Is Caracas safe? 2024 Guide
Welcome to our Caracas safety guide.
The Venezuelan capital is a real thriving hotpot of culture, and is a great introduction for travelers looking to get to know the real, raw side of this South American country.
From seeing various historic landmarks to hiking in the towering El Avila mountain range, you may be surprised to learn that Caracas actually has quite a lot going for it!
Caracas Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Northern Venezuela
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Moderately Easy
- ⏱ Time needed: 3-4 Days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: February/March
Is Caracas Safe?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in Caracas as a backpacker or traveler.
We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.
We would advise any travelers who are thinking of heading to Venezuela to prepare properly before arriving, and to get in touch with us where we can offer more guidance.
Is Caracas Safe Right Now?
Quick Answer: With George having been here recently, he can confirm that certain parts of the city are actually safe for staying in (such as Chacao and Altamira). Be sure to prepare properly, avoid bad neighbourhoods and you can have a trouble-free time here.
Having said that, Caracas isn’t the safest of Latin American cities. Due to the ongoing financial crisis, poverty has worsened in certain areas which has led to an increase of robberies and assault. We’ll explore these later so you’ll know exactly where to avoid.
Caracas Travel Warnings
As you can imagine, most official government websites give a pretty dire verdict when it comes to travel warnings in Caracas. For example the UK Government (FCDO) recommends against all but essential travel to Caracas, and even Venezuela in general.
Whilst we think this is over-the-top, it does mean there is one thing to be careful of – your travel insurance. Some policies won’t cover you when heading here, which of course can make things 10x worse if something were to go wrong.
One you have decided the best time to go to Venezuela and you’re fully prepared for your trip, be sure to check this small (yet extremely important) detail.
Where to Stay in Caracas
Travelers who are on a budget will want to stay at the Hotel Arroyo, which is located within the historic centre of Caracas. Whilst the area feels rough around the edges, it’s a good place to base yourself as long as you prepare properly. The hotel has nice private rooms, WiFi as well as an in-house bakery too.
If you want a more deluxe experience, then staying in Chacao or Altamira is a better idea. The most affluent and safe neighbourhoods of Caracas, you’ll feel in an entirely different city when here. Of course prices will be much higher (which aren’t backpacker friendly), but still a good option nevertheless.
We recommend staying at the Pestana Caracas Hotel, which has pretty much all the amenities and luxury you would need during a stay (including a rooftop swimming pool and on-site gym).
It’s also worth looking through AirBnB too for the different options, which can be cheap as well as a nice introduction into Venezuelan culture (you’ll be staying with locals who can help you explore the city and gain confidence during your first few days here).
Things to do in Caracas
First of all, this city is famed for being the birthplace of Simón Bolívar, who was famous for liberating various South American countries such as Venezuela, Colombia and Panama. In Caracas we can visit the house where he was born, which has now been turned into a sanctuary detailing his life with various rare artefacts.
Nearby it’s also worth visiting the Plaza Bolívar, as well as getting a photo along the picturesque streets which both run adjacent to the Plaza el Venezolano (they have colourful umbrellas and multicoloured lights hanging from above).
It’s also worth visiting the El Ávila National Park too. Rising high above the city, this mountain range is perfect for hiking enthusiasts who want to get out into nature for the day, as well as explore the beautiful town of Galipán.
The teleférico connects the city up to the peak, and it’s worth riding at least one of the journeys up or down (there’s also a road up which you can either drive or walk).
You can read about George traveling to Caracas here as well as Venezuela overall.
Is Caracas safe to visit?
Below we’ll take a look at the current safety situation in Caracas.
Crime in Caracas
When staying in the areas of Chacao and Altamira, your biggest worry is getting pickpocketed. Although the majority of people living here are wealthy, it does unfortunately make it an area where opportunistic criminals look for easy pickings.
There have been cases of kidnappings too at night (further north near the Centro San Ignacio Mall), although these are rare.
Walking around these districts during the day is perfectly safe, although it’s still worth dressing down anyhow (especially when going to more local venues or markets).
In El Silencio it’s a whole different kettle of fish, and although it’s got many touristy highlights, you’ll need to take extra precautions when here.
During the day you’ll always want to keep valuables at home, and avoid walking along the main road (by Plaza O’Leary) where it’s much more unsafe. Avoid heading out at night when here, given the risk of robbery of assault can be high.
Then we have the areas you don’t want to go to (unsafe and also little tourist value). These include Petaré, 23 de Enero and Catia.
Aim to fine tune your Spanish before visiting Venezuela. Check out this Spanish phrase book which will give you some useful travel lingo to help you out while in the streets.
According to data collected by Numbeo, Caracas scored 83.10 on the crime index (0 being the safest whilst 100 the most dangerous). For reference, Mexico City scored 67.95 whilst Lima scored 70.70.
What parts of Caracas are safe?
