BEFORE YOU VENTURE TO VENEZUELA CHECK OUT THE POLITICAL SITUATION, WE BELIVE IT’S NO LONGER SAFE TO GO TO VENEZUELA.

Although the outer islands we feel are still safe so don’t miss Blanquilla, Roques and especially the Aves.

Keep in mind that Blanquilla is not protected from westerly weather.

Stay away from Grand Roques if you don’t have a national Zarpe. Vessel in transit get only to stay up to two days (power boats 1, sailboats 2). Anchor in Sepastopol then head around the south side and visit the west side anchorages, they don’t patrol this area often leave Grand Roque for last when you know you have a good weather window to leave.

The Aves are a MUST!!! It’s one of the most untouched places we’ve anchored. The fishermen in Barlovento are super friendly and the fishing in the mangroves is really good. You have 4 anchorages to choose from.

Sotavento has a Coastguard station, check in with them either in person or via VHF. Here you have numerous choices of anchorages, our favorite was along Long Island. Don’t miss fishing in the mangrove lagoon. No provisions are available here.

DO NOT USE credit cards or ATM in Venezuela unless you really need to. Most change money at black market as the rate is much higher then at bank, besides you can pay with personal checks or make money transfers.

Check in: Boat can stay 18 months in Venezuela after 18 month either boat has to leave Venezuela for 45 days or you can pay tax on it. You have to clear boat every 6 months, personal visa renew every 3 months and all can be renewed via any of the travel agent. We had the best result with Ana Merced at TBS right across from the entrance to the Bahia Redonda Restaurant. She is the most honest. Some agents will tell you that you have to check out in Margarita before going to Puerto la Cruz or vise versa, that info is wrong, you are already checked in. Also if you leave a marina and want to got to the islands for a while and then return to marina you don’t need to check out you just need a national zarpe the marina can fill out for you.

Checking in in Margarita is easy now and they speak perfect English(this check in was in June 08). My suggestion is to check in first thing in the morning (9am) when the door opens, as I did, most officials were not there yet, so they took our paperwork and told us to come back after 3pm, easy enough for me. Others who went later were at the office about 1 to 1 ½ hours to do the whole process. Cost is BS 40 for the boat and BS 80 for each person plus BS 20 for something else, so we paid a total of BS 220, in Puerto La Cruz they don’t charge the extra BS 20. You don't have to go through Juan anymore, he will charge you too much anyway and he will tell you that you will have to check out for another high fee. Once you are checked in you are checked in for the whole country and are good to sail around. Don't let Juan intimidate you, he has been ripping cruisers off for way too long. You don't even have to use his dock, right next to the breakwater for the marina is a pier with security. Leave the guard a tip for watching your boat or for taking your trash. Juan has the same service but he takes a percentage of the tips you give the guy he hired in the first place. The taxi drivers have to give Juan a cut too so I flag them down further down the street. Be careful in this anchorage, hoist your dinghy and lock it up or loose it, as many as 6 dinghies got stolen here in just one week. Boardings are more frequent as well, even in the middle of the fleet, so keep an eye out.

This article was sent to me in Nov 08:

The following are updates to the new (2007) edition:

Information From Doug and Wendy onboard Mustang

When you arrive at Porlamar, Margarita there is now a simple check in office where customs, immigration and the port captain are located. So if you wish it is easy to do yourself. Do not let people tell you you have to clear in and out of each area.
Article 38 of the Marine Activities Law of Venezuela clearly states that foreign or national boats involved in recreation are EXEMPT from national check in and out after having cleared in Internationally. Venezuela is like any other island or country...you check in when you arrive and out when you leave. Lawyers for the Sucre State Chamber of Tourism are also asking for any official or person be reported who tries to convince boaters that they must continually check in and out as this is a corrupt process. Their email is camaradeturismosucre@hotmail.com.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Siesta:

Most businesses close in the middle of the day for two or three hours, usually 12 – 3 p.m.

Telephone:

You can buy telephone cards in cafes and mini market. Cell phones are very cheap; we Paid 7 dollars and had 30 dollars of free minutes as bonus.

Fax & Email:

You can send faxes from the marinas. Some marinas have Internet service, TMO (used to

be PMO), Redonda and Maremares offers a free service to the clients. There also are

numerous Internet cafes down town and in any mall.

