Is Caracas safe for travelers?
Caracas is rated high-risk by major travel safety sources. The US State Dept advises "Do Not Travel" for Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and arbitrary arrest. Extra precautions are strongly recommended; consult the sources listed below before travel.
What the sources say
Caracas is rated Avoid at the extreme end — score 9.5. The capital of Venezuela, facing acute state collapse since the mid-2010s, has one of the world's highest homicide rates. All three advisories issue their highest-tier warnings for Venezuela. Infrastructure failure, economic collapse, and the breakdown of law enforcement create a compounding risk environment unlike most cities on this list.
Kidnapping (both express and organised), armed robbery, car-jacking, and murder are endemic across the city including the nominally safer eastern districts (Altamira, Las Mercedes, Chacao). Even the diplomatic zone has experienced violent incidents. Police involvement in crime is documented by multiple human rights organisations and all three advisories.
No part of Caracas is appropriate for leisure or independent tourism. If visiting for compelling family or humanitarian reasons, pre-arrange security through a specialist firm, use bulletproof vehicle transfers, stay in compound accommodation, never travel at night, and have an embassy contact and extraction plan active throughout. Do not attempt this without current local support.
Official statistics
- World Bank / UNODC — national intentional homicide rate for Venezuela, RB: 2022: 12.6/100k; 2021: 19.3/100k; 2020: 29.5/100k; 2019: 41.0/100k. Note: this is a country-level rate, not city-specific. Source: World Bank Open Data (VC.IHR.PSRC.P5), compiled from UNODC Crime Trends Survey.
Common questions
Is Caracas safe for tourists?
Caracas is considered high-risk by major travel authorities. Travellers should thoroughly research current conditions, stay in vetted accommodations, use private transport, and minimise unnecessary movement, especially after dark.
Is Caracas safe at night?
Caracas is considered high-risk at night. Minimise unnecessary travel after dark, use trusted private transport, and stay in secure, well-reviewed accommodations.
What are the main safety risks for visitors to Caracas?
Caracas sees higher rates of robbery, vehicle theft, and in some areas more serious incidents. Official sources highlight crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and arbitrary arrest as key concerns in Venezuela.
Sources consulted
- Australia DFAT Smartraveller — Safety
- US State Department Travel Advisory
- UK FCDO Travel Advice — Safety and Security
- Canada DFATD Travel Advice
- World Bank — Intentional Homicides per 100k (Venezuela, RB)
- Editorial travel-safety synthesis (US State Dept advisories, OSAC, Numbeo)