Venezuela

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a federal republic of 23 states, its capital is Caracas and its national language is Spanish. The state covers an area of 916,445 km2, with a population of about 29 millions.

General information:
- The time zone is VET (UTC– 4:30);
- The currency is the Bolivar Fuerte, 1 VEF = US$ 0.23 = 0.18 € = £0.1451.
- The telephonic calling code is +58.

Vaccination



Depending on your home country requirements, please note that you might need to be vaccinated against yellow fever 2 weeks before travel. Preventive antimalarial medication treatment might also be required.

Airport Exit Taxes

You will have to pay the “exit taxes” to exit to Venezuelan airports

- National airport: 45 VEF
- International airport: 225 VEF

Electrical Plug/Outlet and Voltage Information for Venezuela

- Voltage: 110-120 Volts (most other areas are 220-240 Volts)
- Primary Socket Types: North American Non-Grounded , North American Grounded

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Choroni or Puerto Colombia

Choroni is a small city of 3,000 habitants of Aragua state, west of Caracas and north of Maracay. Although Choroní is generally known as one of Venezuela's best Caribbean beaches, the hamlet itself actually sits slightly inland, boasting some fine colonial houses around a quiet central plaza. Instead, it is the neighbouring fishing village of Puerto Colombia just beyond Choroni where the palm tree-lined beaches lie and most accommodation is found. Framed by the tropical rain forest of Parque Henri Pitier, the beaches around Puerto Colombia are some of the most stunningly beautiful in the country.

Henry Pittier has an area of 1.78 square kilometers, occupying a part of the Cordillera de la Costa. Its highest point is 2436 m so has different ecosystems. The fauna and flora of the area is very rich, including tapirs, deer, pumas, peccaries, ocelots, monkeys and armadillos, as well as the wide variety of birds, representing 42% of bird species in Venezuela.

For visitors, the park not only provides green space for hiking, since its beaches are a delight. The wonderful contrast between sea and jungle is what produces the feeling of a magical encounter visitors Choroni.

More information about hotels and accommodation at Chorini are provided here.

What to do in Choroni

Choroni is a very touristic and lively city; visitors can enjoy its natural beauty, tropical jungle, river and mountains, its warm sandy beaches, the typical and traditional architecture of its colonial village, as well as the nightlife with its restaurants, dancing bars, etc.

GIIS participants can enjoy the Choroni tours to visit highlight areas, the jungle, the river, the colonial village, and of course the Caribbean Sea with its wonderful sandy beaches. Other tours are proposed to visit the region of Choroni and Pueto Colombia.

Mountain tour

Departure early in the morning to take advantage of a fresh walk in the jungle of the Henri Pittier national Park, visiting bananas plantations dedicated to the typical Christmas dish: “Hallacas”.
Visitors will then discover the famous “papelon of choroni” handmade factories, and finally refresh in the natural water pools and under mountains waterfalls before tasting a typical “cachapa”.

Beach tour

Departure early in the morning to take a small boat for the bay of Chuao. There, visitors will be drive to Chuao village through a forest full of cacao and bananas plantations. Chocolate preparation process is exposed as well as a tasting of the local chocolate is proposed. Back to the bay, visitors will enjoy the beautiful beach and typical lunch.

Choroni tourism information is provided here.