CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Pursuant to the relevant legal provisions provided for by the Venezuelan Tourism Law, the rules thereof, directives, and other applicable legal provisions, both in Venezuela and abroad, the following general and liability covenants are provided, which covenants shall regulate the services among the passenger or user (the “Client”) on the one hand, and the Travel Agency Condor Verde Travel S.A. (the “Agency”), and the service entities, such as airlines, hotels, restaurants, guides, and other services hereunder related to tourism (the “Providers”.)
First. In case of any claim as a direct or indirect result of the provision of services to the Client by the Providers, the Agency shall, upon request, help the Client to receive, as a reimbursement from the Providers, the sums paid on account of services which were not rendered or poorly rendered. Under no circumstances whatsoever, may the Client seek, and herein expressly waives the right to do so, any indemnification, except with respect to the aforementioned reimbursement.
The Client understands and agrees that the services provided by the Agency and the Providers are strictly civil or commercial. Therefore, the Clients hereby expressly waive any criminal actions or claims against the Agency and the Providers for any default, and differences shall be settled under civil or commercial jurisdiction. Both parties agree that for all contracts, these conditions and responsibilities of the Agency will apply exclusively. The legal domicile for all kinds of disputes is the court of competent jurisdiction at the site of Condor Verde Travel S.A (Caracas, Venezuela).
Second. Should the Agency act as organizer of tourism packages, tours, et al., consolidating herewith the services provided by the Providers, and the Agency provides the Client with such services, and the Providers shall be hired under the conditions of such services, then the following terms shall govern:
Reservation Conditions. Reservations for any tourism package shall be made at least thirty (30) days before the trip. The Agency reserves the right to require that the Client deposit a minimum installment of twenty percent (20%) out of the value of the tourism package agreed upon.
Cancellations and Sanctions. Cancellations shall be accepted upon a written notice forwarded at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance by the Client to the Agency. In case the Client fails to travel as agreed, the Agency shall reimburse the remainder of the installment, following deduction of the expenses on account of cancellation, and a working fee of 10% for the Agency, plus the maximum amounts as follows:
a) If the Client waives the trip from eleven (11) to fifteen (15) days before the date of the trip, five percent (5%).
b) From six (06) to ten (10) days before the trip, ten percent (10%).
c) From four (04) to five (05) days before the trip, fifteen percent (15%).
d) From two (02) to three (03) days before the trip, twenty-five percent (25%).
e) From twenty-four (24) to forty-eight (48) hours prior to the date agreed, fifty percent (50%).
f) Cancellation in less than twenty-four (24) hours before the clients arrival or in the event that the Client shall not be present at the expected day and time of the trip, then the Client shall lose the total amount for the trip (100%).
Remark: For last minute cancellations, it must be taken in consideration that our office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays.

VENEZUELA INFORMATION:

Getting to Venezuela
There are daily flights to Caracas from all major European and US airlines.

Immigration
Nationals of the USA, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan and most European countries do not need a visa for Venezuela; a tourist card has to be filled out, supplied by the airline on board the flight.

Health
No vaccinations are required. Please check with your local health board for recommendations.

Currency
The Bolivar Fuerte (BsF). September 2010: US$ 1 = BsF. 4.30

Money exchange
Foreign currency and traveler checks can be changed only in “casas de cambio” (currency exchange agencies). These are mostly located at airports.

Local time
GMT –4:30

Climate
Given Venezuela’s latitude, the temperature is fairly constant throughout the year. Since over 90% of Venezuela lies below 1000 meters (3280 feet), you’ll experience average temperatures of 23°C (74°F) in most parts of the country.
Heavy, brief downpours and warmer temperatures are common during the rainy season (usually May to November), followed by blue skies and slightly cooler temperatures during the dry season (December to April).

Location
Venezuela is located in the northeast corner of South America. The Caribbean Sea acts as a northern boundary, with the Atlantic Ocean and the Republic of Guyana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Colombia to the west.

Language
Spanish is the official language, but more than 30 Amerindian languages still survive.

Population
24 million. About 65 percent of the population is of mixed European, African and Creole descent, termed “mestizo”. The rest are Caucasian, Black and Indian. The country is predominantly a young one with around 60 percent of the population under the age of 25.

Capital city
Caracas.

Religion
Roman Catholic (96%), Protestant.

Government
Democracy. The President is elected by universal suffrage for a period of six years. The current President is Hugo Chavez, who took office in February 1999 and was reelected in December 2006.

Voltage
Electricity is 110 volts, 60 cycles AC. US-type flat two-pin plugs are used.

Dress code
Casual clothing is the norm in most places.

Drink
Venezuela produces excellent beer and a good selection of spirits, although imported wines and spirits are readily available. Visitors are advised to stick to bottled water.

Food
All hotels offer international food of extremely high standard, but sampling the local cuisine is a pleasure that shouldn’t be missed. Venezuelan cuisine is varied and regional. The most typical snacks and dishes, collectively referred to as comida criolla, include arepa, empanada, cachapa, hallaca, hervido, lechón, mondongo, muchacho, pabellón criollo and sancocho.

Film
Film is easy to come by and there is quite a choice in Caracas and a few of the other big cities. In the outback, it may be difficult to get the film type and speed you require.