How to Get Around Venezuela

Flying is how the country is crossed, and how Canaima and Los Roques are reached at all — both are served only by light aircraft. Domestic aviation has contracted sharply, schedules change and cancellations are common, so build slack into everything and do not plan a tight international connection.

Fuel is the constraint that surprises people. Despite the oil reserves, shortages are frequent and queues at filling stations can last many hours, which affects road travel and tour logistics throughout.

By road, long-distance buses connect the main cities, and por puesto shared cars cover shorter routes. Road quality has deteriorated, and driving at night outside cities is strongly discouraged for safety reasons.

In Canaima and the delta, motorised dugout canoes are the transport, arranged as part of a tour.

Caracas has a metro, though reliability varies; taxis should be arranged through your accommodation rather than hailed.

Most visitors travel with a guide or a fixed operator, which is a practical response to the logistics as much as to the risks.