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The Ultimate Men’s Guide to Venezuela

The following (epic) county guide was contributed by Freeborn Aiden, travel writer, senior editor of Poor Explorer and founder of Freeborn Aiden. I’m going there and Colombia in March myself. Can’t wait!

venezuela-icon

Image result for caracas

Overview

Nestled next to Colombia at the Northernmost tip of South America, Venezuela is a land of contrast. The country boasts steaming jungles, frosty Andean peaks, desert dunes and Caribbean beaches. With these contrasting landscapes, diverse mix of cultures and a dramatic political scene, the country is in many ways an embodiment of the entire Latin experience packed into one relatively small country. In my opinion it also has the best and the most willing girls.

Now that the guidebook-speak is out of the way, let’s get down to business. Right now Venezuela has a pretty bad reputation for crime, political instability and shortages. Whilst in my view the extent of these factors is wildly exaggerated, the reality is that the country can be edgy as fuck and you need to prepare yourself by reading this guide before you visit.

The country’s reputation (along with a complete lack of tourism infrastructure) completely deters visitors and in the 3 months I spent there I only met a handful of fellow Gringo’s. This is however a marvelous thing as it meant that there was all the more of Venezuela for me and the SAS motto of “Who Dares Wins” proved to be quite apt. So, if you are feeling brave then please read on…

Things You Need To Know

Before I tell you about Venezuela’s greatest natural asset (it’s women, not its oil) there are some rather important formalities I need to get out of the way so please bear with me;

Crime

Image result for crime caracas

El Barrio – Avoid after dark

Venezuelan cities regularly top “Most Dangerous” lists and the country is in the midst of a crime wave of robberies and kidnappings which turn fatal all too often. That said the country is not a post-apocalyptic, Robocop-esque crime-scape. Bear in mind that petty crime is a reality of travel throughout Latin America and in my view the country isn’t really much more dangerous than neighbouring Colombia or Brazil. There is also a lot you can do to protect yourself against these dangers such as;

  • Take Taxi’s everywhere after dark and avoid dodgy looking neighborhoods at all times.
  • Never carry expensive electronics or jewelry. Get a cheap phone with a Venezuelan sim and leave your Andriod/iOS locked up in your hotel room.
  • Carry cash down your pants leaving only a nominal “robbers tax” in your wallet.
  • If you are robbed, do NOT try to resist.

Shortages  

For reasons we won’t discuss here, Venezuela is currently experiencing shortages of staple goods. Whilst there is plenty of food and water for those with money (like you) specific items can quickly vanish from supermarket shelves with no warning. It is therefore worth bringing enough soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, condoms & mozzy repellent to last your entire trip as you may struggle to replace these once they go. Toilet roll is also frequently unavailable and unless you want to pack a spare suitcase full of the stuff, you are just going to have to learn to live without it.

Black Market  

The flip side of the baffling economic situation in the country is that there is a booming black market for foreign currency. You can change on the black market for 1000% the official exchange rate and even a $100 change will leave you with a brick wad of cash which you will need a bag to carry.  This makes Venezuela the cheapest country in the world for travelers and a night out, including entire bottles of rum, taxi’s and and famous Colombian energizers, used to cost me no more than $5.00.

Whilst technically illegal, the black market is semi-tolerated and you will not struggle to find somebody to change with. Ask at your hotel, posada or at pretty much any business whatsoever as they are all desperate to get their hands on USD. Check www.Dollartoday.com to find out what the Black Market guide price is but bear in mind that ultimately the more you get comes down to your negotiation skills.

Avoid using ATM’s or Credit Card’s as these will be charged at the official rate. My advice is to bring USD into the country with you but make sure you hide it well as corrupt police officers have been known to target tourists outside Caracas airport and land border crossings. Once you find a black market trader you like, they will accept online transfers so you don’t need to bring loads of USD in with you.

Political Unrest  

There are regular pro and anti government demonstrations which sometimes turn violent. Unless you want to risk being either beaten up by the police or shot by fellow protesters then avoid joining in.

Women

The Standard  

Image result for miss venezuelaVenezuela holds the record for the number of Miss World winners; the women perfectly embody the quintessential Latina and are well renowned for their beauty.

Of course, not every Venezuelan can be a beauty queen but the country does have a very high standard and in my opinion, is behind only Transylvania and Tel Aviv. You are guaranteed to see several absolute stunners each day and in any given nightclub you risk slipping on your own drool.