Post Office:

Cnr. Cl. Freites & Libertad by Paseo Colon, I would not send anything other than FedEx

as mail takes too long to get to destination or never makes it.

VHF:

Ch 72 is the cruisers and local hailing channel. Monday – Saturday around 0745 is the

cruiser net for about 15 minutes.

Dinghy Rules:

Waterway: no wake zone and off limits after 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. Paperwork: carry copy of

your Captains License, Dinghy and Outboard receipt of purchase/ownership, copy of

cruising permit, life jackets and a light.

Flea Market:

first Saturday of the month at the Mini Market, Bahia Redonda 8.30 a.m. – 12.00. Buy

sell or trade.

Emergency Contacts:

Fire Department 266 0315

Municipal Police 266 1415

Ambulance 286 3469

Coast Guard CH: 16 or 268 3844

Barcelona Clinic 275 3611

Lecheria Clinic 286 8145

Port Captain 267 7932

MARINAS:

AquaVi

http://www.aquavisuites.com.ve/en/default.html?home=1&audio=true

Bahia Redonda

http://bahiaredonda.com/

Marina Americo Vespucio

marinaamericovespucio@hotmail.com

Marina Maremares

http://www.maremares.com/

marina@maremares.com.ve/comodoro@maremares.com.ve

TMO

http://www.techmarine.com.ve/

PUERTO LA CRUZ LIST

APARTMENTS:

Ms. Bioli (0414) 806 4388

Mr. Max (0281) 814 4444

Sr. Ancleo (Casa Bote) (0281) 263 0663 or (0414) 816 1966

BOAT YARD:

AquaVi C.A. Boat Yard and Marina Victor VHF 71/72

Av. R19 Norte Complejo Turistico El Morro

Puerto La Cruz (English)

(0281) 263 5544

Bahia Redonda Boat Yard and Marina VHF 72

Av Tajamar No 1 Centro Nautico

marina@bahiaredonda.com boatyard@bahiaredonda.com

website: bahiaredonda.com

+58 (0281) 267 7810 263 0277

BOAT WORKERS:

There are many boat guys to choose from to work on your boat. Do ask around to find out how they work, not all can be trusted, even if you do still keep an eye on them. DO NOT pay in advance, they all try and if they cry about they need to buy a present for their mom, still don’t pay, they all use mom as an excuse. If they do a good job don’t pay them more per hour instead give a reward at the end of the job done. Lunches do not come with work, even if he tells you so, they are on their own for lunch.

BUTCHER:

Catalana

Av. Principal de Lecheria

Centro Comercial Las Cascadas

La Cava

Av. Principal de Lecheria

Residencia Puerto Encantado Local No 1

(0281) 281 6210

CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY:

North Sails (0281) 263 0255

Tapiceria Marina C.A. VHF 71

Marina Redonda (0281) 263 5705

(0281) 419 9064 (0414) 178 6368

Orient Canvas (good work but takes for ever to get things done)

Aqua Vi Marina Boat Yard

VHF 72 (0281) 418 2077

Tapimar VHF 72

Cl. Rodriguez, C.C. Maria Isabel, Local 4

Urb. El Penonal, Lecheria

(0281) 287 1271

MM Upholstery Michael Mitera (English/German)

Beautiful Leather upholstery

0281 418 93 77/0414 093 61 89

Bahia Redonda Local 18

CHROME:

Crom de Oriente

Av Guzman Lander No 34-147

Barcelona

(0281) 277 2913 or 277 4698

DIVE SHOP:

Aquashop (0281) 281 8151

Gina Malpica (0414) 8063744

DOCTORS:

Cosmetic Surgeon:

Dra. Marisol Graterol A.

