Bolivar (Bs) of 100 centimos.
Venezuela is currently suffering hyper-inflation. Paper money is in short supply due to soaring prices. The maximum daily amount Venezuelans can withdraw from cash machines is around 10,000 bolivars, around four cents at the black market exchange rate. Consequently, everyone uses plastic (debit cards mainly) or mobile payment Apps to buy goods and service.
Payments can be made in two ways:
For large amounts (i.e. clearance) find a local (who speaks English) and has a Venezuelan debit card. He/she pays with that card and you give them dollars. For this you pay about 20% commission. This is illegal, but quite possibly the only way to pay.
Pay in Dollars (grocery stores & bodegas) - bring small notes.
The black market exchange rates are published on a Venezuelan website : "Dollar today"
It's not advisable to pay with your own credit cards as your bank will use the official exchange rate, meaning you could end up paying hundreds of dollars for a sandwich!
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ATTENZIONE : NON UTILIZZATE ALESSANDRO LINARES RAPPRESENTATE DELLA AGENZIA YACHTSERVICELOSROQUES, SI TRATTA DI UNA TRUFFA
LEGGI ALTRO
Vi raccontiamo un episodio che ci e’ successo per mettevi in guardia da un personaggio e da una truffa di cui siamo stati vittime.
Gli yacht che vogliono navigare una o due settimane (massimo consentito) nelle magnifiche acque di Los Roques vengono raccomandate di utilizzare i servizi di una societa’ locale di nome YachtServiceLosRoques e del loro agente, tale Alessandro Linares, per completare le pratiche relative all’immigrazione in Venezuela e alla crociera nel Parco di Los Roques.
Dopo aver chiesto e ottenuto tramite Alessandro il permesso di navigare nel Parco per 2 settimane, abbiamo chiesto di poter trascorrere i successivi 6 mesi (ovvero il periodo estivo) in Venezuela in quanto fuori dalla zona degli uragani.
Mal ce ne incolse. Alessandro si e’ presentato reclamando $4,800 da pagare su un conto di Miami “in nero” (abbiamo tutta la documentazione della richiesta) per la produzione di non meglio specificati documenti da presentare alla Autorita’ Venezuelane. Ovviamente l’importo era da pagare in anticipo.
E noi abbiamo abboccato e pagato. Ricevuti i fondi, Alessandro si e’ dileguato, non si e’ piu’ fatto trovare ne al telefono ne via mail o whuatsup e le autorita’ di Los Roques, citando il fatto che la leggi Venezuelana non permettono soggiorni piu lunghi di 2 settimane, ci hanno espulso dal paese.
Insomma, una truffa bella e buona organizzata da Alessandro e supportata da complicita’ locali. E nonostante numerosi tentativi, mai piu abbiamo ricevuto notizie da Alessandro e i nostri soldi sono spariti per sempre
La nostra forte raccomandazione e’ di non utilizzare i servizi di YachtServiceLosRoques e soprattutto di Alessandro Linares che, da buon truffatore, appare disposto ad aiutarvi ma con lo scopo finale di derubarvi tutto quanto possibile. I documenti possono essere benissimo completati da soli in un paio di ore a Gran Roque
How can I contact Alejandro Linares?
https://www.yachtservicelosroques.com/
You can also join thé fb group Los Roques Cruisers
We went from Martinique to Los Roques with a Nautitech 46 open catamaran. Two days and two nights of sailing. I had everything arranged with an agent in Los Roques Alejandro Linares. We paid everything on forehand on what concerns immigration, customs, parkfees … When we arrived, we just sat down in a bar called Play, next to the immigration office and 5 minutes later, our passports were stamped and we received a small flag for the boat to proof all was paid. Unbelievable service. We then did all the islands for 5 days and this is the most beautiful place I ever saw. Since Maduro cleaned up the crime scene in Venezuela, no more problems with piracy. Local people were super friendly. Not much for bunkering though exept for a few small shops. When we continued to Bonaire, you pass Aves Sotovento. It is actually a military base. We did not know and ancred in the bay. They came on board to say we could not stay, but directed us to an island not far from there, altough also military, we were allowed to stay for the night. Anyhow, great experience!
I am looking for the latest intel oon marinas, boat yard for the Lecheria are of Venezuela. Honest agents? Spares for filters, lubricants, maintenance?
captwampler@aol.com
And what does that translate to?
It seems for the moment not good to visit Los Roques and Las Aves. Alejandro who looked after the cruisers and was harbour master and a sort of Agent is no more there. Officials take what they get from the yachts. The islands are not safe for the moment, to use Alejandros word’s: it is “Wild west”.
The Aves are now under the prodection from Los Roques, same problems.
Trees van Mierlo says:
Oct 01, 2018 11:19 PM
1 Oct 2018: we just returned from a 2 week holiday in los Roques and las Aves ( barlovento) it is paradise for us. We felt safe. If you want to go there, be sure to stock enough provisions. Shops were empty because the freightboat did not arrive for 2 weeks. In los Roques we were escorted by a local friend. We paid for coastguard, customs and immigration 5 US dollar per boat. the national park was for us ( 40ft sailboat and 2 persons) 215 US dollar… This was much more than we counted for. Even our friend was stunned. But the Bolivar rate was just changed. 1 week later it could be half the price or lees, he assured us. I think we were there with a bad timing (for rates). We stayed and had a wonderful time with the sweetest people (great Spa!) and enjoyed the lovely remote anchorages, the red footed booby’s in the marshes of Barlovento and beautiful snorkeling spots.
We intend to visit Bonair at July 2019. Is there anyone nearby now or at this time?
The situation in Los Roques is changing on a daily basis. Read the latest reports from cruisers adjacent (top right) in the report “Los Roques, Las Aves, Bonaire & Curacao: Latest Updates”.
Los Roques and Los Aves November 12-24, 2017
We had a great time in these islands. We had absolutely no security issues. All the immigration officials were extremely friendly as was everyone else we met. Although we had 6 stops to check in I would much rather do that then check into Antigua. With the current currency situation a 42 foot boat with 2 people cost $50. I was dinged for another $40 got get a transit visa since I’m American. The rules were that I was required to have a visa before I got to Venezuela so this was their work around. A Canadian traveling with me did not have to pay extra.
I checked on the exchange rate on dolartoday.com before I got there to know roughly where the unofficial exchange rate was currently. It was 50,000 bolivars to $1 but the best we could do was 30,000 bolivars to $1 but even with that rate everything was an incredible bargain. Beers at real nice beach bars were $.50 and a three course meal was $6 – think excellent cerviche for $1.
Free wifi was available in the main town square and in the same building as immigration by the airport. If you have long range antenna you can get it on your boat.
While we were there we only saw two other cruisers and had all the anchorages we stayed at completely to ourselves. It is just like the Bahamas without the people – endless white sand beaches, good snorkeling, good holding and great sailing.
Los Aves were equally spectacular and equally void of cruisers.
Based on some comments here and elsewhere I was a little concerned about stopping but it turns out we stumbled into paradise. I only wished I had time to stay longer