Venezuela is a rich racial melting pot where you see can elements of Spanish, African, Europeans and Indigenous peoples all within the same woman. Plastic surgery is very common here and obvious fake breasts and even asses are abundant although neither is really my kind of thing.

Boy, do I miss Venezuela

Game

Women are generally quite friendly and fond of foreigners. Furthermore, because most foreigners are too scared to visit you will also have novelty value so they usually want to talk to you.

They will often make it very clear if they are interested either by pouting and staring at you (sometimes behind the back of the poor guy buying their drinks) or even by tapping you on the shoulder and inviting you to join them in the club bathroom as happened to me. I often found it easier to get a girl to come straight home with me than to come out on a date so my advice is that if things don’t move fast then forget it; if she flakes move straight on. Infidelity is also rife and just because a woman is married doesn’t mean she’s off limits. What I would take from this is that whilst Venezuelans are great for short time dalliances I’d be skeptical about actually dating one.

Venezuelan dancefloors are highly sexualised places so note that even if a girl grinds right up against you, it doesn’t always mean she likes you so do tread carefully. If you do want to take things from of the dancefloor and into a more intimate setting, then feel free to suggest a visit to the bathroom; this is pretty commonplace in Venezuela as many people live with their parents until they are married. Your passage may also be aided if you throw the toilet attendant a quick bribe.

Language  

English is not that widely spoken in Venezuela and I highly recommend completing the Michel Thomas “Learn Spanish In A Week” course before you even consider visiting. That said I did manage to have a threesome with two girls despite a hefty language barrier; I guess it ultimately depends on just how irresistible you are.

Other Things  

There is a perception amongst many Latin American travellers that in order to get anywhere with Latina’s you need to “invite” them which means pay the tab for them and any number of their friends. I personally found this to be absolute nonsense and regularly found myself getting down to business within minutes of meeting a girl without so much as buying a drink.

Female contraception is hit and miss in Venezuela and there is a lot of teenage pregnancy. Don’t ever rely on her to take the necessary precautions unless you want a surprise call in nine months time.

Partying and Nightlife

In Venezuela, alcohol is cheap and strong so expect to see pools of vomit and plenty of fights.

Getting high is serious business throughout South America and remember Colombia is just over the border. You will have no trouble finding what you need at a very cheap price. In Merida, ask the guys selling bracelets near the Bolivar Square or pretty much anybody in Poco Loco or Birosca.

Bar culture is mainly a man’s world but fortunately there are plenty of Salsa and Reggaeton clubs whose walls pulsate to the heated rhythms of pure lust. These don’t get going until at least midnight and generally shut down around 03:00 once the Police show up to enforce the curfew. Oddly, the police seem far less concerned about the scores of drunken revellers getting straight into their cars.

Image result for venezuela nightclub

Caracas

Venezuela’s capital does seem to be at the forefront of its crime problem. The consequence is that the town can resemble a ghost town at night as revellers are afraid to walk the streets and taxi’s will not stop for you lest you be a robber. You can still find the party but you need to be clear about where you are going and get a taxi right to the gate. The women here are of an amazing standard and you may well be the first Gringo they have met in a long time.

360 Roof Bar  

A great place to watch the sunset over the city and take in cocktail. Hardly prime skirt chasing territory though unless you’re particularly good at penetrating groups.

The Las Mercades barrio is full of decent restaurants, bars and clubs and you should head here.

El Teatro  

A bar and club built in 2 rooms and 2 floors. The place has a bohemian vibe and attracts a mixed, educated crowd. You can expect to rub shoulders with the great and good of the Venezuelan film industry so here is your chance to score with a film starlet. Head here if you want to speak in English.

Rumbar & Rosalinda – Where the beautiful people hang out. Be sure to dress well. Wild dancing around tables.

Merida  

The Sierra Madre Paramore - Merida

The Sierra Madre Paramore – Merida


Venezuela’s student hub is a hell of party town. It’s also a lot safer than Caracas but still be sure to take Taxis after dark and avoid the “Nuevo Pueblo”. These are my pick of the places;

Maison de Cibeles  

Possibly my favourite bar in the world. It’s small, busy, sweaty & popular with the city’s alcoholics. Salsa music is perpetually blasting and European Football is constantly showing on the television. Great for pre-club drinks and especially good for weeknights when your options are limited but only a modestly decent place to meet chicks.

