World Social Forum Caracas Survival Guide

With 100,000 participants from around the world expected for the 2006 decentralised World Social Forum, to be held in Caracas, January 24 to 29 we thought we'd do our best to provide a 'survival-guide' for those of you coming. This page will be updated as often as possible and any further tips/comments are appreciated. The English version of the forum's website can be found here.

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Currency:

Exchange rates as of Saturday 14th January: £1 =  3,795.78 Venezuelan Bolivares; €1 = 2,593.16 VEB; $1 = 2,149.84 VEB.

Note that when taking money out with visa/debit cards the rate you receive is likely to be around 200 bolivares (VEB) less per pound. Also note that Venezuela presently has currency controls in place which mean that legally you should only change foreign currency at official exchange houses such as Italcambio. If at the airport or at other places during your stay people offer to exchange foreign currency be cautious. Even if you can receive more than the official rate for your currency, this is an illegal operation.

Also: Cash machines can be very erratic at giving you your cash. Don’t wait until you have entirely run out until going to withdraw some more as you might find yourself searching for hours with no funds at all.

Accomodation:

Below is a list of hotels which may have still have availablilty:

Hotel Harmony - is situated in a safe area situated about 25 minutes from the main forum venues. Calle Chopin, Colinas de Bello Monte (behind the Hawai-Kai nightclub). Rates: 50,000 VEB for a single/double room. No reservations taken.

Tel: +58 212 751 5053/7145. Email: [email protected]

Hotel King - is basic but clean and safe. Centrally located in the Sabana Grande area, which is notorious for pick pocketing and muggings so be on alert. Rates: 50,000 VEB for a single/double room. Reservations taken. Tel: + 58 212 782 7534/7112.

Hotel Milenio - is situated in a safe area about 25 minutes from the main forum venues. Calle Edison, Los Chaguaramos, Caracas (opposite Universidad Bolivariana, the Bolivarian University). Rates: 70,000 VEB for a single/double room. Reservations taken. Tel: +58 212 661 84 02

Also: Do everything you possibly can to book in advance. Caracas finds it very difficult to accommodate guests at the best of times let alone during any big events. Given the security situation you definitely don’t want to end up sleeping in the park.

Transport:

From Airport:

Earlier this month the main road connecting Caracas to the country's main airport had to be closed indefinitely because there were fears that the road's bridge could collapse.  This means that to get to and from Caracas and Maiquetia airport you have to use alternative roads, the most popular being the 'old highway'. Travel time using the old highway is around 2 hours, however, this road is only open to light transport (i.e. taxis, cars etc) from 5am-9pm. If you arrive after 9pm you can take a longer route which takes around 2 hours without traffic.

There is a bus from the airport to Parque Central in the city centre which charges 10,000 VEB pp.

Taxis from the airport using the old highway should charge around 100,000-150,000 VEB; those using the longer route around 150,000-200,000 VEB.

Underground:

A single use underground journey costs 350 Bolívares (around 10p. You can get a 10-ride ticket (multiabono) for about 3,500 VEB (around £1). The Caracas Metro is clean, fast and good and is recommended as the main transportation medium for moving between the WSF venues.

Buses:

The bus system is slow and is generally less reliable. There's no bus numeration or timetable and buses have a "copete", a coloured top, in the front of the unit with all the destinations and stops posted in the front window. A bus ride costs 700 VEB (around 20p) and you should pay it in coins or with a 1000 bolívares

Taxis:

It is probably inevitable that you will use these at some point. They don’t have metres so you have to establish a price in advance. This can vary depending on your Spanish abilities and distance. During the day in Caracas this can be 6,000-13,000, and 8,000-15,000 at night. A general maxim is to ask how much (“Cuanto cuesta”) and then say 4-5,000 lower than they say and then haggle until they knock 2,000 off. Having said that, 2,000 VEB is only about 60p and if your only there for 4 days it may not be worth the effort.

Security:

Carry a copy of your passport with you at all times as the police can ask you for it anywhere. A good option is to colour photocopy both the page containing you photos and the page with you tourist visa stamp and then to laminate this onto a 2-side credit-card type I.D.

If your bag is solicited for an in-place inspection (which is legal in Venezuela) you should be very careful and keep an eye on the bag all the time.

You should take care walking around the forum area at night. Caracas

is a big city and as with other big cities it has poverty and crime. It is advisable not to wear gold/silver jewellery or watches of any value. 

Be wary of using electronic goods in public. Your best bet is to try and get travel insurance to cover your camera and such before you come. For 4 days it shouldn’t be expensive.

In the very unlucky event that someone does try and mug you, don’t even think of resisting and give them everything.

Communications:

GSM/GPRS services are available in the whole city, and are provided by Digitel TIM (734-02). Those of you with a GSM-enabled phone can just roam into the 734-02 network (as soon as you turn on your phone you'll receive Spanish messages with the information of use).

If you have a CDMA/TDMA/CDMA20001X phone in a network which happens to have agreements with Movistar or Movilnet, you'll have service here too. If you don't, you can buy a SIM card (around £10) from Digitel for use in Caracas and the surrounding area, although they will not always work on foreign handsets.

