VENEZUELA

When it comes to South American destinations, Venezuela often tends to fly under the radar. However, this captivating country is bursting with breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and warmhearted people. As my 118th and final country in South America, here’s everything you need to know about exploring Venezuela.

VISA

The visa is probably the most difficult aspect of trying to visit this country if you’re American or hold a non-European passport. I went on my Philippine passport, but I had an American friend that also applied at the embassy in Mexico City. You can read my fully detailed guide on obtaining a visa to Venezuela here.

Caracas

Nestled in a valley at the foot of the Avila Mountain, Caracas stands as a captivating showcase of dichotomies. As the bustling capital of Venezuela, it pulsates with the energy of a modern metropolis, juxtaposing soaring skyscrapers with colonial-era buildings that whisper tales of a bygone era. The city's rich cultural heritage is reflected in its vibrant plazas, where locals gather to socialize and indulge in the nation's beloved arepas. While Caracas boasts a cosmopolitan allure with its upscale malls and trendy nightlife, it also embraces the depths of nature. Caracas encapsulates the essence of Venezuela, captivating visitors with its enchanting contrasts and serving as a gateway to the country's diverse wonders.

We spent two nights in Caracas seeing all the sights of the city. We stayed at an incredible airbnb hosted by a wonderful family, who took us on a city tour, cooked wonderful meals, and drove us everywhere we needed to go. I highly recommend reaching out to Jean Paul on Whatsapp at +4407498778646. One of my favorite activities was watching sunset from the 360 Bar & Lounge, which had incredible views of the city.

Angel Falls

From Caracas, we flew to Canaima to see the world-famous Angel Falls, the tallest uninterrupted waterfall on the planet. Located in the remote Canaima National Park, the sight of water cascading from a staggering height of 979 meters is truly awe-inspiring. We stayed at Waku Lodge, which is the best place to stay in my opinion — it had the best value and the views from the hotel were incredible, with waterfalls cascading all around. All lodges will set you up with flights in the price.

The first day at Waku Lodge we did an afternoon excursion to Sapo Falls, which was really unique because you hike behind these incredible waterfalls. The rocks you walk on are mossy and extremely slippery, so I highly recommend wearing socks (yes, socks!) or crocs work great too (a lady was kind enough to lend me hers for the trek since she already had socks).

The second day was the journey to the falls — we had to wake up at 3:30 AM to get ready to take a boat ride up the Carrao River. The weather is deceiving, and even though during the daytime it’s extremely hot, the combination of the wind and rain during the boat ride will make you extremely cold. I can’t stress this enough — bring a quality rain jacket or at the very least, a rain poncho.

The third day you could opt to take a flight to the falls or a helicopter ride, but honestly I was exhausted and I didn’t want to spend any extra money outside of the package I paid so I took the time to hang out at the lodge and soak in the views. Having a day to just journal in a hammock right next to the falls was perfect; plus it’s nice to take advantage of a luxury hotel you paid good money for!

Morrocoy national park

Morrocoy National Park is home to a myriad of picturesque islands and islets, all surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise waters. One of the main attractions of Morrocoy National Park is its archipelago, home to more than 50 islands and islets. The archipelago offers a diversity of landscapes, from mangrove forests to sandy beaches and coral reefs.

After landing back in Caracas, our airbnb host (mentioned above) drove us all the way to Morrocoy National Park. There aren’t many places to stay so our host found an apartment for us to rent for a couple nights. We decided to explore the islands by boat, including Playa Mero and Cayo Sombrero, so we spent one full day boating all the beautiful islets around before making the return back to Caracas.

VENEZUELA VISA

If you’re American or some other nationality (in my case, the Philippines) that needs a visa for Venezuela, this blog post is for you! Venezuela is one of the most difficult visas to get, and since there’s little info out there on how to get the visa I wanted to create a guide on everything you need to know.

Why Mexico City?

Since there isn’t an embassy in the USA, Americans or residents of the US have to go to the embassy in Mexico City. Yes, there is an embassy in Ottawa, Canada, but I had an American friend who went there and couldn’t get it. My friend also attempted the embassy in Dominican Republic but they mostly just cater to Venezuelans in the DR, so I highly recommend playing it safe and obtaining it in Mexico City.

Visa Requirements

Before even going to the embassy, make sure you have all the requirements you need. This is a long trip to go to the embassy, and you’ll have to go two times for the visa, so make it count!

Application Form
Copy of passport
Passport photo
Itinerary
Flight/Hotel
Last month bank statement (have last 3 months just in case)
Medical letter (approval from a doctor that you're healthy)
House title/lease agreement
Employment letter

First Trip to Mexico City: June 2022

Arrived right when they opened at 8 AM, told the man at the door that I was "solicitando una visa turista" and told to go to the back of the line, which is through the building into a parking garage with a lot of chairs lined up.

Eventually the man came and told me to wait in a shorter, different line for the front desk

Showed visa application and receptionist input the info, gave me a ticket and went to the 2nd floor

Waited until number was called, laid out all the documents and was told to go back to the lobby to pay. Make sure they give some sort of paper that says the price of the tourist visa ($30 USD) so you don't have to go back and forth. Side note, my American friend had to fill out an extra application form while I only had to do the one I found online.

Paid in the lobby with credit card, given receipt, went back to the 2nd floor and the receipt was stapled to the application. Was told it would be ready in 4-6 weeks and come back then. I asked for an email/phone number/contact but they said no and I'd just have to come back after the mentioned time period. Make sure you come back after the 6 weeks to make sure; Americans have 6-8 weeks processing time.

Second trip to mexico city: August 2022

I went back to Mexico City at the beginning of August and stopped by the embassy first thing in the morning. I left my passport, came back the next morning, and there was a VNZ visa in my passport! The visa is multiple entry, but 1 month validity (for Americans it’s multiple entry, 3 months validity). I flew Copa Airlines from PTY to Caracas, but my return flight I paid $150 via Venezolana Airlines.