Birosca  

Merida’s alternative club where the boys have dreadlocks and the girls wear black. Whilst the nightly barrage of latin ska-punk is painfully fucking tedious, I found this to be the easiest place to score girls especially on Monday’s student night. There is also no dress code, drinks are cheap and it’s centrally located.

Poco Loco

Another student favourite and alternative hub playing a lot of English language rock and Drum N Bass. Recommended for having a few beers pre-club although I did do some fine work in the Gents bathroom. When I left Merida, Poco Loca had temporarily closed down (I think they forgot to bribe someone) so the scene had shifted to the nearby Rasta Bar.

Club De Racing

Located beside a shopping mall a 10 minute taxi ride from town. The club has a cover charge and a dress code (basically wear a collar). The decor is tacky, the music mainly reggaeton but the girls stunning. This place gets packed on a weekend and you will notice that a lot of people here are dancing in groups (often mixed) around tables so you need to gradually infiltrate this; buy a bottle of rum, stake yourself a table and take it from there.  Racing does have a tricky tendency to let underage girls in, so if in doubt be sure to ask for ID yourself…

Brangus Bar

The upmarket version of Racing is also a taxi ride from the city centre. Again, there are some absolute beauties in here so bring your A-Game and try not to be too drunk. The same thing about group dynamics applies but the advantage here is that the middle class patrons speak better English than their counterparts at other places.

By local standards, this place is expensive but to you a whole bottle of Rum will still only work out at around $5.00 so treat yourself to a taste of the Merida highlife. The smoking terrace is great for talking to girls but the VIP area is purely for wankers so avoid it unless of course you’re a wanker yourself. I also ended up with a girl in the bathroom here once but the attendant unfortunately turned down my bribe.

Conclusion

So What Are You Waiting For?

In summary, I loved my time in Venezuela and regularly think about returning. Unfortunately I haven’t quite gotten around to it yet but am planning on doing so in 2017 so I will be sure to update this guide!

aidenBio

About The Author – Freeborn Aiden is a failed rock star turned travel writer.

Senior Editor of Poor Explorer and Founder of Freeborn Aiden.

Other Resources

How to meet Venezuelan Girls at Masculine Profiles.

Caracas City Guide by My Latin Life

Caracas Datasheet by WestCoast at RVF

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20 Responses to The Ultimate Men’s Guide to Venezuela

  1. Andres October 6, 2016 at 3:23 pm #

    I live and work in Colombia and have gone to Venezuela numerous times…in fact I am off to the islands next week…..I only go back to Venezuela now to hit the islands to do water-sports and chill out…. the cities of Caracas, Maracaibo, and Valencia are depressing crime ridden shit-holes…..Merida is a boring college mountain town…..unless your into doing cool outdoor activities the nightlife is average at best.

    Don’t get me wrong there are some hot women in Venezuela but they are scared to go out, or have no money…. there is a nervous tension in the air… no one trusts anyone…. they are not nearly as welcoming as there neighbors (Colombia)…..I would disagree that your value is off the charts as stated in this article, they are more amazed your stupid enough to be there….and will tell you non-stop to be safe.

    At the moment crime is no joke, you as a foreigner will be a marked person in Caracas more so with the police who will shake you down for money at any opportunity….or hassle you at roadside checkpoints……I am not trying to be a fear monger as I am an adventure traveler as well…. just want you to realize that this is the reality in Venezuela. I feel this post has some value but is also hyped up a bit…..just my take!

    My advice go to Colombia after your trip to Venezuela you will see it is exponentially better on all levels; safety, partying, women, and meeting happy welcoming people……..Take care….and take my advice if your in Venezuela skip the cities and hit the islands!!!

    • Mark Zolo October 6, 2016 at 3:47 pm #

      I’ll be in Colombia also

    • Freeborn Aiden October 6, 2016 at 5:57 pm #

      Hi Andes.

      Isn’t it amazing how our perceptions can differ on the same thing? I spent 3 months in Venezuela and had no problems with the police and very few with crime and it was the same for all of the other travellers I met.