Centro Medico Anzoatequi

Ave. Licenciado Urbaneja

Lecheria, Edo. Anzoátegui

(0281) 286 8215 (0414) 806 5731

Dentist:

Dr. Victor A. Olsen (will pick you up)

Known as Dr. Sascha

Calle Sucre 120-Centro Professional Caribe- Piso 2

Barrio Sucre, Barcelona

W: (0281) 276 3755 H: 281 1674

C: (0414) 811 7264

Fidel Guzman and Virginia Gusman

1 er Piso Av. Principal Lecheria

(0281) 286 5845 or 286 0582

286 4055 or (0414) 823 7700

Ernesto Suarez Engelke

Centro Comercial Vista Mar

Crucero de Lecheria

(0281) 266 2303 or 286 2303

Dra. Claudia Cifuentes (she charges everybody different prices)

Av. Principa – C.C. El Timon, Piso 1 Ofi 1 A

Lecheria (0281) 286 0612

Dermatologist:

Dr. Javier Amundarain (English)

Office: 0281 286 8145

Cell: 0414 810 8057

Centro Diagnostico Integral Lecheria

Ave.Principal de Lecheria

Across the street from Centro Medico Anyoateki

(if anybody tell you to go to Luz Salazar, he's bad)

General Surgeon:

Dr. Cesar Pacheco

Neveri Plaza

0416 684 4378

Gynecologist:

Dra. Soraya Gil de Bracho

Centro Comercial Nevera Plaza, Planta Alta

Prolongación Av. Fzas Armadas

Barcelona, Edo. Anzoategui

(0281) 275 3611

Internal Medicine Gastrointestinal:

Dra. Claudia Giannone (English)

Centro Comercial Nevera Plaza, Planta Alta

Prolongación Av. Fzas Armadas

Barcelona, Edo. Anzoategui

0414 680 8361

Performs colonoscopy for both men and women

Internal Medicine Inectious Disease:

Dr. Carlos A Salaverria Echegaray

0416 846 6643 or 0414 341 7099

Oncologist:

Dr. Miguel Bracho (English)

0414 980 6259

will do men’s physicals

Orthopedic:

Dr. Oscar A. Dib. B (English)

Plaza Grupo Medico Av. Ppal de Lecheria

c/c Mariño El Timón Piso 3

(281) 287 1551 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (281) 287 1551      end_of_the_skype_highlighting C: (414) 793 4317

drdibodillo@cantv.net

Therapy:

Krisley Carreño (0414) 542 5437

Plaza Mayor above 4D Ice Cream

Office 217

Veterinatry:

Gabriella will come to boat (416) 643 2769

Mascotas Center (English spoken)

Cl. Ruiz Pineda, Casa #2 Urb. Colinas Nevera,

Diagonal across church in Lecheria

(281) 286 8281

Pet sitter:

Quini 0414 0908109/0293 4320372

qunisergio@yahoo.com

FABRICS:

Deco Telas

Av. Municipal, Sector El Elevado Local No 157

Puerto La Cruz, Edo. Anzoátegui

(281) 808 6698 or (0416) 488 6780

El Castillo (Hassan Al Salibi speaks English)

Calle Sucre, Sector Centro Locales 16-18-20

Puerto La Cruz

(0281) 265 6915 or 265 6055/265 5477

FITTINGS & BOAT PARTS

Ralph Gonzalez Oriente

Av. Intercomunal Andres Bello

Edif. Las Garzas, PB Local B

Puerto La Cruz

(0281) 286 6787 or 286 3356

oriente@ralphgonzalez.com www.ralphgonzalez.com

HARDWARE:

EPA on Av Intercomunal

small Home Depot, is about 15 minues walk from Plaza Mayor.

Ferka on Av Intercomunal and Av Prinicipal in Lecheria

Smaller than EPA

MARINE SERVICE:

Carlos Andres Gonzalez VHF 72 call sign Charly Alpha

Puerto La Cruz

www.charliealpha.com.ve charliealpams@yahoo.com

(0293) 414 6020 (0412) 859 7070

MARINE STORE:

Auto Boat Center

Av. Intercomunal

Vemasca Puerto La Cruz

Av. Prolongacion paseo Colon

Ventas@vemasca.com

PH: 58 281 267 8232 (there is one in Porlamar close to anchorage

Xanadu Marine

Corner of Miranda and Guaraguao

Downtown Puerto La Cruz

(0281) 265 3844

PROPANE:

Leave propane gas bottles for re-fill outside the Mini Market in Bahia Redonda on

Monday and Thursday before 10 a.m., return following day.

