Location: On the northern coast of South America. The capital is Caracas.

Time: GMT - 4.5 hours

Language: The main language is Spanish although there are at least 40 languages spoken in Venezuela.

Area: 916,445 km²

Population: Approximately 26.5 million.

Religion: The official religion is Catholicism.

Electricity: Venezuela uses a 60 Hz and 120 V power system. Power plugs are the same as those used in North America.

Telephone Code:  +58

Currency: Bolivar

Passport/visa requirements: British passport holders do not need a visa to travel to Venezuela as tourists for up to 90 days, if entering and leaving the country by air. If travelling to Venezuela by land or sea you should apply for a tourist visa beforehand.

Airports: Most international visitors arrive at Caracas’ Aeropuerto Internacional ‘Simón Bolívar’ (www.aeropuerto-maiquetia.com.ve in Spanish) in Maiquetía, 26km from Caracas. Venezuela has several other airports servicing international flights, but these change frequently and unexpectedly. Isla de Margarita’s airport is used by charter flights bringing international package tourists, but few independent travelers fly in here.

Flight time: 9 hours 20 minutes.

Public Holidays - 2010

1 Jan New Year's Day.
13-16 Feb Carnival. 
1 Apr Holy Thursday.
2 Apr Good Friday.
19 Apr Declaration of Independence.
1 May Labour Day.
24 Jun Battle of Carabobo.
5 Jul Independence Day.
24 Jul Birth of Simón Bolívar.
12 Oct Day of Indigenous Resistance.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

For more information contact: Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 1 Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2HW. Tel: 020 7584-4206 or 020 7581-2776 or e-mail:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Venezuela
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