Caracas

Street taxi — not advised — use arranged transport

Mercal / PDVAL — subsidised state stores

Central Madeirense — private supermarket

Automercado — stocked, USD-priced

Mercado municipal — produce

Best: Dec – Apr · Wet: May – Nov

Fees: The local banking system is effectively unusable for foreign cards, and hyperinflation makes bolívares impractical.

Limits: Not a viable option for travellers.

Best machines: (Use USD cash — not ATMs)

Vaccines: Routine, Hepatitis A, Typhoid. Yellow-fever shot recommended; malaria pills for some regions. Bring all your own medicines — pharmacies are severely under-stocked.

Health: Bottled water only, and carry a full personal medical kit; the healthcare system is in crisis and shortages of medicines are severe. Serious issues mean private clinics (cash/USD) or medical evacuation — insure specifically for Venezuela.

Tap water: ❌ Don't drink the tap. Bottled water is essential and worth stocking up when available.

Safety: Be honest with yourself here: Caracas has among the world's highest crime rates, and most governments advise heightened caution or reconsidering non-essential travel. If you go, go with local contacts or a trusted guide, don't walk with a phone out, avoid the city after dark, use only arranged transport (not street taxis), and keep a very low profile. Check your government's advisory carefully before booking — this is the one destination on Sama·Sama where that step isn't optional.

For most short tourist trips, citizens of the US, UK, EU/Schengen, Canada, Australia and New Zealand either enter visa-free or get a simple online authorisation (an eVisa or eTA) before flying. Typical visa-free stays run 30–90 days. Some countries want a visa arranged in advance, and a growing number ask you to fill an online arrival or eVisa form even when 'visa-free' — so always check the official portal for your exact nationality before you book.