      As for Merida, I didn’t find it boring but then again my old school teacher said that only boring people get bored…

      • Andres October 7, 2016 at 2:09 pm #

        Glad you enjoyed your trip, again offering another perspective, albeit from a “boring” traveler that spends a great deal of time in this region of the world. It is simply not a country I would recommend for foreign travelers at the moment…..regardless of the safety issue….nightlife as a whole is simply not that great….another poster on the forum gives excellent advice in regards to Los Roques….cheers!

      • David Lincoln December 30, 2016 at 1:35 pm #

        You two guys are like the Angel and Devil debating in my head right now lol.
        If you’ve got the time I would love to give you both a call and get your opinions on the place. I’ve wanted to go to Venezuala for some time, I wish I went earlier recently.
        Perhaps Merida and the Islands is a safer bet…
        I’ve been to many places considered dangerous and this has never put me off but I get the impression this might be a level up from that.

      • David Lincoln December 30, 2016 at 1:38 pm #

        You two guys are like the Angel and Devil in my head right now a=I am having the same debate inside on whether to go or not lol.
        If you’ve got the time I would love to give you both a call and get your opinions on the place. I’ve wanted to go to Venezuala for some time, I wish I went earlier recently.
        Perhaps Merida and the Islands is a safer bet…
        I’ve been to many places considered dangerous and this has never put me off but I get the impression this might be a level up from that.

        • Julian Suarez salsa July 25, 2017 at 5:39 am #

          Do it

    • John December 30, 2016 at 1:50 pm #

      What the girls like in Los Roques and Margarita?

  2. Gene October 7, 2016 at 6:35 am #

    @naughtynomad
    very interesting.
    did you go solo?
    also, i heard there are a lot of overweight people in venezuela.. any truth to this?

    • Mark Zolo October 7, 2016 at 9:16 am #

      It’s a guest post. Ask Aiden.

    • Freeborn Aiden October 7, 2016 at 3:28 pm #

      Hi Gene.

      Yes I went solo.

      There are over-weight people everywhere in the world including in Venezuela (which should tell you that the stories of food shortages are greatly exaggerated). The diet is pretty bad and some people wear it but I wouldn’t call it an especially obese place. I’d say the UK is far worse.

    • nescio October 8, 2016 at 9:07 am #

      I lived in Venezuela and although it’s through there are a lot of hot women, it’s also true there are a lot of obese people, this is because they eat a lot of arepas, cachapas, empanadas, perros calientes, hamburgers and drink a lot of soda

  3. Bahtiyar October 10, 2016 at 7:35 am #

    Thanks. You wrote a great post. If a man thinks of himself to be a real Playboy, Venezuela is one fo the countries he should definitely visit.
    Mark Zolo, your blog is one of a kind. I do not know any other travel blogs similar to yours. It is a great idea to start blogging about sex travel.

  4. guy October 20, 2016 at 12:04 pm #

    man i really wanna go check this place out, the value sounds amazing… if you dont die

  5. Zade December 19, 2016 at 9:48 am #

    Great post. Worth a look I say if you can stay alive that is…

  6. Julian Suarez salsa July 25, 2017 at 5:38 am #

    I’m Colombian American. So my Spanish is good. And I’m olive skinned. I’m not too worried. Not sure if I should fly in or thru Cucuta to explore. The border seems sketchy.
    I’m planning on renting an apt in Mercedes for about 200$. Nice place with pool gym. Three rooms. If any one wants in. I’ll be there month of sept into oct.
    i wanna try that day game photographer bit. Offer girls 10$ for a photoshoot at my place. Then bang bang bang. Maybe sell a video to bangbros

    • daniel castro September 28, 2017 at 10:23 am #

      are you still around ? im heading to Venezuela this week

  7. Bill August 21, 2017 at 12:15 am #

    Psst, heads up, alot of Venezuelans are immigrating to Peru, so you don’t have to risk going to Venezuela. In Lima you’re starting to see Venezuelans selling their food in the streets. I’ve made friends with some of the guys and they’ve invited me to Venezuelan get togethers/parties, where I have meet some fine ass women.

  8. Reza February 2, 2018 at 5:49 am #

    Anyone been to Venezuela recently? Is it like being a god? I recently went to Colombia and met a couple venezuelians I really liked. Their willlingness to be down was really hot and they didn’t have this princess vibe that Colombian chicks do which I don’t like.

  9. Chris Mathys July 6, 2018 at 2:05 am #

    Does anyone have any knowledge regarding beach cities in Venezuela. I was hoping to spend some time in a coastal town. Please let me know.

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