Venezuela

South America
Capital:
Caracas
Currency:
Venezuelan Bolívar (VES); USD widely preferred
Risk:
Very High
Language
Spanish
Malaria risk
High
Tap water
⚠️ Not Safe
Healthcare
Very Poor — In Severe Crisis (hospitals lack water; electricity; medicine; equipment)
Kit recommendation
Mission Kit
📋

Health Overview

Venezuela is Level 3 — Reconsider Travel. Advisory decreased from Level 4 to Level 3 on March 19 2026; Wrongful Detention; Unrest; and Other risk indicators removed. US Embassy Caracas resumed operations March 2026 though most consular services still route through Bogotá Colombia. Healthcare remains in severe crisis. Active YF outbreak ongoing. Malaria throughout. FTO activity in border regions. Serious crime and kidnapping throughout. The clinical consultation remains primarily a safety consultation.
⚕

Key Health Risks

Very High
Arbitrary Detention Risk
The formal State Dept wrongful-detention (D) risk indicator was removed when the advisory decreased to Level 3 in March 2026, but the recent history is severe: US citizens were detained up to 5 years without due process with documented mistreatment, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws remains a cited risk. Carry a valid visa at all times; interactions with security forces remain a genuine risk, particularly outside Caracas and in the Level 4 sub-zones.
Very High
Healthcare System Collapse
Severe crisis — hospitals lack water; electricity; medicine; equipment. High mortality from routinely treatable conditions. Private hospitals severely limited by supply shortages. US government cannot assist medically.
Very High
Violent Crime and Kidnapping
One of world's highest homicide rates. FTOs Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles. Express kidnappings. State Dept advises preparing will and proof-of-life protocol.
⛑️

Health Risk Callout

Venezuela remains one of the most clinically challenging destinations despite the March 2026 advisory decrease to Level 3. Crime and kidnapping risks are serious, Level 4 Do Not Travel sub-zones remain (Colombia border region, Amazonas, Apure, rural Bolívar), the healthcare system is in severe crisis, and the active yellow fever outbreak has spread to ~14 states. US Embassy Caracas resumed operations March 30 2026 but provides emergency American Citizen Services only — most consular matters still route to Bogotá. Comprehensive medevac cover and a proof-of-life protocol remain appropriate.
🏥

Other Health Risks

Contaminated water; foodborne illness; gasoline shortages; political violence
🗺

Regional Information

Regional Risk Callout
Caracas: Level 3; some private healthcare remains; US Embassy Caracas reopened March 2026. Colombia border (20 miles): Level 4 — FTO activity; kidnapping. Amazonas state: Level 4. Apure state: Level 4. Rural Bolivar state: Level 4. These Level 4 sub-zones have NO US government emergency service capability.
Regional Healthcare Callout
Healthcare collapsed as functional system. Travelers must be medically self-sufficient. Private medevac pre-arranged. No safety net.
💉

Vaccine and Malaria Prevention

💉 Entry Vaccine Required
YF required from Brazil. CDC recommends YF for ALL travelers outside the Caracas urban corridor — and given the 2025-2026 geographic expansion, vaccination is the practical default for any itinerary below roughly 7,500 feet. Carry the ICVP card.
🛡️ Recommended Vaccines
CDC recommends Routine; YF (see entry requirements — active THN); Hep A; Hep B; Typhoid; Rabies (PEP severely limited in healthcare crisis)
🦟 Malaria Information
  • Risk Level: High
  • Areas: Most of Venezuela. P. vivax (75%); P. falciparum (25%). Highest: Amazonas; Bolívar; Delta Amacuro; Sucre. Caracas: minimal risk.
  • Recommended Drug: Atovaquone-proguanil; doxycycline; mefloquine (NOT chloroquine — resistance present)
  • Drug Resistance: Yes

P. falciparum (25%) with chloroquine resistance. NOT chloroquine. P. vivax can relapse via hypnozoites. Healthcare crisis means local diagnosis/treatment unreliable. Carry empiric treatment. Surveillance collapsed.

High
👨

Physician Note

R
Dr. Robert
Emergency Medicine · 25+ Years · 40+ Countries

Venezuela is now Level 3 — Reconsider Travel (decreased from Level 4 on March 19 2026; Wrongful Detention; Unrest; and Other risk indicators removed). US Embassy Caracas resumed operations in March 2026 after being closed since 2019; though most consular services still route through Bogotá. The destination is still a serious consultation — Level 3 with active crime; kidnapping; FTO activity in border regions; healthcare in severe crisis; and an active YF outbreak.This is a Level 3 destination requiring careful preparation — proof-of-life protocol with family; private medevac confirmed; social media reviewed before travel; malaria prophylaxis (atovaquone-proguanil; never chloroquine); and YF vaccine given the active outbreak.

