Venezuela

The people are friendly but not as open as in Asia. Cyclists are viewed strangely, but not approached aggressively.

Spanish is the official language and if you speak Spanish that is very useful. English isn't spoken much.

Some nationalities can enter Venezuela without a visa for up to 90 days.

Source: Wikipedia.

Venezuela is a safe country.

Food

You can eat in restaurants along the way, but they can only be found in small towns. As you get closer to the coast there are more restaurants and food and drink stalls along the side of the road. Often there is also a roadhouse at a junction of major roads. If you take the daily menu you have a good meal to cycle on. The soup of the day with some bread is also recommended, salt and moisture at the same time. Personally I have had no problems with the food and drinks.

In Llanos and Gran Sabana you occasionally have to travel a greater distance to the next eating place (max. 80 km). In any case, take food with you for 1 day.

There are plenty of small kiosks where you can buy basic things. Vegetables and meat are hard to find.

Drink

Water is not reliable. Bottles are for sale in most cities. Buy enough water and food in the large places because in some parts there are hardly any stalls on the side of the road. This is especially the case inland. And if you run out of water at 30°C, that's unpleasant.

Best time to cycle

On the coast, the dry season is from December to April the most pleasant time. The temperatures are then the most pleasant (around 25 - 30 °C). The rainy season runs from June to October. However, you do not have to experience real rainy days (where it rained all day), although you can often expect a heavy shower.

Inland the weather is fairly constant throughout the year. Temperatures around 25°C, and usually a high chance of rain. In September and October and from January to March it is somewhat drier.

Spare parts

Skilled bicycle repair shops and good parts are available in the cities. There are almost no bicycle workshops along the way. Make sure you bring some extra stuff with you. There are many car garages along the way.

Also bring extra inner tubes! People tend to drink both beer and soda in the car and then throw the bottles on the roadside. It therefore regularly happens that you are forced to drive through glass due to the traffic situation. The local tire size is 20 and 26 inches.

Nice routes

• Between El Amparo de Apure and Mantanal are many caimans, reptiles, birds and game in the flat grassland.
• Los Caracas to Higuerote is a beautiful piece of tropical forest with a Caribbean atmosphere.
• From El Dorado to Sta. Elena is a beautiful route with first 80 km of tropical forest with newly established small farmers, climb through forest to Gran Sabana, high plateau with hilly grassland in a sparsely populated area with beautiful waterfalls.