Venezuela Travel Guide

Venezuela — Country and Tourist Information

Browse the Venezuela Photo Gallery

Country Facts

Location: South America.
Language: Spanish is the official language. English, French, German and Portuguese are also spoken by some sections of the community.
Area: 912,050 sq km (352,144 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 4.5.
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. US-style two-pin plugs are the most commonly used fittings.
Population: 27.88 million (2008).
Population Density: 30.2 per sq km.
Capital City: Caracas. Population: 4.3 million (metropolitan area, 2008).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1830.
Head of State: President Hugo Chávez since 1998.
Religion: 96% Roman Catholic.

Recent History

Venezuelan politics of the past decade has been dominated by the incendiary figure of Hugo Chávez. His policies have effectively polarized the society: Venezuelans either love him or loathe him. Celebrating a decade at the nation’s helm in 2009, the leader has won broad acceptance from the masses of Venezuela’s poor for his implementation of ‘21st-century socialism,’ while further alienating the far less populous well-to-do sector. After an overwhelming re-election in December 2006, Chávez moved to nationalize key industries like steel, electricity and oil. The following year, however, a proposed constitutional amendment to extend presidential term limits was voted down.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +58.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Travelers on extended stays might consider getting a local SIM card to insert in their own phone.

Internet

There are Internet cafes in most urban areas.

Media

President Hugo Chávez has been roundly criticized by outsiders for his attempts to muzzle opponents in the media. The most recent incident occurred in May 2007 when his government refused to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television, an opposition-backed TV station, replacing the channel with state-run TVes. Soon afterward, he threatened to shut down another station, Globovisión, which he accused of attempting to assassinate him. In general, however, the Venezuelan press is free to denounce Chávez's policies, and his opponents in the country's main newspapers can be downright scathing in their criticism. The president has his own weekly TV and radio program, on which he voices his opinions and sings his favorite tunes.

Post

Mail service from Venezuela to the USA and Europe is unreliable and could take anywhere from a week to a month to arrive.Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-16:30

Press

• The English-language daily newspaper is The Daily Journal, published in Caracas.
• Spanish-language dailies include El Nacional, El Mundo, El Universal and Últimas Noticias.

Radio

• Radio Nacional de Venezuela (www.rnv.gov.ve) is a state broadcaster with several stations, including Canal Informativo, Canal Clásico, Canal Juvenil, and Canal Popular.
• Union Radio is a commercial news network.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
7 Mar - 8 Mar Carnival
19 Apr Declaration of Independence
21 Apr Holy Thursday
22 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
24 Jun Battle of Carabobo
5 Jul Independence Day
24 Jul Birth of Simón Bolívar
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
7 Feb - 8 Feb *Carnival
5 Apr Holy Thursday
6 Apr Good Friday
19 Apr Declaration of Independence
1 May Labor Day
24 Jun Battle of Carabobo
5 Jul Independence Day
24 Jul Birth of Simón Bolívar
12 Oct Day of Indigenous Resistance
12 Oct Day of Indigenous Resistance
25 Dec Christmas Day
* Date to be confirmed. ** There are some additional regional holidays.

Contact Information

INATUR (National Tourism Institute)

Avenida Francisco de Miranda con Avenida Principal de La Floresta, Complejo Mintur, Urb La Floresta, Caracas, Venezuela
Tel: (212) 286 3016.
Website: www.inatur.gob.ve