), slower and are invariably in a very bad condition.