Caracas enjoys a warm, tropical climate with average daytime temperatures of 15 °C in December and 33° C in August; nighttime temperatures are lower. The rainy season lasts from late April to late November.

German-Venezuelian Chamber of Commerce , Av Sn Felipe, La Castellana ; Tel. : +58 (212) 2671411

Venezuelian-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce , Av. El Empalme, Edif. Fedecaras 5to, El Bosque ; Tel. : (02)731 0823/6521. Ext. 253

Venezuelian-French Chamber of Commerce , Calle Mucuch? c/c California, Edif. Jimmy Piso 1 Oficina 7 Las Mercedes ; Tel. : (02) 993 9122/1614

Venezuelian-Italian Chamber of Commerce , Avenida Bosco, Mezzanina, Altamira ; Tel. : +58 (212) 781 3775

Venezuelian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce , Av. Francisco de Miranda, Edif. Mene Grande, Los Palos Grandes ; Tel. : (02)285 5328

Venezuelian-Mexican Chamber of Commerce , Calle Londres, Las Mercedes ; Tel. : (02)999 8822

Venezuelian-British Chamber of Commerce , Av José F Sosa, Torre Británica P-10 Of A, Altamira Sur ; Tel. : +58 (212) 2673112

Venezuelian-US Chamber of Commerce , Torre Credival, Piso 10, 2da. Avenida de Campo Alegre ; Tel. : +58 (212) 267 3007

Germany , Edif. Panavén, avenida San Juan Bosco, Altamira ; Tel. : +58 (212) 261 0181

Espania , Av. Mohedano, La Castellana ; Tel. : +58 (212) 263 2855

Brazil , Edif. Centro Gerencial Mohedano, intersection of Los Chaguaramas and Los Mohedanos avenue, La Castellano ; Tel. : +58 (212) 261 5505

France , Calle Madrid con Trinidad, Las Mercedes ; Tel. : +58 (212) 993 66 66 ou 993 66 66

Italy , Edificio Atrium P.H. Calle Sorocaima ; Tel. : +58 (212) 9527311

Czech Republic , Calle Los Cedros, Qta. Isabel, Urbanización Country Club ; Tel. : +58 (212) 266 3987

United Kingdom , Torre La Castellana, Avenida Principal La Castellana ; Tel. : +58 (212) 263 8411

United States , Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urb. Colinas de Valle Arriba ; Tel : +58 (212) 977 2011

Most large international hotels have a business center. The usual facilities are available: telephone and fax, high-speed internet connections, interpreting, conference rooms and video-conferencing.

Gran Melia Caracas Hotel , Av. Casanova C C El Recreo ; Tel. : +58 (212) 762 8111

Lincoln Suites Venantur , Av. Francisco Solano ; Tel. : +58 (212) 762 8575

Hotel Centro Lido , Av Tamanaco Ctro Lido Torre D ; Tel. : +58 (212) 957 7777

Content unavailable.

Comunica Servicios de Traduccion e interpretacion , Avenida Principal, La Urbina ; Tel. : +58 (212) 241 2587 / 782 2682

Traductores e interpretes profesionales , Cl Tepuy, Pque Humboldt ; Tel. : +58 (212) 979 2628

Alter Translation Services , Tel. : 58 (212) 256 4019

Guzmao & Asociados , Jesuítas a Tienda Honda Edif Santa María, Piso , Apto 6 Altagracia ; Tel. : +58 (212) 860 3094

DHL , av. Chicago, La California Norte ; Tel : 58 (212) 205 6000

Federal Express , zona industrial de los Ruices Sur, AV Milan ; Tel. : + 58 (212) 205 3333

UPS , Edificio Domesa, Santa Teresa ; Tel.: +58 (212) 204 1353

Eurocyber café , Avenida Fco. de Miranda, Centro Residencial La California Norte; Tél: +58 (212) 272 4620

Compupop , Edif. Las Fundaciones, Fernando Torre, Av. Andres Bello ; Tel. : +58 (212) 578 1510

Cyber Café Pistacho , Av. Fco Miranda, centro Emp. Parque Del Este (près du métro Los Dos Caminos) ; Tel. : +58 (212) 239 2623

Cyber Office 2020 , Edif San Germán, Calle Pascual Navarro, PB, Local 5, Sabana Grande (Subiendo por el Gran Café, frente al Banco Venezuela). Tel. : +58-2 762 9407

For a stay of less than ninety days, you must present a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months from the date of entry to the country.

Customs allowances: 200 cigarettes and 25 cigars, 2 liters of alcoholic beverages, 4 small size bottles of perfume, goods with a maximum value of $1000.

