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Voykit pocket guide · Venezuela
Catia La Mar
Spend a half‑day in Catia La Mar for a quick beach stop and cheap airport‑shuttle hotel; longer stays need extra safety planning.
Catia La Mar sits on the central Venezuelan coast just west of Caracas airport. Its beaches are the closest to the international gateway, but pollution and security concerns limit comfort. Ideal for a brief layover or a single‑day beach visit; longer stays require careful choice of accommodation and transport.
- Country
- Venezuela
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- VES
- Money
- Bring all funds as clean, small US dollar notes: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget VES 30,000–45,000 excl. bed · Mid VES 45,000–70,000 excl. bed · High VES 70,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 911
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $1–2 |
| Street food (arepas, empanadas) | $1–3 |
| Taxi (airport to hotel, 5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (airport to hotel, 3.1 mi (5 km)) | $5–7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCS · Simón Bolívar International Airport (Caracas)
- check
Typical fares
- Airport → Hotel Catimar taxi
- about $5–7, 5 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis from the airport and local minibuses serve the beach strip; arrange rides in advance. (check)
See and do
Known for
- beaches near Caracas airport
- Castillo Las Salinas ruins
- affordable hotels with airport shuttles
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Castillo Las Salinas | Drive or taxi west along the coast from central Catia La Mar. (check) | ≈ 20 min total (check) |
| Playa Marina Grande | Walk or short taxi ride east along the beachfront. (check) | ≈ 10 min (check) |
Sleep
- Hotel Catimar
- Airport shuttle, 5 min from CCS; rooms from $30–60.
- Venezuela Marriott Hotel Playa Grande
- Pool fronting the sea, spa and restaurant; $89.
- Hotel Restaurant Alto Mar
- Restaurant on site, next to a noisy road.
- Hotel Playa y Brisa
- Across from the beach, with a restaurant.
- residencia Nautilius
- Pool by the beach.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis-KOOL-peh |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWEHS-tah |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Pollution on many beaches; bring water and sunscreen.
- Insecurity reported in some areas; avoid isolated spots after dark.
- Fees at Playa Marina Grande; pay at the entrance.
The area has reported insecurity; stay in well‑reviewed hotels and avoid isolated spots after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Catia La Mar yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- beaches near Caracas airport
- Castillo Las Salinas ruins
- affordable hotels with airport shuttles
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Venezuelan Tourism Board – Central Region: www.turismo.gob.ve/central
- Wikivoyage: Catia La Mar, revision 4947819 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4947819
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Catia La Mar
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police911
US consular services are in Caracas; check the embassy website for updates.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/catia-la-mar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.