Venezuela: Some Interesting Facts

Public Holidays

Date 2005 Occasion
January 1 New Year's Day  
February 7 - 8 Carnival
March 24 Holy Thursday
March 25 Good Friday
March 27 Easter  
April 19 Declaration of Independence
May 1 Labour Day
June 24 Battle of Carabobo
July 5 Firma Acta de Independencia
July 24 Birth of the Libertador (Bolivar Day)
October 12 Columbus Day
December 25 Christmas Day  
December 31 New Year's Eve (unofficial but general)

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday

Health & Safety

You’ll find plenty of hospitals, private clinics and pharmacies in the country. Tap water is safe to drink. There is no need for vaccinations on entering, unless you come from an infected area. But do get a vaccination against hepatitis. Use mosquito repellents.

This is a safe place, though now some thugs have shown upon the roads. Be careful while strolling around in Caracas especially. Carry your passport and you won’t be hassled much by the police. If you’re found traveling without it you could expect to find yourself at the police station. Stay away from poor shantytowns. Never show disrespect for Bolivar—this could offend Venezuelans immensely as they consider him a saint. Sitting on a bench in Plaza Bolivar with your feet on it could be taken as a mark of disrespect.

Weights and measures

The metric system is used.

Customs & Duties

You can bring in personal belongings like cameras, camping equipment, a personal computer and sports accessories without hesitation. Don’t even try carrying drugs – you’ve got to be out of your mind to even think of it – the offense is so serious and penalties are so heavy!

Electricity

Electricity is 110 V, 60 Hz AC all over the country. US type flat two pin plugs are used.

Post & Communications

If you are sending a letter to the US or Europe and you can forget all about it for a month. Even domestic mail is slow.

Telephones are operated by CANTV and are automated for both domestic and international connections. Most phones in larger cities remain dead. Faxes can be sent from major branches of CANTV offices. Internet cafes are commonly found in Caracas. Access is available for US$5 an hour. Ipostel runs the postal service – it is an unreliable, inefficient and slow service.

Tipping

In almost all drinking and dining places, a 10% service tax is added to the bill. In budget places tipping is uncommon.

English Language Media

The English Language daily newspaper is The Daily Journal published in Caracas