Venezuela's countryside is nothing like you'd expect from watching international news.

In-Country Safety

Venezuela is rarely featured in international news, and when it is, the information is usually negative. There are reports of protests and crime, violence, corruption and intrusive government. Here, it is important to distintinguish the big cities, the border with Columbia, and the rest of the country, though.

Santa Elena is a small community with strong social responsibility. The majority of people are very friendly and there is no more violence than in your average small european town.

Venezuela's countryside as a whole – with exception of the green border with Columbia in the west – is very peaceful and certainly one of the safest regions in South America. Not one of our volunteers has had any safety related problems.

Since on your way to Santa Elena you will most probably fly into or pass through Caracas, we have established cooperations with pickup services throughout the years who will help you personally and thoroughly during your stay in Caracas. They will also accompany you to the bus terminal and help you buy your ticket. For more information on this, see the Getting Here page. The bus ride to Santa Elena is safe.

If you still do not feel comfortable travelling through Caracas, there is always the option, though more expensive, to land and travel through Brazil, as we are located 15 minutes from the border.

We are very confident that every potential volunteer will be safe in Venezuela and that there is no cause for concern. However, we understand the necessity for each volunteer to make a personal decision. No person should come unless s/he is comfortable with the decision. If you would like further information on the experiences of past/current volunteers please see the Volunteer Experiences & Testimonies page.

back to top