How to plan a trip to Maracaibo?

Located on the shores of Lake Maracaibo, the largest lake in Latin America, this lively city meets the expectations of any traveller with its wide range of cultural and leisure activities. In Maracaibo, as well as exploring the surrounding nature, you can immerse yourself in the local history by visiting the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Chiquinquirá and enjoy the colonial architecture. But in this case we’re not here to tell you about the city’s charms, but about how to plan your trip to Maracaibo in the best possible way.

Get ready and join us in this post where we will tell you all the details you need to consider before and during your trip. Our experience in the city was wonderful and we want yours to be too. So, we’ve written down everything we would have liked to know before travelling and that we discovered along the way, such as the best places to stay, the most typical dishes or how to organise activities to do in Maracaibo. If you’re ready, don’t think twice and let’s get started!

1. Prepare the necessary documentation to travel to Maracaibo

To travel to Maracaibo and the rest of Venezuela you will need to prepare certain documentation that you will be asked to provide upon arrival or before boarding your flight to your destination country. If you are citizens of the SCHENGEN area, you do not need to apply for a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourist purposes. You simply need to present a valid passport with a validity of more than 6 months.

If you are travelling from another Latin American country you may also be exempt from having to present documentation other than your passport.

However, citizens from the rest of the world must apply for a visa and present these documents:

• Passport: must be valid and have a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Venezuela.
• Return ticket: it is often required to show a return ticket to demonstrate the visitor’s intention to leave the country before the expiry of the permitted period of stay.
• Proof of accommodation: it may be necessary to submit hotel confirmations or a letter of invitation from someone who will be hosting you in Venezuela.
• Travel insurance: travel insurance is now mandatory and coverage cannot be less than $40,000 for Medical Assistance Services and $1,000 for lost or stolen luggage. Please note that the duration of the travel insurance should never be less than the duration of the trip.
• International vaccination certificate: depending on current health alerts, it may be necessary to present a vaccination certificate, especially against yellow fever, especially if travelling to border areas with Brazil.
• Proof of financial solvency: upon arrival you may be asked for proof that you have sufficient funds for your stay.
• Visa: It is recommended to apply 90 days in advance as processing time may depend on the volume of applications. The processing fee is around €50.

If you are travelling with the Passporter App, we recommend that you keep a copy of all your documentation and visa to have on hand in case you need it, as you may be asked for it at any time during your stay.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

2. Choose the date to plan your trip to Maracaibo

The best time to visit Maracaibo tends to be during the dry season, which runs from December to April. During these months, the weather is milder and there’s less chance of rain, allowing you to spend the day outdoors without having to carry a mackintosh. The main drawback of this time of year is that it’s the peak season and there are usually more tourists. Due to the high demand, accommodation prices are higher.

If, for reasons of availability or simply because you prefer to visit the city with fewer tourists, you decide to travel during the rainy season, you should know that this will have virtually no effect on your plans. You’ll be able to visit the main sights without any problems and stay more cheaply. The only thing is, be prepared for rain, as it rains torrentially every day for a few hours a day.

3. Find out how to get to Maracaibo

Maracaibo is well connected to the rest of Venezuela by air, land and sea. We travelled by plane from Caracas, but here are all the alternatives available:

• Plane: La Chinita International Airport is the main air entry point to Maracaibo. There are direct flights from several major Venezuelan cities, such as Caracas, and some international flights, especially from nearby countries such as Colombia and Panama. From the airport, you can get to the centre by taxi for about $50 in less than 20 minutes or by train and metro, but the journey takes more than 1h. We recommend that you arrange a transfer through your accommodation.
• Bus: Maracaibo is connected by a network of buses to Venezuela’s main cities. The Maracaibo Passenger Terminal is the arrival and departure point for these services. From Caracas the journey takes 9 hours and costs $70.
• Car: Another option is to hire a car on arrival at Caracas airport. From the city you can take the Autopista Regional del Centro and then follow the Autopista José Antonio Páez and other regional roads to Maracaibo. The trip takes about 9h.
• Boat: Although a less common option for tourists, there are freight services that include passengers between Maracaibo and other coastal cities or Caribbean islands. This option requires more planning, as services may be sporadic and less frequent.

4. Find the accommodation that fits your expectations to enjoy Maracaibo

In Maracaibo you’ll find plenty of accommodation options to suit all tastes, from family-run inns to hotels with restaurants and swimming pools. And best of all, the city is quite cheap compared to other destinations in Venezuela. As always, we recommend looking ahead of time, so you can choose the best options and use the Passporter App to search through Booking and save your bookings in an organised way.

Here’s a list of the best neighbourhoods to stay in based on your interests:

• El Milagro: emblematic and safe, it offers a variety of hotels, restaurants and attractions such as La Marina Park.
• Santa Rita: close to downtown, ideal for exploring culture and architecture with easy access to major attractions.
• La Lago: exclusive and quiet neighbourhood, perfect for high quality accommodation close to shopping centres.
• Belloso: Famous for its market, it offers an immersion in local life and affordable gastronomy.
• 5 de Julio: combines safety, entertainment and convenience, with hotels close to shopping areas.