PROP SHAFT:

Omar (0414) 823 2002

RATAN WORK:

Ratan San Jose

Calle Buenos Aires No 90

Puerto La Cruz

(281) 268 6643

SCREWS/NUTS/BOLTS:

Troniamerica Oriente

Av. Intercomunal, Sector Las Garzas Edif. Las Garzas

Planta Baja Local 1

Barcelona

(0821) 286 6239 or 286 7414

STAINLESS STEEL WORK
Metalmecanica Rafael 0414 800 8790/0281 263 1608
great work and fast, close to Bahia Redonda
Prolongacion Paseo Colon 33, Frente a cocinas Ferrara, Puerto La Cruz

SHIPPING:

Continental Services in Miami

Cost 16.00 a cubic ft to ship to Venezuela

Usually they fill a container every 2-3 weeks.

They ship either to Guanta or La Guaria. Guanta

Is closer to Puerto La Cruz.

For info call Myrna 305-888 7188

SHOPPING:

Plaza Mayor:

In Lecheria, open 9 am to 9pm and is accessible by dinghy from any of the marinas. Grocery store, pharmacy, good waterfront restaurants, bakery (wonderful siciliano bread), hair and beauty parlors, optometrists, 2 movie theater, bowling alley, food courts, amusement park for kids, and lot of retail stores.

Caribe Mall:

Modern Mall 2 minutes walk from Maremares Marina

Makro:

Large discount store like Price Club, need membership card, but easy to get. Free with

passport info

Cas de la Caña:

good liquor store with largest selection and best prices. Lecheria near La Cava

CM, Cada, Sigo:

big grocery stores need taxi to get there, CM and Cada are both in Barcelona and down

town PLC, Sigo is near airport in Barcelona.

SPANISH LESSONS:

Andrea Canullo (0416) 881 3512

andreathalia@hotmail.com

TAXI:

Arnaldo VHF 72 English (0414) 808 6589 Great boat sitter and good honest guy

Leo VHF 72 English (0416) 480 9028 (0281) 281 5962 (he will talk your ears off)

Carlos English (0414) 807 5409

Nelson (nice car) (0416) 481 0908

Juan Carlos (0414) 800 9356

Maremares Taxi (0281) 281 10 11

Taxi Caracas:

Alberto (0416) 414 5818

Raul Rojas (Big Taxi tour) (0412)992 5577

TRAVEL/TOURS:

Aventura Marina (snorkel trip to local islands)

Ask for skipper Carlos (0281) 281 8119

Booth is behind Unicasa at dinghy dock. English spoken and Carlos speaks very good English. Excellent tours. Tell Carlos to show you the cave with las velas de Manuela (burning candles of Manuela)

Transpacific (Jose is excellent in finding reasonable flights to Europe). French and English

Marina Bahia Redonda VHF 72

(281)263 52 48

Kaigla’s Boat Services

Bahia Redonda next to Mini Mart (used to work for Transpacific and opened her own office, her prices are a bit higher than anybody elses). French and English

TBS Ana Merced, best for check in, does not over charge

0281 263 1278

Matthias German Tourguide (Gran Sabana, Orinoco)

Private tours

0414 808 0562

Hosteria el Morro (nice Motel near Maremares)

Av. Americo Vespucio, Complejo Turistico

El Morro, Lecheria

(0281) 281 1312 281 4423

Merida with Gioia

Stay at her house, wonderful person

Gioia39@hotmail.com

(0274) 252 4807 (0414) 746 1121

Posado Bella Vista

Los Nevados (415) 212 0410 Los Nevados

(274) 416 9823 Merida

Hotel Bergland

Sector El Calvario, via La Victoria

Colonia Tovar

bergland@cantv.net

(0244) 355 1994 355 1229

Orinoco Delta

Joe (0416) 189 0824 (0414) 899 5162

Walter (0414) 854 8234/855 8562

Sasha and Joshua Charter Flight to Europe out of Margerita

(0295) 249 1325

Casa Guri (Fishing on Lake Guri)

(0285) 808 6122

Backpacker Tours for Gran Sabana

info@backpacker-tours.com www.backpacker-tours.com

(0414) 886 7227

WELDING & MACHINIST:

Metalmecánica PyR C.A. Rafael (excellent work and fast)

Prolongacion Paseo Colon N. 33

Frente a Cocinas Ferrara

Puerto La Cruz (0281) 263 1608

Just found this great site of Captain Wiki, has info on other countries as well:

http://www.captainwiki.com/index.php5?title=Online_Cruising_Guides_And_Sailing_Blogs_For_The_Cruising_Community