Reconsider Travel
“Reconsider travelto Venezuela due to risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure and natural disaster. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Sat, 27 Jun 2026
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Is Caracas safe? 🇻🇪
Venezuela · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Caracas scores 18/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No. Caracas remains extremely dangerous for visitors due to pervasive violent crime and political instability. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (severe risk) and robbery (severe risk). The U.S. State Department rates it Level 3 (Reconsider Travel).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Caracas 🇻🇪
Venezuela · Assessed 19 October 2026
18
/ 100
Elevated risk — reconsider
Safer than ~6% of countries
Score capped at 44 — Level 3 advisory — reconsider travel. No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
Crime27/100ElevatedCrime index 81.4 / 100 · city-level
Sentiment18/100ElevatedOverwhelmingly negative
Advisories13Elevated
Stability41Caution
Health69Fair
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Elevated
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all travel Border areas FCDO advises against all travel to: within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Colombia within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Brazil within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Guyana Amazonas FCDO advises against all travel to Amazonas state.”
Updated 2026-10-15T14:00:27Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Venezuela: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-10-13T15:19:40.3940984-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Elevated
Urban scale factor
3.0M residents
54
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
12.6 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Venezuela12.6Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
39
Robbery / mugging
SevereArmed robbery is common on public transport and in tourist areas; visitors are frequent targets, especially after dark.
Pickpocketing
SeverePickpocketing and bag-snatching are rampant in crowded markets, buses, and tourist zones like Sabana Grande.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Fair
04 · Institutions
Stability
Caution
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Elevated
Traveller sentiment score
Overwhelmingly negative
18/100
Reported feel12Overwhelmingly negative
Robbery risk12Severe risk
Pickpocket risk40Severe risk
Only 8% feel safe walking alone at night and 21% in daylight, reflecting deep visitor anxiety about mugging and robbery across the city.
No. Caracas remains extremely dangerous for visitors due to pervasive violent crime and political instability.
Official advisories from the U.S., UK, and Canada uniformly warn against travel to Venezuela, citing crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor infrastructure. Caracas scores 16/100 on the IsMyTripSafe index, with severe risks for robbery and pickpocketing, particularly in crowded areas and on public transport. Visitor sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with widespread fear of mugging and robbery.
Recent developments
- Oct 2026Caracas Is Eerily Safe. State Death Squads Made Sure of It.— The New York Times
- Sep 2026After US Intervention, Crime Still Controls Venezuelan Mines— Caracas Chronicles
- Sep 2026Hundreds protest for return of Nobel peace laureate Machado to Venezuela— France 24
- Jun 2026Is it safe to travel to Venezuela and the Caribbean? Latest advice following 7.5 magnitude earthquake— Time Out Worldwide
Common scams
- Fake police officers demanding bribes or searching for drugs to extort money
- Taxi drivers overcharging or taking tourists to isolated areas for robbery
- Distraction thefts in markets and on buses where accomplices steal bags or wallets
Full briefing
The New York Times reported in October 2026 that Caracas appears eerily safe due to state death squads suppressing visible crime, though underlying instability persists. Caracas Chronicles noted in September that crime still controls Venezuelan mines despite earlier interventions, indicating entrenched criminal influence. France 24 documented hundreds protesting for the return of opposition leader María Corina Machado that same month, reflecting ongoing political tension and potential for unrest. Travel risk remains severe, with armed robbery common on public transport and in tourist zones, and pickpocketing rampant in crowded areas like Sabana Grande. Visitors report feeling extremely unsafe, with only 8% comfortable walking alone at night. Avoid all non-essential travel; if movement is unavoidable, use hotel-arranged transport, carry minimal cash in a decoy wallet, and never resist during a robbery. Stick to daylight hours and avoid barrios, border zones, and isolated areas entirely. Monitor official advisories closely, as the U.S., UK, and Canada all maintain avoid-all-travel or reconsider-travel warnings for Venezuela.
Was this Caracas, Venezuela report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Caracas districts for visitors: 2 safer, 3 needing caution and 3 best avoided. See them plotted on the Caracas safety map.
Sabana GrandeavoidHigh incidence of armed robbery and pickpocketing, especially in commercial zones.
La CandelariaavoidHistoric downtown with frequent muggings and limited police presence.
CatiaavoidWestern district with elevated violent crime; not recommended for visitors.
ChacaocautionRelatively safer during day but petty crime persists; avoid after dark.
AltamiracautionBusiness district with moderate risk; avoid isolated streets after sunset.
El RosalcautionUpscale neighborhood but targeted for theft; remain vigilant with valuables.
El HatillosaferAffluent area with lower violent crime; still exercise standard precautions.
Los Palos GrandessaferResidential zone with better security; still avoid walking alone at night.
07 · After Dark
Is Caracas safe at night?
Armed robbery is common on public transport and in tourist areas; visitors are frequent targets, especially after dark.
After dark, be most careful around Sabana Grande, La Candelaria, Catia, Chacao. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Caracas safety FAQ (2026)
Is Caracas safe right now (2026)?
No. Caracas remains extremely dangerous for visitors due to pervasive violent crime and political instability. Official advisories from the U.S., UK, and Canada uniformly warn against travel to Venezuela, citing crime, kidnapping, terrorism, and poor infrastructure. Caracas scores 16/100 on the IsMyTripSafe index, with severe risks for robbery and pickpocketing, particularly in crowded areas and on public transport. Visitor sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with widespread fear of mugging and robbery. (Assessed 19 October 2026.)
Is Caracas safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Caracas report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Caracas should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Sabana Grande, La Candelaria, Catia as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Caracas (2026)?
- Fake police officers demanding bribes or searching for drugs to extort money
- Taxi drivers overcharging or taking tourists to isolated areas for robbery
- Distraction thefts in markets and on buses where accomplices steal bags or wallets
How does Caracas compare with other places in Venezuela (2026)?
Caracas ranks #3 of 4 Venezuela destinations we've assessed, scoring 18/100. See the Venezuela safety overview for the full list.
How is this caracas safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: caracas.json (CC BY 4.0).