There is an airport tax to be paid when you leave Venezuela of about $20.

To call Caracas from abroad dial the country code for Venezuela (58) followed by the code for Caracas (212) and then the number that you wish to reach.
Phone directory : 113

Ambulance : 02/545 4545.

Doctor : 02/483-7021.

Fire : 166.

Emergency : 171.

Police : 169.

There is a well-equipped telephone network. International calls from Venezuela are expensive, especially if you use a hotel telephone (around 40% more expensive). It is cheaper to use one of the CANTV agencies. There are plenty of payphones that function with both coins and cards (sold at newspaper kiosks). For calls between cities or regions dial 0 followed by the area code and then the number that you wish to reach. Area codes: Cumana: 93 ; Maracaibo: 61 ; Puerto La Cruz: 81 ; Margarita: 95 ; Ciudad Bolivar: 85 ; El Litoral: 31 ; Mérida: 74.

Cell phones are very popular in Venezuela. Cell phone numbers usually start with 014 or 016. Check before departure that your phone is compatible with local networks (AMPS and CDMA or GPS Digital).

The Venezuelian unit of currency is the Bolivar. The use of credit cards is very widespread both for payment and withdrawals from cash machines. It is easy to change dollars.

Restaurant : yes (5 to 10 %), even if the bill includes service.

Bars : no, but it is common to leave the change.

Taxis : no tip, but it is usual to round up the amount shown on the meter.

Porter for Luggage : yes, about 0.50 US $ per suitcase.

Hairdresser : yes, 5 to 10 %

Guides : yes, 5 to 10 %

Venezuela is four hours behind Greenwich (GMT -4).

110V AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat, two-pin type.

The subway is air-conditioned, clean, and convenient, and is the best way of getting around the city. There are three lines that function between 5:30am and 11:00 pm. A fourth line is planned to open in 2004. Most of the city's main attractions are on line 1. Car hire is also available from the big international agencies (Hertz, Budget, Alamo...). However you may be put off by the Caraqueños rather abrupt and undisciplined style of driving! Taxis often do not have or do not use a meter: it is advisable to negotiate a price before departure. Fares can increase by up to 20% after 6:00 pm. Beware of the numerous unofficial taxis.

If you plan to stay in Caracas or on the coast then no vaccinations are necessary. Be sure that your regular vaccinations (hepatitis A and B, tetanus) are up to date. If you are a planning a trip to the Amazon or in the Llanos then a vaccination against yellow fever and malaria pills are essential. Drink bottled water that has a seal at all times.

The following days are subject to changes every year. For 2004 :

• New Year's Day January 1
• Epiphany January 6
• Carnival February 23
• Holy Thursday April 8
• Holy Friday April 8
• Independence Day April 19
• Labor Day May 1
• Ascension May 20
• Corpus Christi June 10
• Battle of Carabobo June 24
• National Holiday July 5
• Birth of Simon Bolivar July 24
• Assumption August 15
• Christopher Columbus Day October 12
• All Saints Day November 1
• Immaculate Conception December 8
• Christmas December 25
• New Year's Eve December 31

For dishes blending Spanish and Venezuelan flavours, La Cocina Criolla de Francy is a good choice. Chez Wong is the city's most famous Chinese eatery and Top's serves up dishes that blend Mediterranean and local flavours and are conceived by internationally recognized chef Ana Belén. For more than 30 years Venezuelans have enjoyed the finest in classical French food, top wines and live piano music at Lasserre. Tarzilandia is an exotic place with lush tropical vegetation filled with parrots, tree frogs, and turtles and offers an inventive menu: turtle pie, shrimp mixed with tropical fruit, mango flambé à la mode. Lee Hamilton Steak House is known for the quality of their steaks and, also, poultries and fish. If you feel the urge to eat like in Italy, go to Capri, a small restaurant where the cook is a real Italian grandmother.

Indigenous crafts of the region include baskets, rugs, espadrilles, hammocks, bows and arrows, pipes and pearl necklaces. In many small shops bargaining over the price is common. Recordings of South American and salsa music also make good gifts. For international brand names, visit the Centro Sambil or the fashionable boutiques in the pedestrian street Sabana Grande.

For a little beach time, the shore is a mere half-hour's drive from the city.

Caracas has several modern art museums that may be of interest. The city's Museum of Contemporary Art, located by the Parque Central, has works by Miro, Matisse, Léger and Picasso in its collection. Numerous pieces by Botero can be seen at the Museum of Fine Arts while Galeria de Arte Nacional provides a glimpse into the activities of young contemporary Venezuelan artists, To see some legendary works by old masters, including Ruben's The Resurrection of Christ, a trip to the Cathedral is in order.