In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Venezuela
La Guaira
Skip a stay; use La Guaira as a 2–3 hour stop between Maiquetía airport and Caracas, or for a quick look at the colonial port and the coastal promenade.
La Guaira is Venezuela's historic port, 20 minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from Caracas. The town has a handful of sights — a colonial customs house, a fort, a beach promenade — but no notable hotels. Most travellers pass through on their way to Caracas or the coast. Half a day is enough to see the centre; there is no reason to sleep here.
- Country
- Venezuela
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- Oct–Nov (rainy peak)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 $20–40 USD · Mid $40–80 USD · High $80+ USD (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911 (check)
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (small, at a kiosk) | $1–2 USD |
| Arepa (street stall) | $1–3 USD |
| Beer (bottle, at a bar) | $2–4 USD |
| Taxi from CCS airport to La Guaira centre | $10–15 USD |
| Taxi from La Guaira to Caracas centre | $25–40 USD |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CCS · Simón Bolívar International (Maiquetía)
- 10 min by taxi to La Guaira centre
Typical fares
- CCS airport → La Guaira centre, taxi
- $10–15 USD, about 10 min (check)
- La Guaira → Caracas centre, taxi
- $25–40 USD, about 30 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
Walking covers the centre (Casa Guipuzcoana, Castillete, Cinta Costera). Taxis or private cars for Galipán or the airport. No reliable public transport worth detailing.
See and do
Known for
- Casa Guipuzcoana (colonial customs house)
- Castillete de La Guaira (former fort)
- Cinta Costera (beach promenade with planes and tanks)
- Maiquetía airport (90% of international arrivals)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Caracas | Taxi or private car, about 30 min without traffic | 30–60 min |
| Colonia Tovar | Taxi or car via the mountain road, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
| Choroní | Taxi to the port, then boat (check schedules) | About 2 h |
| Los Teques | Taxi or car via the Autopista Regional del Centro, about 40 min | 40–60 min |
Sleep
- Maiquetía (near the airport)
- Hotel Eurobuilding Express and a few others; practical for an overnight layover, not for exploring La Guaira.
- Galipán (mountains above La Guaira)
- Posada Lomas de Galipán and similar; 30 min drive, views, pool. A quiet alternative if you want to sleep near the coast without staying in town.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Do you accept dollars? | ¿Aceptan dólares?ah-SEP-tahn DOH-lah-rehs |
| Where is the toilet? | ¿Dónde está el baño?DOHN-deh es-TAH ehl BAH-nyoh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Petty theft and muggings reported on the streets; keep valuables out of sight.
- Emergency response (911) is unreliable; have a local contact or your embassy's number.
- US dollars in cash are widely accepted; bolívares are not needed for short visits.
- Traffic between La Guaira and Caracas can be heavy; allow 45–60 min at peak hours.
La Guaira has a reputation for street crime, especially after dark. Stay in the tourist areas (Cinta Costera, the fort) during daylight, use taxis at night, and do not flash valuables. The US State Department advises reconsidering travel to Venezuela; read your government's advice.
One and two days
No timed day plan for La Guaira yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Casa Guipuzcoana (colonial customs house)
- Castillete de La Guaira (former fort)
- Cinta Costera (beach promenade with planes and tanks)
- Maiquetía airport (90% of international arrivals)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: La Guaira, revision 4947799 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4947799
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
La Guaira
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911 (check)
The US embassy is in Caracas (check status); most other countries have embassies in Caracas.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/la-guaira). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.