Region
Caribbean Islands
Pick one island group and stay put: Los Roques for reefs, Margarita for beds and flights, Mochima for cheap boats.
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- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Key facts · Venezuela
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Currency
- Bolívar (VES)
- Language
- Spanish
- Time zone
- UTC−4 all year
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…Check your own government travel advice for Venezuela bef…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Venezuela ↗Check your own government travel advice for Venezuela before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Venezuela ↗Entry rules depend on your passport and how you arrive (air or land); confirm with a Venezuelan embassy or consulate and your airline before booking.
- Venezuela ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Venezuela before you rely on it.
Venezuela's offshore islands are not one destination. Los Roques is a coral archipelago with no real town; Margarita is a large island with airports, hotels and roads; Mochima and the Cumaná coast are reached by small boat from the mainland. Flights and boats decide the trip, not the beaches. Choose one group, book the flight or boat first, and keep a buffer day for weather.
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Los RoquesGuide: planned
Coral archipelago; posadas on Gran Roque, boats to the cays.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Airport, hotels, roads, duty-free shopping; the easiest island to reach.
Also here
- Cumaná / MochimaCity guide
Mainland base for small boats to the Mochima islets.
Best Dec–Apr
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Los Roques 3 (fly in, two boat days, fly out)
- 5 nights
- Margarita 3 + Mochima coast 2
- 7 nights
- Los Roques 4 + Margarita 3
- Los Roques flights are small aircraft with tight baggage limits; confirm the allowance before you pack.
- Boat crossings to the cays are weather-dependent and can be cancelled for a day at short notice.
- Island ATMs and card terminals are unreliable; plan the whole trip on cash you bring.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mochima islets | Cumaná | 60 min | unknown | Small boats leave from the Mochima and Cumaná waterfronts; agree the return time before you board. |
| Cayo de Agua and the Los Roques cays | Gran Roque | 45 min | unknown | Day boats from the Gran Roque dock; most posada rates bundle one trip a day. |
| Playa El Agua and the north coast | Porlamar | 40 min | unknown | Margarita is drivable; taxis and buses run the coast road. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding on these islands. Pack for a boat: soft bags, dry bag for electronics, and expect to carry your own case onto the cay.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumaná / Mochima | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | × | × | × | × | go |
| Venezuela (country-wide) | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | go |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Roques and the offshore cayscoral archipelago north of the coast | best | best | best | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | wet | wet | best |
| Margarita and the Mochima coastnortheast mainland and island | best | best | best | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | wet | wet | best |
- Los Roques and the offshore cays
- Dry and breezy December to April; rain and rougher crossings from October. Trade winds keep heat bearable year-round.
- Margarita and the Mochima coast
- Hot all year, 30 °C (86 °F)+ most days; the wet season peaks October to December.Hot all year, 86 °F (30 °C)+ most days; the wet season peaks October to December.
The Atlantic hurricane belt sits north of these islands; Venezuela's coast is usually outside the main track, but September and October still bring heavy rain and cancelled boats.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caracas (CCS) | Los Roques (Gran Roque) | Small aircraft from Maiquetía or Charallave | ~40 min flight | Baggage limits are strict; book the flight before the posada. |
| Caracas (CCS) | Porlamar, Margarita (PMV) | Domestic flight | ~50 min flight | The most reliable island arrival; several daily departures when schedules hold. |
| Puerto La Cruz | Margarita | Ferry across the channel | ~1 h 30 crossing | Check the current operator and sailing days; services have changed often. |
| Cumaná | Mochima islets | Small boat from the waterfront | ~30–60 min | Boats are shared and leave when full; mornings are calmer. |
Regional passes
Los Roques park fee
buyThe archipelago is a national park; a fee is collected on arrival at Gran Roque. Amount is a 2026 estimate — confirm locally.
Posada boat package
buyMost Los Roques posadas quote room, meals and a daily cay boat as one rate; compare that total, not the room alone.
Margarita car hire
checkWorth it only if you plan several beaches a day; taxis cover Porlamar and Playa El Agua fine.
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh fish, grilled or fried | Gran Roque, Margarita, Mochima | Lunch is the main meal on boat days; posadas usually pack it. |
| Arepas and empanadas | Everywhere; breakfast stalls | Cheap, fast, and the reliable option before an early boat. |
| Cazuela and seafood rice | Margarita and the Cumaná coast | Portions are large; one plate often covers two. |
| Lobster | Los Roques | Seasonal and priced by weight; ask the price before ordering. |
Go next
Venezuela
Fly back to the mainland, then onward
Read the country page before you commit to a route.
Nueva Esparta
plannedFlight or ferry
Margarita in full: beaches, towns and practicalities.
Cumaná
Road from Puerto La Cruz, then boat
Mainland base for the Mochima islets.
Los Roques
plannedSmall aircraft from the mainland
The archipelago page: posadas, cays and fees.
Central Venezuela
Flight to Caracas, then road
Colonial towns and the central coast.
Northeast Venezuela
plannedRoad from Puerto La Cruz
The coast that faces the islands.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 2 bases
- Day trips
- 3, 40 min to 1 h
- Nights suggested
- 3–7 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- Jan–Mar, Dec (all zones)
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Ask about Caribbean Islands
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