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→Going North from Brazil
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Currency issues, super corrupt police, distrust, political unrest, and insecurity make Venezuela an intimidating and dificult destination, but your road-hardy persistence and travel smarts will reward you with incredible experiences in a unique, dynamic, and nearly untouristed gem of a country. Buy your money on the black market, talk to people, observe but don't opine upon the political situation, have a nice glass of Cacique rum or a couple of comically small Polar beers, and let the rumba begin.
''I hitched from Ciudad Guayana to Manaus in 3 days in April 2014. The road was paved and in great condition! The Gran Sabana was very beautiful. Longest wait was two hours at the last town before entering the Amazon. '' -[[user:Dr.Keith|Keith]]
== Going North from Brazil ==
[[user:TowellessTraveler|TowellessTraveler]] hitchhiked all the way to the entrance of Roraima in August 2022. Between the border and Santa Elena de Uairen it is not so hard to find someone. It gets much much harder after. Very few cars pass and are full or only want money. Same for trucks (full, money or women). Be ready to wait for very long hours or even days. Some buses can accept to pick you up for free (especially if you're walking in the middle of nowhere) but only for a short distance (until San Francisco de Yurani for example, the entrance of Roraima). Going further up is even harder and truck drivers said that it does not get easier once you're in the North (still not a lot of people and higher insecurity).
This region was completely safe at that moment despite the crisis in the country.
== Currency ==
Everyone pay in Reals near Brazil and seem to be paying in USD further North. You might not have to exchange money. Don't change your money at an exchange office or bank and don't take any money from an ATM! You will get the official (government-set) rate of about 11BsF per USD. Better change your money on the black market where you can get 50. In January 2015 the Dollar-85BsF Bolivar rate is around 180 BsF per USDbut it goes up quickly. The daily parallel dollar (Dolar paralelo, as it is called in Venezuela) can be followed on the [https://twitter.com/DolarToday/ twitter page] of Dolar Today. Ask The Euro-Bolivar rate is also indicated. The website [http://www.dolartoday.com dolartoday.com] seems to be blocked inside Venezuela but a mirror page can be found on twitter also. In Santa-Elena de Uairen, near the Brazilian border it is very easy and safe to change Brazilian Reals on the locals where street. Look for people wearing red shirts, they will change your Reals, Euros or Dollars. In Caracas it is much harder to change Reals and you will get a bad rate. Euros and Dollars are easier. The change agents can sell be found on the North side of the Asamblea Nacional near Plaza Bolivar. They don't give you the rate that is announced on Twitter and they try to rip you off every time. Locals are afraid of them and recommend you to find other ways to change your dollarsmoney, for example through acquaintances. (For Venezuelans it is a way of saving money, because the BsF loses its value quickly.) One trick the change agents try to pull is take your Dollar bill, start counting your Bolivars, change the Dollar bill for a fake one (without you seeing it) and then cancel the transaction and give you the fake Dollar bill. Make clear to them that you are not stupid. Don't be intimidated by them and ask different agents for their best deal. Most tour agencies, hotels, and hostels allow you to transfer money from a European or American bank account and they will give you the equivalent in Bolivars. (Although it can be a lot more difficult for accounts in the UK.)
== Cities ==
* [[Maracay]]
* [[Puerto la Cruz]]
* [[Santa Elena de Uairen]]
== Personal Experiences ==
== Gallery ==
Image:Toll road in Venezuela.JPG|A [[toll road]] in Venezuela.
</gallery>
[[Category:Venezuela]]