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Guide Updates Venezuela |
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| Last edited: 05/09/08 |
The following are updates to the new (2007) edition: PORLAMAR, A TALE OF TWO VAMASCA’S (Corrections to page 95, chandlery) In the guide, we became hopelessly confused over the Vemasca stores, It turns out there are TWO separate stores that evolved from the store that was originally started by Denis Laesker. Both are owned by members of the family but completely separate from each other. A visit to both should be on your list of thing to do. Vemasca Marine Supply is a chandlery and it is very conveniently placed right between Marina Juan and Marina Puerto Miguel in a block called Asovene. They sell a big range of yacht gear as well as fishing gear, everything from deck hardware to electronics and clothing, plus lots of stuff you need to work on your yacht. They also bring things in on special order and do all the paperwork. The ad for Vemasca Marine Supply is in the wrong place in our guide on page 182 in the Puerto la Cruz section. Ritchie speaks excellent English. Vemasca Marine Services is another
big chandlery in Porlamar and it also has another branch
in Puerto La Cruz (Their ad is correctly placed on page 94, as is
the location on page 95). Vemasca Marine Services also repair electronics
and may be able to help with other problems. They are half a mile down the
main road towards Porlamar (see picture).
It is probably best to take a cab. It is also possible to either
walk down the road or dinghy close by to the beach and walk, but do not do
either of these until you have checked on the current security situation. Getting things wrong in my guide is always bad news, but having TWO VEMASCA stores instead of one in Porlamar is excellent news!
Jacks now Sunset now closed. I just got he following: Sunset is now
closed. The property is again for sale. ROBLEDAL, MARGARITA The information I had when I did the new version of the guide was that I had not heard of many problems in this area. Update: Security is a problem in this area. Yacht Lady Anne with two people onboard suffered an armed robbery while anchored off the village. They stole all electronics and valuables. From the Melodye at the Safety and Security net:
Unfortunately, there have been a number of pirate attacks in the Robedal
anchorage over the past year and a half or so, all the same MO as what
Lady Ann describes, including a count of three men.
Prior to that, one in 2000 but five in 1998!!! ONSA has included
Margarita, Coche and Cubagua in their Zona de Alto Riesgo (high risk) on
their July 2006 map.
You are advised to follow the links we give to the Safety and Security Net PUERTO LA CRUZ Page 181 left column. Jose from Costa Rica retired, Kings service no longer in action. NAVIMCA note. A cruiser recommended staying very close to the starboard buoys for the deepest water. They squeezed in with 6 feet of draft at low tide. It is best to contact the management for the controlling depth before you go, they may have dredged by now. There have been fewer incidents, but be alert. I got the following from he safety and security net. Check their web for the latest news
8 July
After some five months of no reports of major incidents in Venezuela and
only a couple dinghy thefts. In the past week, the Caribbean Safety and
Security Net has received two reports. I am still trying to get
additional details but this is what we know thus far:
1. Sometime during the night of June 29/30, a French singlehander
was forced onto a reef near the island of Coche by two fishing boats,
who then boarded and robbed him. The captain suffered some
injuries and went immediately to Porlamar the next day to report this to
the authorities.
2. About 7 pm in the evening of June 23, a yacht anchored by
themselves in Ensenada Toporo (about 1 mile north of Mochima Town in
Mochima Park) was boarded by four armed men, who proceeded to beat
up the captain and take numerous articles from the boat. The boat
is UK registry, although the captain is Russian and his partner is
German. They did report the attack to the local authorities in
Mochima Town and then to the Guardia Costa in Cumana.
YOUR UPDATES TO THE NEW EDITION Hello. I just find out that in Venezuela Cumanagoto Marina has changed their phone number into 02934000347 and VHF watch on Ch.09. So maybe you will be so kind to update your useful guide. Thanks. Vincenzo Sparavigna SY Spirit of Hope YOUR RECENT UPDATES
From Ellen Sanpere, Cayenne III (Thanks Ellen!)
Cayenne III is back in Puerto La Cruz. Here's a picture of the fuel dock near Bahia Redonda. Notice, a new paint job, but the fuel pumps are gone. Gasoline is available at the powerboat dock near Puerto del Este. Vemasca must have moved or folded - it is no longer in C.C. Puerto Ensenada.
Three "canal police" stopped us, as we
went from Plaza Mayor to Bahia Redonda in the dinghy the other night, and said a
curfew has been imposed on dinghy traffic in the canals, between 6PM and 8AM.
