Venezuela safe?

[goo]

Am in Cartagena and contemplating a trip into Venezuela. Only thing is several people, mostly Venezuelans, have given me dire warnings and told me that now is an especially dangerous time there. Not my first dire warnings - echoes of Honduras etc which turned out easy, but would love to hear perspectives from anyone who has visited recently

Thanks!

[Vorteks]

I was warned the same about Colombia in Venezuela...

Plan your stops ahead and enjoy the free gasoline and impressingly beautiful nature.

You ll be safe in touristic destinations : Merida, Isla Margarita, Puerto Ordaz, Santa Elena de Uairen.

Like anywhere else in the world, tourists are not the main target of violent crimes, the return on risk is not high enough.

For more detailed informations, contact Claude from Quebec on this forum, he has always been of excellent advice since he s been living and working there for a long time now.

[transalpinesabine]

take care of the police in Venezuela!!
now all over the country there is these annoying and corrupt police-controls. especially the roads west of the Maracaibo-lake are heavily controlled. revisar total!
the recently tend to lock up and rob foreigners like they did with me and a friend. the corruption is now incredible there and they will take all of the money they find which means you should not take loads of $$ or hide them extremely well (the boots are NOT a good hiding-place...).
take care of your paperwor and hide your money then you should be fine.
apart from that its a great country with outstandingly friendly and interesting people. enjoy the aventura and safe ride!

[transalpinesabine]

sorry....one more warning:
the beaches east of Rio Caribe (maybe ALL beaches?) are not safe at all, now famous for armed ladrones waiting to rob the foreigners (or anybody).
i had a ladrone there too when i went swimming and let the bike alone at the beach. wouldnt recommend to camp at these beautiful places, its easy to find cheap rooms with locals safely locked up behind gitter.
i had no trouble camping around south of Pt. Ordaz.

enjoy!