Wanted, up to date info re safety in Venezuela

[Jabez Clegg]

Hi, we are currently in Peru heading north 2 yrs into our RTW with no definate plan as to our ride, we have been to Venezuela before but about 14yrs ago and would like to visit again, Isle de Margarita looks good, it was a great place years ago to chill out for a while, any up to date info appreciated.
Thanks in advance Pete n Brucella

[Jabez Clegg]

Sorry to bump this but we still need info, also we have had a PM from somebody else also requesting info, Thanks Pete n Brucella

[T.REX63]

Haven't been there in a couple of years either. But, we do business with Venezuela on a weekly basis. Things have turned for the worse. I know a couple of business associates, who have lived there for a long time or all their life. Some are trying to get out. Crime is on the up rise and life is getting more difficult. Courtesy of Hugo Chavez.

Again, no first hand info. Hope this helps anyway...

[markharf]

Hey, don't listen to secondhand reports about Venezuela--particularly those which come from disenchanted business owners. They're all pissed because the easy times (which they'll describe with great gusto) are gone, but this doesn't mean it's a bad country to ride in or that you'll have a difficult time there. I rode through a couple of weeks ago and found it fine--no more dangerous than anyplace else in particular; no more police hassles or corruption than, say, Brazil; the usual confusion about routes; the usual language difficulties. There are some spectacular places to see, and friendly folks throughout.

My only two specific pieces of advice: get a good grasp of the way the currency black market works, or you'll end up paying double for everything. And when the men in uniform stop and ask for money at roadblocks, they don't actually seem to expect to get any....unlike some places, where fortitude is required if, like me, you don't intend to pay.

Caveats: I did not go to Caracas, but some folks do. And by way of context, I've just been all over Central and South America on a bike, including quite a few places considered dangerous, disgraceful and/or difficult, and not a single place has been as bad as the terrifying stories told by people who, by and large, have never been there.

Of course, YMMV.

enjoy,

Mark

(from Disneyland, a.k.a. Antigua Guatemala, still limping steadily homeward)

[*Touring Ted*]

I was there 2008..

I found that the people are friendly and hospitable.. Just stay away from the Major cities.

The checkpoints and road blocks are everywhere though. 95% of the time you're always waved through. Just the odd moody copper or captain who wants to see all your paperwork and look important.

I stayed polite and patient and was never fined, bribed or threatened.

Not sure on right this moment though...

[T.REX63]

Originally Posted by markharf

Hey, don't listen to secondhand reports about Venezuela--particularly those which come from disenchanted business owners. They're all pissed because the easy times (which they'll describe with great gusto) are gone, ...

...Oh my, here we go. We have a real expert on business

Of course, first hand and most recent information is the best. But, to really understand current, underlying issues, one needs to speak, and more importantly, understand the language and culture. In my travels over the past 25 years to Mexico, Central- and South America, I only have met fantastic, warm and welcoming people. It's not the people that are reason for concern, it's the governments and their actions of many countries in before mentioned region. Venezuela is currently one of them.

One of my best experiences with people was during the late '80 in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Probably, because of the difficult times they went through...

[markharf]

Don't really know if there's a problem here, but the original poster was not asking what it's like to operate a business in Venezuela; the question was about traveling and hanging there, presumably with a motorcycle. That's an arena in which I've got recent experience, while the previous poster, apparently, does not....and I'll almost wager that neither do his business associates, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

Businesspeople in Venezuela (particularly well-off businesspeople) sound a common theme these days: without exception, those I spoke with said something like "Five years ago you could start up a business and pretty soon you'd be buying cars and a house and have everything you needed. Now Hugo Chavez takes it all. I've got a million dollars I'm trying to get out of the country, because it's too risky to invest it here...."

Now, that might not bode well for business, and it might not bode well for the country either, but these are not people who can generally be trusted to give balanced advice on what it's like to visit as a tourist on a motorcycle. They're too busy resenting Hugo and bemoaning the potential loss of what looks to me like a fairly comfortable lifestyle. Note that all this complaining happened over drinks in nice restaurants, or in private homes with hilltop views, or behind large, locked gates manned by security guards. As an overland rider, you're far more likely to spend your time joking with the soldiers at the roadblocks about your resemblance to Che and Fidel, if bearded like myself.