All the information you need to organise your trip to Venezuela here

5. Choose the activities you want to do in Maracaibo

Do you already know what you are going to see during your stay in Maracaibo? If the answer is no, we encourage you to visit this post where we tell you everything this exciting city has to offer: Things to see and do in Maracaibo. We have also prepared this short summary of the must-sees to give you an idea of what to expect in Maracaibo:

• General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge: is an architectural marvel that connects Maracaibo with the rest of the country, offering panoramic views of the lake and the city, ideal for watching the sunset.
• Historic Quarter of Maracaibo: explore the Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquira, the vibrantly blue Church of Santa Barbara, and other colonial buildings such as the Government Palace, immersing yourself in the city’s rich history.
• Paseo del Lago (Lake Promenade): enjoy views of Lake Maracaibo and its sunsets, complemented by restaurants, local bars and the chance to witness the Catatumbo Lightning between April and November.
• Catatumbo Lightning: This is a unique meteorological phenomenon in the Catatumbo River basin. From the Lake of Maracaibo you can see numerous lightning strikes throughout the night. This spectacle happens about 300 times a year, but is most easily seen between April and November.
• Vereda del Lago Park: offers a peaceful space with green areas, walking trails and stunning views of the lake, ideal for outdoor activities and perfect for families with children’s play areas.
• Botanical Garden of Maracaibo: this is a green paradise with a diversity of plant species, educational trails, varied workshops and recreational areas. Open Saturdays and Sundays, pets are allowed, with a small fee at the entrance.

6. Where and what to eat in Maracaibo

Maracaibo’s local cuisine reflects the rich cultural diversity of the region, combining indigenous, African and Spanish influences. However, the cosmopolitan character of the city means that the culinary offerings include a wide range of international possibilities. You can eat in restaurants from all over the world.

Our recommendation, as always, is to venture out and sample the city’s most typical dishes at local restaurants, markets and street stalls. Among the most emblematic are the Patacón Maracucho, a green plantain base with a variety of toppings; the Mojo de Yuca, yucca cooked with a creole sauce; the Chivo en Coco, goat cooked in coconut milk; the Huevos Chimbos, an egg and syrup-based dessert; and the Mandoca, a ring of corn dough mixed with ripe plantain and cheese, fried and served with grated cheese.

7. Organise a trip with friends to Maracaibo

We’ve all experienced travelling with friends, and it’s clear to us that it can be a marvel or a real challenge when there are differences in interests or ways of approaching a trip. That’s why in this post we’ve put together some tips to help you plan a trip to Maracaibo together with the help of the Passporter App: Group travel: The best way to travel with your group of friends.

With the Passporter App you can plan your travel itineraries from start to finish and discover the experiences of other travellers. You can read about the best places to visit in Venezuela, but also about transportation, necessary documentation and many other details. Add your friends and create your travel itinerary together with the stops you will make and the points of interest you are most interested in. Later on you can share your experience through the photos you take during the trip.

8. Tips for planning a trip to Maracaibo

• The currency of Venezuela is the Venezuelan bolivar
• Hedge against medical emergencies: travel insured. Choose good travel insurance such as Mondo.
• We recommend that you change money before your trip to Maracaibo, as it will be cheaper than at the airport.
• The best months to see Maracaibo are December to April, in the dry season.
• Always drink bottled water.
• Use sunscreen, especially in the summer months, as well as light but sun-protective clothing and stay hydrated.
• Get yourself an eSIM card to have internet connection on your trip to Maracaibo
• Use the Passporter app to organise your travel itinerary, get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, manage your bookings and save all relevant documents.

9. Do you want to have your trip to Maracaibo organised by Passporter?

If the thought of planning your trip to Maracaibo is overwhelming, remember that Passporter is here to make it easy. We take care of the bookings and organisation so that you can fully enjoy your holiday. Venezuela is one of our favourite destinations because of the variety of landscapes and activities it offers. So, we’ve become real experts and will be happy to organise your trip.

And for those who prefer the independence of travelling on their own, the free Passporter App offers you the possibility to design your own itinerary where you can find inspiration from the experiences of other travellers through their photos and comments.

Book your trip to Maracaibo with Passporter here

10. How to prepare what to see on your trip to Maracaibo

Download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.

• Get inspired by other travellers’ experiences, photos and itineraries
• Organise your trip by the categories that suit you best: dates, number of days or type of trip (beach, mountain, restaurants…).
• Add your friends so they can see and modify all the plans and information about the trip.
• Create your own itinerary of your destination with everything you want to visit each day.
• Add the stops that interest you the most, including your accommodation, restaurants, museums…
• Book your flights, accommodation, transfers and activities through a single app.
• Save all your documents in the app to always have everything at hand: reservations, boarding passes, important documents…
• Make any modifications you need and you’re all set for your trip
• Share your experience with other users. Upload photos of the places you have visited on your trip to the app and inspire other travellers with your experience. You can also share your experience on how to plan your trip to Maracaibo.

If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter. 

11. Frequently asked questions about a trip to Maracaibo