Is it safe to travel to Venezuela in 2026?

What each government advises

Each government publishes its own advice for its own citizens, with a date. On 12 October 2026 the pages said:

• United Kingdom (updated 2 September 2026): the FCDO advises against all travel to several areas and against all but essential travel to the rest of the country.
• Canada (updated 28 September 2026): avoid all travel. The reasons given are the security situation after the military strikes of 3 January 2026 and the state of external commotion declared afterwards, political and economic instability, violent crime including kidnapping and armed robbery, the risk of arbitrary detention of foreign citizens, and shortages. Canada notes that its embassy has been closed since 2019, so consular help is limited.
• United States (issued 27 June 2026): level 3, «reconsider travel», with level 4, «do not travel», for specific areas, among them the strip along the Colombian border and several states.
• Spain (updated 17 September 2026): take extreme precautions during the trip and do not travel to certain areas. It describes Venezuela as a country with a high level of crime.
• Argentina (2 January 2026): its Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its advice not to travel to Venezuela.

Areas the advisories exclude

The areas the governments single out are, broadly, the same:

• The border zones: the UK advises against all travel within 80 km of the Colombian border and 40 km of the Brazilian and Guyanese borders; Spain names the states of Zulia, Táchira, Apure and Amazonas; Canada warns of extortion and kidnapping within 20 km of the Colombian border.
• The whole of Zulia state, the Orinoco Mining Arc south of the Orinoco river in Bolívar state and the part of Delta Amacuro south of the river (UK).
• The Llanos states, especially the south of Aragua and Guárico, the low-income neighbourhoods («barrios») of the cities and any demonstration (Spain). Spain rates the central districts of Caracas and of the main cities as medium risk.

Isla Margarita, Los Roques and Isla de Coche

Isla Margarita and Isla de Coche are in Nueva Esparta state and Los Roques is in the Federal Dependencies. None of the pages consulted lists them among the excluded areas, but the general advice for the rest of the country applies to them: for the UK that is «all but essential travel», for Canada «avoid all travel». Canaima is in Bolívar state, where the US applies level 4 to rural areas and the UK excludes the Orinoco Mining Arc; check the map on each page before booking.

Getting around

The pages agree on a few practical points: use only pre-booked or clearly identified taxis, let your hotel or tour operator arrange the transfer, do not accept offers of transport in the arrivals hall and avoid travelling by road after dark. The UK and Spain both describe Maiquetía airport (Caracas) as a risk area, including the car park and transfers; the UK says the journey to and from the airport at night carries the greatest risk. Do not display phones, jewellery or cash in the street and do not resist a robbery.

Travel insurance

GOV.UK states that your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. If your government advises against travel, check your policy before you pay for anything.

What a trip with TripVenezuela includes

TripVenezuela offers the trips and manages the booking with you; the accommodation, transfers and excursions are provided by third parties. Only what a package page states expressly is included, such as the transfer in the Sunsol Ecoland package or the airport welcome and transfer to the camp in the Canaima package. Ask before booking if you need a transfer that the page does not mention.

Check again before you travel

Advisories change without notice. Read the page for your passport on the day you book and again before departure, and register with your embassy if it offers a traveller service. The sources on this page were accessed on 12 October 2026.

Plan your trip with TripVenezuela

See the Venezuela tour packages or the packages in Isla Margarita, Los Roques and Isla de Coche.