FWIW, I have no direct experience whatsoever conducting business in Venezuela or with Venezuelans. Ask me what it's like to do so and I'll defer to those more knowledgible than I.

Hope that clarifies.

Mark

ex-Venzuela, now in Guatemala (which is not exactly a paradise for businesspeople either, but is a wonderful place to ride a motorycle)

[T.REX63]

Originally Posted by Jabez Clegg

...
we have been to Venezuela before but about 14yrs ago and would like to visit again, Isle de Margarita looks good, it was a great place years ago to chill out for a while, any up to date info appreciated.
Thanks in advance Pete n Brucella

Hey Pete,
I have send you a PM with the email contact of our representative in Valencia, Venezuela. This gentlemen was born in Venezuela. Besides Spanish, he is fluent in English and German.

Just make sure you use my full first and last name in the subject line. I am certain he will respond with most up to the minute information, with the perspective of a local.

All the best and safe travels,

Thomas

[T.REX63]

He Pete,
me again, please check your PM again. There is a new email address.

All the best,
Thomas

Edit: 07/16/2010 - 6:17 pm EDT

Stefan got back to me, he is expecting your email inquiry. The gmail.com address works fine.

Thomas

[rauleloy]

Hi man (sorry my English is not very good)
I went to Venezuela in January 2008. I go in for Santa Elena del Guairen, in the Brazil´s border and go out for the Guagira, in the Colombia´s border. I went alone and sleeped in tent every days (except in Caracas). One night the police to allowed sleep in your barracks and for the rain(Colombia, Venezuela y Ecuador are very rainy) my tent come to flood and they game me a bed. All okey. About politycs is not a problem: one half speak very well over Hugo and the other half very bad. But all them are very festive. All the best for you
Raúl

[Jabez Clegg]

Thanks for the info, this is just what we needed, as in most of our travels, every where you go somebody says oh my don,t go there!!!!!
We have never took any notice and we have been 2yrs and4 months TravellingRTW on a pair of Battered XT600,s including the delights of Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau with virtually no Problems
There are 2 Aussies about a month ahead of us who have PM,d me asking for info, so after reading this I hope they feel that its worth the trip through Venezuela
Anyway if they get eaten by Dragons at least we,ll all know, HEHEHE
Once again thanks for the PM,s
Pete n Brucella

[gusonopa]

To make long story short good friend of mine just got out of the country...sh went there alone for a few days and she got stopped by police, stripped naked got a gun to her head and asked to buy all her belongings back from the POLICE.

No jokes, i don't know personally cos i've never been there but it makes me wonder, the power of the police went right to their head.

It is not good although generalise!!!i'm sure there are plenty of good cops up there, just heads up....btw, without sound sexist she was alone...i would advise to any european girl Not to get in Venezuela by her self ANYHOW I'm not quite sure what it's the deal with a bike....at the moment i'm in BA long way from there!!!!.

hopefully the country will get more stable!!!!


Fingercrosssssss!!!!

!!!

[T.REX63]

Originally Posted by gusonopa

To make long story short good friend of mine just got out of the country...sh went there alone for a few days and she got stopped by police, stripped naked got a gun to her head and asked to buy all her belongings back from the POLICE.
...

That's a truly sad development. Is there any way you could ask her to post her first hand account on HU...?

Glad to hear she made it out OK.

[gusonopa]

she is not part of this community unfortunately!!! but is a true true story!!!

[markharf]

Maybe you'd like to share a bit more of the story, then, so that it will inform rather than merely titillate. Like: Where? When? Why? How? In what context? Etc. The idea is to provide information. You are not producing trailers for the 11:00 news ("Tune in at 11:00 for details on this and other breaking stories!!!").

I'm always a bit dubious about stories like this, although I know that they do happen. The combination of "stripped naked" and "asked" doesn't make much sense to me. Most often, by the time one party is naked and held at gunpoint the conversation has progressed beyond "asking."

Mark

(who will feel much less grumpy once he figures out what's wrong with his @#%$^&*(& fuel/air mixture)