Climate
Venezuela lies close to the equator but temperatures and rainfall vary widely with altitude. The resorts in the Andean region have a spring-like climate and it can be cold at night. On the coast and in the lowlands temperatures are tropical (30oC during the day). There is a dry season from December to April, although Angel Falls may be best appreciated in the rainy season.
Below are two graphs showing average 24-hour temperature and rainfall for Caracas, Mérida, Maturin and London for comparison.
Average 24-hour Temperature (in oC)
Average Rainfall (in mm)
Festivals & Holidays
Most fiestas are celebrated in accordance with the Catholic calendar and saints' days. They are essentially religious in character, with plenty of music and dancing, and even bull-fights during Carnival in February/March. There are processions in many towns at Easter. At Corpus Christi, towns of the central North such as San Francisco de Yare hold the Diablos Danzantes festival, where people dress up as devils in grotesque masks and perform a ritual dance.
Currency
The local currency is the Bolívar. Current exchange rates are available via Google currency conversion or the OANDA currency converter. It's not advisable to try to acquire Latin American currency before travelling, if a currency is available in high street banks or exchange outlets the exchange rate is usually very poor. You can change US dollar cash or travellers checks locally and obtain cash advances via ATMs in most towns and cities. We'd advise that you tell your bank you intend to use your card abroad before you set off.
Visas
British citizens can find up-to-date information on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Citizens of other countries should consult their embassy before travel.
Vaccinations
We recommend that you always check with your own travel clinic or health professional before you travel, for advice specific to your requirements. The NHS Fit For Travel website contains for up-to-date health advice and lists the common vaccinations for travellers to Venezuela.