For healthcare emergencies in Caracas; Clínica El Ávila is the reference. Embassy Caracas has limited emergency capacity — most serious consular matters still route to Bogotá at +57-1-275-2000.' Level 4 sub-zones still exist — Colombia border region; Amazonas; Apure; and rural Bolivar state are all Do Not Travel. Those sub-zones have no US government emergency assistance whatsoever.

Strongly recommend do not travel

✅

Pre-Departure Checklist

8+ Weeks

  • Level 3 — Reconsider Travel.
  • Be sure to consult your Dr. prior to travel to discuss
  • Obtain a valid Venezuelan visa
  • CDC recommends YF vaccine (active THN — strongly recommended)
  • Hepatitis A
  • Typhoid
  • Rabies pre-exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis is severely limited given the healthcare crisis)
  • Malaria prophylaxis — atovaquone-proguanil, NOT chloroquine
  • Delete politically critical social media before travel.

2–4 Weeks

  • Register with STEP
  • Contact US Embassy Caracas (emergency ACS resumed March 2026) or the Venezuela Affairs Unit at US Embassy Bogotá +57-1-275-2000 (after hours +57-1-275-4021)
  • Arrange private medevac insurance and confirm provider and routing
  • Prepare a comprehensive self-contained medical kit
  • Establish a proof-of-life protocol with family
  • Arrange private security transport.

Day Of

  • Depart in daylight only
  • Use a pre-arranged vehicle from the airport — do not use unmarked taxis
  • Carry passport at all times.
✈️

Trip Type Guidance

No standard trip types apply. Journalistic/humanitarian/family reunification only — extreme pre-travel security and medical planning required.

🗒️

Notes

Special Evacuation Notes
US Embassy Caracas resumed operations March 2026 but emergency capacity remains limited — most consular services still via Bogotá. Private medevac still strongly recommended. Night travel airport-Caracas particularly dangerous. Level 4 sub-zones (Colombia border; Amazonas; Apure; rural Bolivar) have NO US government emergency service capability. Verify medevac routing avoids high-risk areas.
Safety Notes
Level 3 — Reconsider Travel (decreased from Level 4 on March 19 2026; reissued June 27 2026; verified live 2026-08-23). Serious risks remain: violent crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and a collapsed healthcare system. Level 4 sub-zones per the current advisory: the Colombia border region, Amazonas state, Apure state, and rural Bolívar state — verify itinerary-specific zones on the live advisory. Avoid nighttime travel, especially the airport–Caracas route. Do not cross from Colombia by land. Valid visa essential. Review social media content before travel; maintain a proof-of-life protocol with family. US Embassy Caracas resumed operations March 30 2026 (emergency American Citizen Services only: +58-212-975-6411); most consular services via US Embassy Bogotá. State Dept 24/7: +1-202-501-4444.
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Quick Info
  • Capital
    Caracas
  • Language
    Spanish
  • Currency
    Venezuelan Bolívar (VES); USD widely preferred
  • State Dept Level
    3
  • Crime Risk
    Very High (highest homicide rates globally; FTOs; wrongful detention by security forces)
  • Disaster Risk
    Very High — Active earthquake zone (Caracas near plate boundary); flooding/landslides rainy season; infrastructure failures continuous
Water Safety
⛔️ Tap Water Not Safe to Drink
Tap water NOT safe — State Dept explicitly identifies contaminated water. Municipal systems frequently shut down. Bottled water exclusively.
Top Hospital
Clínica El Ávila
Caracas
Best-functioning private hospital for international travelers. Severely limited by crisis. Cash (USD) required upfront. US government CANNOT assist with medevac. Clínica Caracas another option. Outside Caracas: essentially unavailable.
Emergency Numbers
171 (emergency); 166 (fire)
Emergency
171 (severely limited)
Ambulance
US Embassy
US Embassy Caracas resumed operations March 2026 — emergency American Citizen Services only: +58-212-975-6411; ACSCaracas@state.gov; emergency after-hours: +57-1-275-2000 (via US Embassy Bogotá). Most consular services remain with the Venezuela Affairs Unit at US Embassy Bogotá. State Dept 24/7: +1-202-501-4444
https://ve.usembassy.gov/
Resources
Primary Sources
Direct lines to the agencies that publish the world's most trusted travel-health guidance.
CDC Travelers' HealthState Dept Travel AdvisoryCDC Health NoticesCDC Yellow BookWHO Travel HealthSTEP Enrollment