Communication Centres, Internet Points and Public Phones are everywhere. The international code for Venezuela is 58, and the local area code for Caracas is 212.

Also: A good option is to use a telephone ‘buhonero’. These are people who sit at tables with parasols, and phones chained to the table. Show them the first four numbers of the phone you want to call, something like 0412, 0414, and they will hand you a phone. They are cheap and unlike a payphone give you change.

Weather:

For the latest weather forecast for Caracas press here.

SUERTE!

Comments

[Alessandro Parma]

Paranoid Recommendations from A Caracas Resident:

Residents of Caracas always say that they suffer from paranoia and can be extremely wary of all the potential dangers in Caracas.

This is for several reasons not worth going into too much detail here but let's just say as well as enjoying the Social Forum it might serve you to act like a native and be a bit paranoid yourself.

If the following comments appear negative don't interpret them as attacks on the Venezuelan Process or the 5th republic. Most, if not all, of the problems connected with these recommendations existed before 1998 and some were worse.

Caracas Police, Corruption Personified:
There are three types of police in Caracas but the most prevalent are the Metropolitan force wearing blue uniforms. These chaps are almost entirely corrupt to a man and considered to be as bad as the criminals if not worse.

It was the Caracas police force which was the main military element in the 2002 coup against Chavez and even though the senior command have been rearranged the rank and file appear to be as bad as ever.

They commonly shake down tourists and foreigners for bribes. They typically search your bags trying to find something illicit like drugs. Even if you have nothing illicit they will often take any money they find if they think you will not notice so watch them like a hawk.

If they cannot try and pin a crime on you they will ask you for your passport. If you do not show them the original they will say that is no good and insist that they have to take you to jail.

There are three ways to get round this;

1. One is to have a colour copy of your passport as Pablo has already recommended.

2. Another is to get officious with them. Pull out your mobile and say, “What law is this? I’m confused? I need to call my embassy. British embassy. Embajada Britanico”. These charming cops normally speak enough English to understand this and will back off if they think they get trouble.

3. The third is to pay them the bribe they are seeking. Even if you are caught with a small amount of narcotics the maximum on this should be about 20,000 Bolivares. If you have done nothing illegal try to keep it to 10,000.

Try to blend in a bit:

You may think this is completely pointless especially if you are as pale as a sheet of paper. Regardless of your complexion (many Venezuelans are very pale, especially the upper middle classes) it is still a good idea not to be too obvious.

Caracas dress code is pretty simple and easy to reproduce. Everyone wears blue jeans every day without fail. Above this a shirt or t-shirt and trainers or loafers. Venezuelan ladies tend to wear very revealing, brightly coloured low-cut tops that accentuate their figures. It might be best to avoid copying this.

Sandals and shorts are a big no-no. These instantly mark you out as a foreigner and tourist and make you more of a target. Caracaneos never or rarely seem to wear sunglasses either. Despite the mighty Venezuelan sun it could be best to leave all these items for when you visit the beach.

Don’t tempt them

Watches, cameras and jewellery are all best kept out of view. If you are in a group of people you are safer whipping out your digital camera however. Flash mobiles shouldn’t be used too much on the street at night either. Snatches are more likely than muggings, but if you are asked for your valuables it will typically be at gunpoint.

Also watch out in hotels, especially the cheap ones. Many have signs saying they accept no responsibility for thefts, even from their safe which they hide beneath the counter where they can’t be seen. Laptops, nice cameras etc should be left locked in the bag and cross your fingers.

A really good idea is to get a money belt for 5 quid at the airport and keep the bulk of your cash and passport, ticket in there. Therefore if in the unfortunate and unlikely event that your bag is pinched you won’t be left stranded. Also most Venezuelan muggers are too slow to spot them.

A bit of Lingo
Clearly having some Spanish is a good idea but even those without any can find these words useful. Although I don’t like to make corporate plugs I must say the Lonely planet Latin American Spanish phrasebook is solid and should be helpful. Words not in there that you might want are;

Chevere: (Che-vu-rey): Means Cool, great, yeah positive. Most commonly said Venezuelan word.
Panna: (Pan-ah): Means Mate or if your really street, blood
Epale Panna: (E-pah-ley) How’s it going mate?

Even if you know no other Spanish words just saying Chevere in the pauses when someone talks to you might help. Venezuelans like it when foreigners use their lingo.

Having said all that….

Hopefully all those suggestions haven’t terrified you witless. You can get by in Caracas without following any of these pieces of advice and be fine, especially if you are just going to be here for a few days.

These comments are meant to help those who want to minimize the risks of anything bad happening to them. Everyone should enjoy attending the forum and attempt to interact a bit with some Venezuelans.

Suerte y guida te! (Good luck and protect yourself)

Alessandro Parma
Journalist based in Caracas working for www.venezuelanalysis.com

[GWEH]

checkout venenews.net for news & info

[A.M. Mora y Leon]

Although this is a little politically incorrect in my circles, I traveled as a single lone female and found the army guys extremely helpful. If I was lost, they got me found, if someone was bothering me, they got rid of him. They got me good taxis and showed me how to get around safely. Don't be afraid of the army guys, even the scary-looking ones with big guns, they all were repeatedly helpful and friendly. I know it sounds counterintuitive but it's what I experienced.

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