I tried to change money in San Cristobal, Venezuela, near Cucuta, but was told at the banks that they are not allowed to do it, bec. of new government regulations. Only casas de cambio can do it legally. And there is none in San Cristobal. Tried to use debit cards, no success for same reason. I left, for I had some bolivares when changing my leftover pesos in Cucuta. But very few. So I bit the bullett and was going to get a cash advance on my Visa, or MC, which is possible. One of the employees of the Banco de Venezuela stopped me and offered to change my US$$ privately at the official rate. I agreed. So, my suggestion: Change your money for Bolivares in Cucuta at one of the many Casas de cambio, which offer a good rate. Keep some pesos for the taxi which will take you to the airport. Life is cheap in Venezuela. A fill-up for my Exxon Valdez (Acerbis) tank costs one buck US for the 95 octane sin plomo. Food and hotel are cheap as well. So don't change too much. If you still have some pesos left after the taxi, you can change them with the dozens of freelancers just before the border.

Not so many ATMs accept foreign credit cards either in Venezuela. Banco Mercantil is one that does.

The black market for US dollars is not what it was a year ago following the increase in the official exchange rate of the bolivar with the USD.

April 24, 2010.

Toques on Moto

I entered Venezuela from Brasil leaving Boa Vista and crossing at Santa Elena. I made a few errors despite knowing better which included.:
1)not bringing a wad of Reals into the country,
2)Exchanging way too much USD with money changers at the border,
3)and not stopping for a military check point when directed to stop.
4) Not knowing that the bank machines only dispense an maximum of 300 Boliviars per transaction at a current rate of 4.5 Boliviars to a USD. I pay 5 USD per transaction in these countries so its expensive to make a 300B withdrawl at 5 bucks a pop.
5)Not knowing how easy it would be to exchange USD at most guest houses and hostels who will give you a black market exchange rate of 6.5 B per USD....much better than 4.5 from the bank plus 5 USD transaction fee.

Leaving Brasil was too easy, it took 20minutes. To enter Venezuela I got my passport stamped in 2 minutes but then I was directed by the woman at the Customs desk to ride 18km to the Polizia Matre Segurancia to get insurance for the bike (bad spelling of the company). Of course the time was now only 30 minutes before noon and I knew that the insurance office would be closed for lunch. I needed gas so I cut the line of more than 100 vehicles from Brasil waiting to fill up. Next I tried to withdraw cash from all the banks in Santa Elena but none would accept my card. I was left with the choice of exchanging my reserve USD for Boliviars at 6.3 boliviars to a dollar US on the black market. Alas, I exchanged 400 USD with the money exchanges. The woman at the insurance office beside the Police station "Maitre Segurancia" charged me 222 Boliviars and the process was no more than 30 minutes (of course she took an extended lunch break until 3 pm) I rode back to the Border to prove insurance and got a full size import stamp similar to the stamp I recieved in Guatemala for importation of the bike. In all, I arrived at the border at 1030am and was finally finished at 445pm. I passed the money changers for the 3rd time that day and was then followed into town, unknown to me where my money exchanger cornered me on the side of the road against a curb. He proceeded to accuse me of shorting him 20 USD. (it wasn't hard to count the big bills I gave him and it was funny watching him try and show me how I must have tricked him) To make a long story short he was essentially beginning the robbery process ans sizing me up. I got rather upset with him and forced him to back down. Unnerved I blasted out of Santa Elena convinced that I'd be robbed if I stuck around and proceeded to blow through a militray check point some 10km out of town that had only a two single orange pillons. As it was getting dusk I could barely make out who the lone man who was standing in the middle of the road beside an unmarked military truck with his partner sitting on the tail gate. I glanced over my shoulder as I was slowing down and saw the man adopt a shooting stance. I jammed the Brakes and pulled a u-turn and was told that I had until the next pillon before he pulled the trigger. Two minutes for passport verification and 3 Km further down route 10 north I found a Camping ground at the Waruri river crossing. It cost me 20 Boliviars to camp and it was safe and quiet and worth stopping in for. Bring snacks and water as there are no available stores at the campground.

In Cuidad Boliviar I checked into a great place called Hotel Don Carls listed in the Lonely Planet. It has a secure garage and its pretty inexpensive if you choose to stay in an open air dorm style room.

Cuidad Boliviar
Calle Boyaca No 26
con calle Amor Patrio detras Gobernacion
www.posada-doncarlos.com
www.hosteltrail.com/posadadoncarlossoanatravel@gmx.de
abaspaul56@hotmail.com (Paul at Don Carlos, Very nice and helpful)

P.S. Dont use the door knocker, its for decoration only....use the door bell, Its a real soft spot for Paul he loves his knockers.