Apparently, there was a serious accident one night involving some locals
and some cruisers and an unlighted speeding dinghy. Vessels may enter
the canal, but only to go home, and may not go outside. This certainly
crimps our fun - no dinners at MareMares or the mall unless we take a
taxi, and the roads are mobbed all day/night long. Traffic around Plaza
Mayor is beyond belief!
The marinas and yards here are full, but there aren't
any people hanging around as in the past. The Fundamigos mission is this
week, but the cruiser fundraising is greatly reduced from last
year. The restaurant at Bahia Redonda was redecorated, and the food has
improved under new management. In addition to the Sunday dominoes game,
people are playing Texas Hold'em poker and Parcheesi on Saturday.
The light at Chimana Segunda was not lit when we
stopped there last week, but people were in the national park station
there all night, presumably available in case of trouble.
Bolivares are now at Bs5000/USD and fluctuating.
Next January, there will be new currency, BsFuerte, with the last 3
zeros dropped off. Prices are to be quoted until then in both, i.e.
Bs50,000/BsF50. Cruisers need to be careful to avoid
mistakes when paying for things.
When we need fuel, we will go to Cumana -
cruisers are welcome there.
Fair winds,
Ellen Sanpere s/v Cayenne III
From Donald on /v Quetzalcoatlv
The bureaucrats have added another layer to clearing in at Isla
Margarita, Venezuela. It is now necessary to appear at the Office
of the Port Captain in Pampitar to sign a paper witnessed by an Port
Captain employee. The entire process for us using Marina Juan as
an agent took eight days.
I would suggest that anyone not cleared into Venezuela who wants to make
a quick stop at Isla Margarita, to not check in. Lie under a
yellow flag for a couple of days and continue on to your destination.
Note from Chris: In the new guide I did not mention how long clearing took. I hope this is the extreme length of time. I would like to hear from others... From Ellen Sanpere about FUEL (it is still in flux)
Hi, Chris,
Well, we finally did get fuel in Venezuela: $.08/gal.
at Cumanagoto marina in Cumana. They were pleasant and cheerful.
The entrance was easy. The fuel dock is open 7AM-3PM. We took a slip for
the night at $10.69, incl. water & electricity for a 44' boat and
fueled up the next morning. Dinner at the RetroBar in the adjacent
mall was excellent. Too bad there is no grocery store or produce
market nearby.
Meanwhile, the fuel dock in Bahia Redonda is no
longer selling diesel fuel to foreign-flagged vessels, and even
Venezuelan vessels must get an annual permit from the gov't.,
paying a stamp tax, identifying the vessel as Venezuelan. We were able
to get gasoline for the dinghy easily and at the same price as at Cumana.
We were told, the fuel dock in downtown PLC will sell
fuel at Bs.1500/liter ($.576 USD) for less than 1000 liters. For
larger loads, the vessel must obtain a permit from PDV. For awhile, some
of the yard workers were bringing in 55 gal. drums of fuel, but that has
been stopped.
We got the feeling the locals do not want cruisers in PLC - they want
the rates to remain low and the cruisers are driving them up. In fact,
there was one guy on the VHF several times a week loudly cursing the
cruisers, especially those from the US.
As for money exchange, some travel agents will
gladly give a better than official rate, Bs.2600/$1 USD last week. In
Caracas, the rate was 2900, in Margarita the rate was 2400. Exchange
rates for the marina and boatyard are easily negotiated when paying in
dollars. It is rumored, the B will go to Bs.4500/$1 some time in
2007.
The Hilton marina (now called Marina Margarita) has
not quite caught up with the lovely pictures on it's web site. Only one
side has electricity and a truck delivers water every morning, gratis.
The rates were pretty good, (Bs.21,120 or so) and the security was good,
but there was no visible change from our visit 2 years ago.
LOS ROQUES Hi Chris, just a tip for easy navigating through the NE channel into los roques. on the southern most little island on the east side of francisqui there has been built a triangular reasonably large whit house, which is visibly for many miles from the outside (we picked it up in the early morning sun almost 5 miles out. when used in conjunction with your way point for the entrance it gives a clear and safe transit into the los roques. on a true course of about 220 you have a nice visual reference together with your gps waypoint. best personal regards, dick marx s.v. "Geramar" JAKERA TOURS
We took a tour to Angel Falls from Puerto La Cruz and used Jakera
mentionned in your guide. It was the worst tour I've ever taken. Jakera
is contracting their tours out to Gecko Tours. Gecko provides no guides
and no one speaks English. We ended up doing the hike back from Angel
Falls in complete darkness after seeing the overlook of Angel Falls for
5 min. at dusk only.
Connie Finneran
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