The safest areas for tourists to head to in Caracas are Chacao and Altamira.
Here you’ll find residential areas and tree-lined streets that make you feel like you’re walking in a European city (serious here). During the day you can walk alone fine here, although it’s still best to avoid taking expensive valuables around given there’s always a risk of getting pickpocketed (same with wherever else you are in the world).
At night it’s fine to head to restaurants and bars too, although it’s best to take taxis to and from your accommodation.
Caracas Safety at Night
Like any other Latin American capital, Caracas descends into a buzzing chaos when the sun goes down.
In areas like Chacao this means the area is full of awesome bars and clubs to head to, and the more experienced travelers (or those in small groups) can easily walk around fine at night.
However other areas quickly become dangerous at night and aren’t worth the risk. One of these is El Silencio. Whilst somewhat okay during the day, at night it feels pretty seedy and not a place you want to be navigating back to your accommodation in the late hours. If you’re stuck out and it’s getting late, it’s best to get a taxi from a safe area.
Be sure to read our Venezuela Safety Guide for more tips on how to stay safe in both the capital as well as further afield in this South American nation.
7 Safety Tips for Caracas
Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when visiting Caracas.
1. Stay in Chacao or Altamira
Although I ended up spending the majority of my time in El Silencio (I’m an experienced traveller through Latin America), I still recommend first-timers to head to Chacao or Altamira. These affluent barrios are very safe to walk around and feel much nicer than the others in Caracas. Whilst prices can be a little more expensive (be sure to check AirBnb too), the pay-off is that you’ll feel safer and have less worries about things going wrong.
2. Always keep your Wallet and Phone in your Front Pockets
For those short walks out to the market, or when heading on the metro or bus, this tip really is a life saver. Keeping things in your bad pocket is already a bad idea anyway (since it can fall out without you noticing). However it’s also much easier to be swiped by a thief whilst you’re completely unaware of what’s happening. Front Pockets are more secure since it’s harder to grab without you seeing, as well as the fact that they are also usually a tighter fit too. Even better is to carry a Safe Wallet with you at all times too.
3. Double Check the Dollar Bills you Receive
Not so much a personal safety tip, however instead a financial one. Given Dollars are so valuable (and nobody wants the local bolívares), it has led to many fake and counterfeit bills being made and passed through the economy. These can be checked with various tests (simply go to YouTube to see how), however it’s also important to make sure there’s no rips or tears in the notes either or they won’t be accepted (even tiny ones). Ah, Venezuela.
4. Wear a Safe Money Belt when out exploring
Money Belts are a really good way of keeping valuables out of sight and away from potential thieves, and even better as it’ll be secured close to your body. No longer will you have to keep checking your pockets every 15 minutes to make sure your wallet and phone are still there when out on a walk! We highly recommend going with this particular Money Belt.
5. Use Extra Caution when Walking at Night
This applies to anywhere in the city. Chacao and Altamira are pretty safe, but even then it’s best to treat these neighbourhoods just like any other Latin American capital. This means dressing down and also avoiding walking with your phone out. If you’re anywhere else and literally need to leave for whatever reason, it’s very wise to use taxis to minimise the risk of either getting robbed, assaulted or even kidnapped (yes it’s happened various times before).
6. Take Advantage of the Metro System
Believe it or not, however I (George) actually thought that the metro was the safest way of getting around Caracas. Aside from the non-operating escalators, it’s quite an efficient system and I never really felt unsafe. Of course avoid taking phones or wallets out, given it may make you a target to opportunistic thieves. Also be wary when you’re packed tight in a carriage too, given it’s more difficult to see what’s happening.
7. Don’t drink Tap Water or Have Ice
This is standard advice heading to pretty much any third world country, but it’s especially true for those heading to Venezuela. Given conditions are already quite dire, it means that tap water is among the least of the worries there. This means you could get an infection and end up ill. It’s much better to drink sealed bottles of water, and also to avoid having any ice in your drink too.
Caracas Safety FAQ Guide:
Here we’ll take a look at the most frequent questions we get asked by our readers about safety in Caracas.
Got travel insurance for Caracas?
Are you planning to visit Venezuela soon? It can be difficult to find a reputable provider who will cover you in this country. SafetyWing is a solid choice who provide a monthly renewable plan, which includes medical cover and multiple home visits during your trip.
Is Caracas Safe? Final Words
And that’s all for our guide on how to stay safe in Caracas.
The Venezuelan capital often strikes fear into travelers just by the name alone. However it’s not all doom and gloom here, and there are actually some really safe and well built-up areas to explore. You’ll also find many incredible things to see and do too when in Caracas.
In this guide, we’ve explored the current safety situation in Caracas, which includes the areas to avoid, as well as any current travel advisories. As well as looking at the best things to do in Caracas, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.
While you’re still here, be sure to read our backpacking Venezuela itinerary for even more first-hand tips and travel inspiration.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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