Changes

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.)

:''When in the Venezuelan Andes 3 mates and I once hitched the 50km or so back to the city of Merida as we had no idea when the next bus was. We got a lift in the back of a pickup truck in around 15 minutes and got a lift straight to Merida no problem. Scenery was amazing and the back of a pick up is a far better way to experience the place than an overcrowded bus.'' - 7th of April, 2010  ''The Península de Macanao in Isla de Margarita is incredibly easy to hitch. There's only one bus route going out of Boca de Río towards the towns on the NW coastline. Folk will pick you up quickly cos they're aware of the lack of transport, make sure you ask for water though cos it's a scorching desert! I recommend the fishing beaches up by Punta Arenas: El Tunal, La Pared, etc. If you ask the villagers nicely, they'll let you sleep on their beach undisturbed.'' - anonymous  ''I also hitched from Puerto Ordaz down to Santa Elena in Edo Bolívar. In the first day, I got as far as Tumeremo, including an amazing ride with some firemen who kept feeding me beer! The second day, I managed to get into La Gran Sabana, including catching the bus (Expreso Los Llanos) at Km 88 without paying. Once in La Sabana, it was trickier, but I think that was partially cos of the long, straight roads which invite speeding and also cos it was during the Carnavales (mid Feb) so all the transport was families with 4x4s full of camping gear. In the end, a Colombian guy took pity on me and gave me a ride in order to lecture me on personal hygiene.'' - anonymous 

:''The Península de Macanao In 2011 two friends and I crossed all of Venezuela hitch-hiking from Boa Vista in Isla de Margarita is incredibly easy Brazil to hitchCucuta in Colombia. There's only one bus route going out We got quite a few rides in trucks (sometimes all three of Boca de Río towards us and the towns trucker on two seats at the NW coastline. Folk will pick you up quickly cos they're aware of the lack front of transporta small truck cabin!), make sure you ask for water though cos it's and a scorching desert! I recommend lot in the fishing beaches back of pick-up by Punta Arenas: El Tunal, La Pared, etctrucks. If you ask it hadn't been for the villagers nicely, they'll let you sleep on their beach undisturbed.incredibly poor roads and the awkward positions we were forced to endure them in it would really have been perfect hitch-hiking conditions!'' - anonymous[[User:Marcool|Marcool]]