Is Caracas safe for tourists?

Caracas today

Caracas has changed. Spain, on its advice page updated on 17 September 2026, says the situation in Venezuela has improved in recent years in terms of security and the supply of basic goods, «especially in Caracas», and that in the capital electricity is «practically constant» and petrol is available. GOV.UK also acknowledges that security has improved and that many visits take place without incident.

But it is still the city that appears most in the advisories. In the 2023 annual report of the Venezuelan Violence Observatory (OVV), the Capital District had the highest violent death rate in the country, 50.8 per 100,000 people, against a national average of 26.8. Violence is not spread evenly across the city either: for 2024, the OVV estimated these rates by municipality of the metropolitan area.

According to the OVV, the ten parishes with the highest rates are all in Libertador or Sucre, the two municipalities where most of the poorer neighbourhoods are.

What governments say about Caracas today

GOV.UK adds that there is a visible security presence in major cities, including Caracas, and that checkpoints are common: always carry ID. After the earthquakes of 24 June 2026, La Guaira, the state where the airport is, was declared a disaster zone and remains subject to enhanced security and access controls (more in our earthquake guide). The US advisory and others are in is Venezuela safe?.

Maiquetía airport and transfers

Simón Bolívar International Airport at Maiquetía serves Caracas and resumed commercial flights on 1 September with limited capacity, according to GOV.UK. It is the point on which the three governments agree most:

• GOV.UK says travellers have been targeted at the arrival and departure terminals, in the car park and on the journey, that the risk is highest at night and that there have been armed robberies on buses on that route.
• Canada says criminals approach tourists offering to exchange money, or pose as taxi drivers.
• Spain recommends a properly identified or pre-arranged taxi, both on arrival and departure.

In practice, they ask you to:

1. Book your transfer before you fly and have someone meet you in arrivals; GOV.UK puts this first and Canada advises against taking a taxi from this airport.
2. If you can, arrive and leave in daylight (Canada).
3. Turn down offers of transport or money changing in the arrivals hall, and do not get into a taxi that already has passengers (GOV.UK).
4. Avoid showing signs of wealth: GOV.UK says this can make you a target.
5. Beware of fake security officials; if in doubt, ask airline or airport staff (GOV.UK).

Areas to avoid

Spain asks you to avoid the deprived areas of cities, known as «barrios», and Canada calls them «extremely unsafe», especially in the east and west of Caracas. Spain rates the central neighbourhoods of Caracas and the main cities as medium risk, and lists no area of the country as «without problems». No official source we checked recommends specific residential districts; if you stay in Caracas, ask your hotel before heading out on foot.

At night, and on the street

• Canada advises against walking city streets at night and avoiding isolated areas during the day.
• Spain recommends avoiding getting around on foot, not walking along talking on your phone and not standing still in the street for long.
• GOV.UK advises avoiding public transport; if you use the metro, Canada advises doing so only in daylight and outside peak hours.
• Use pre-booked taxis; hotels will normally book one (GOV.UK).
• If you are robbed, do not resist: all three governments say so.
• Keep away from demonstrations and gatherings.

Caracas as a stopover

In the TripVenezuela catalogue, Caracas is mostly the place you pass through:

• Los Roques: flights leave from the national terminal at Maiquetía; airlines and baggage are covered in how to get to Los Roques.
• Canaima: the 4-day package departs from Caracas and includes round-trip tickets from there; other options are in how to get to Canaima and Angel Falls.
• Isla Margarita: there are domestic flights from Maiquetía to Porlamar; see is Isla Margarita safe to visit?.

If your international and domestic flights do not connect on the same day, ask TripVenezuela before you book how to handle the night and the transfer, so you do not have to sort it out at the airport.

Emergency numbers

Consular emergency numbers for other countries are in is Venezuela safe?.

Plan your trip with TripVenezuela

TripVenezuela offers the trips and manages the booking with you; flights, accommodation, transfers and excursions are provided by third parties. The 4-day Canaima package from Caracas costs from US$778 per person and includes round-trip tickets from Caracas, an airport welcome and the transfer to the camp. On Los Roques, Posada La Casa de Sol costs from US$348 per person and the 3-day couples plan from US$390 per person; whether the flight from Maiquetía is included is confirmed by TripVenezuela when you book. Prices valid until 31 December 2026. See all packages in Venezuela or message us on WhatsApp.