Getting There

By Plane

The Simón Bolívar International Airport (tel. 0212/303-1526; www.aeropuerto-maiquetia.com.ve) in Maiquetía, 28km (17 miles) north of Caracas, is the gateway to Venezuela and the point of entry for most visitors to the country. There is an airport departure tax of 48,500 Bs ($25), paid in either bolivares, or the current official exchange in dollars. This fee is sometimes included in the airline ticket price, so be sure to ask before paying twice.

From The U.S. -- Miami, which is only around 3 hours and 15 minutes away by air, is the principal gateway to Caracas. American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) has several daily direct flights between Miami and Caracas, and Aeropostal (tel. 888/990-2527; www.aeropostal.com) has one daily direct flight from Miami. Continental (tel. 800/525-0280 or 800/231-0856; www.continental.com) has a daily direct flight from Houston, and a once weekly direct flight from Newark; Delta Airlines (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com) has a daily flight from Atlanta; and American also has a daily direct flight from Dallas-Fort Worth. Mexicana (tel. 800/531-7921; www.mexicana.com) and Grupo Taca (tel. 800/535-8780; www.grupotaca.com) have flights from Los Angeles connecting through Mexico City, Mexico, and San José, Costa Rica, respectively.

From Canada -- American, Continental, and Mexicana, have flights from Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver to Caracas, connecting through Miami, Los Angeles, or New York (Newark).

There are numerous charter flights from Toronto and Montréal to Isla de Margarita, particularly during the winter months. Ask your travel agent, check online, or look in the Sunday travel section of your local newspaper to find them.

From The U.K. -- British Airways (tel. 0845/773-3377; www.british-airways.com) has three weekly regular direct flights to Caracas from Heathrow. Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, KLM, Iberia, and Lufthansa also offer regular service to Venezuela, often with connections from London.

From Australia & New Zealand -- To fly to Venezuela from either Australia or New Zealand, you will almost certainly have to connect via Los Angeles. Air New Zealand (tel. 0800/737-000 in New Zealand, or 13-24-76 in Australia; www.airnewzealand.com) and Qantas (tel. 13-13-13 in Australia, or 0800/808-767 in New Zealand; www.qantas.com) are the two main carriers. Both fly into Los Angeles with connections to Caracas.

By Bus

Venezuela is serviced by international bus routes via Colombia to the west and Brazil to the south. In general, crossings from Colombia are considered dangerous, due to guerrilla and drug-cartel activity. The only road route between Brazil and Venezuela connects Boa Vista, Brazil, and Santa Elena de Uairén, Venezuela. Two recommended companies are Bus Ven (tel. 0212/953-8441; www.busven.com) and Expreso Internacional Ormeño (tel. 0212/471-7205).

By Boat

There are ferry services between several Caribbean islands and Isla de Margarita, Venezuela. Routes and schedules vary seasonally and change on short notice. Islands with the most consistent connections include Barbados, St. Vincent, and Trinidad and Tobago.