The Venezuelan currency is the bolivar fuerte. One bolivar is equal to one hundred centimos. You can bring $10,000 into Venezuela.

Bolivar is the official and only possible currency in Venezuela. Operations in any other currency are prohibited. And the Venezuelans themselves are not supposed to have, for example, dollars. That is, just like that – no one will be able to buy American dollars in a bank easily and naturally. Citizens of the country can change the local currency for a certain amount of dollars “for travel” and “for online purchases” (once a year), while providing a variety of different documents. For a tourist, the operation “bolívar – dollar” is officially impossible.

Transactions in the national currency are allowed only on the territory of the country. Even if you receive a money transfer in dollars or euros, the bank will give you bolivars.

This is due to the existence of two, many times different from each other, bolivar rates – the official and the “black market” rate (paralelo). It is worth noting that prices in Venezuela are by no means oriented towards the official exchange rate…

It is definitely best to carry American dollars with you, and preferably in bills of 50 and 100 dollars. Euros in Venezuela will not be easy to exchange. If you arrive in Caracas, you can buy bolivars right at the airport.

And here we come to the most interesting question – the question of benefit and choice. Of course, and of course, it is correct to change money at an official exchange office (Italcambio) or at a bank at the official rate. But!!!! There are many who want to exchange dollars at a price close to their real. Although it is worth remembering that this is illegal!)

At the airport, only lazy people (airport employees, representatives of travel companies, and other suspicious individuals) do not exchange money at the “black market” rate. “Changers” themselves find clients. It is necessary to bargain fiercely, focusing on the “dollar parallel” rate and laugh in the face of those who will say: look, there are six in the “exchanger”, and I’ll take it from you for ten.”

Of course, this is not safe and there are many cheating schemes. The most common is a torn one hundred dollar bill, which the “changer” allegedly received from you. In fact, this bill turns out to be counterfeit. You need to be very careful and, of course, have an idea of ​​what the local money looks like.

Changing money in the center of Caracas is very unsafe and can be fraught with more than just fraud. Many hotels, travel agencies, jewelry stores also sin with illegal currency transactions. And if they do not sin themselves, then they will definitely reveal “appearances and passwords”. This applies not only to the capital and Margarita Island, but also to many other regions of the country. But it is worth remembering that the further inland, the worse the course and the fewer opportunities.

If you are traveling, for example, from Colombia, then before the border you can exchange Colombian pesos for bolivars at an adequate rate and quite legally.

For those who decide to take the legal route of currency exchange, banks in Venezuela are open Monday through Friday from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm.

You can also exchange the bolivars left after the trip for dollars at the airport, with the same “changers”.

Plastic cards in Venezuela are not something out of the ordinary, and there are many shops, cafes and hotels where you can pay with them. But it is worth remembering that debiting when paying by card will occur at the official rate. In this case, a commission of 10% of the withdrawal amount will be charged. If you still plan to pay with plastic in Venezuela, you should notify your bank about this, as transactions made in this country are a priori considered suspicious, and the card may be blocked.

Functioning ATMs are usually located in banks, but not every ATM accepts international cards. You can withdraw money from a Visa or Mastercard card at ATMs of Mercantil, Provincial (BBVP Provical) and Banesco banks. Often, a cash withdrawal operation requires additional data. After entering the pin code, the ATM may request the number of the “sedula” (Venezuelan residence). In the absence of such, the first or last digits of your passport number are suitable. Double zero can also work. Most ATMs refuse to work when you select English in the menu. In Venezuelan ATMs (as well as in banks) you can get only bolivars and only at the official rate. ATMs charge a commission – 10%, plus the commission of the issuing bank.

Traveler’s checks can be cashed at Corp Banca and Italcambio, of course, at the official rate with a commission of 3%.