We stayed with our 6 children in August-September 2018 for 15 days in Los Roques and Los Aves. It was really a highlight of the last 5 years of sailing! Absolutely safe, extremely friendly people and authorities. We had never such friendly immigration, customs and coast guards like in Los Roques. Fees seem to vary. Provisioning is a problem. Sailors should have enough in stock for the whole stay. For diving, we recommend Eugenio Escobar from ADC Dive Center. For a delicious Pizza find Pedro´s Pizzeria. Both are fluent in English and very helpful for any support. You can pay in USD but only cash. So take enough cash with you to enjoy some of the restaurants. The locals pay with bank cards in bolivares.

Posted on behalf of Olivier Bausset 28th December 2017

I want just to tell you about our crushing experience in Los Roques.
We have a 40-foot catamaran and we were in Los Roques for 10 days in December. We left Grenada.
The security was totally fine. We were travelling with 2 kids and were not worried.
The clearance formality was clear. We did all the offices in 2 hours.
The cruising was perfect. NO problem.

June 2017: Report from Jean-Pierre Germain of SY Eleuthera about Los Roques:

We were in Los Roques in June 2017.

The Isles appear to be on their own or at least distancing themselves from the mainland Venezuela policies.

We were always safe but had to put up with minor “irregularities”. It took 6 hours to complete the port, immigration, customs and cruising permit and more than 6 kms walk.

The currency is as bad as ever and for $USD206 (Cruising permits) for 2 boats, I brought back nearly Bolivar 2,000,000. (The Pharmacy is still the point for currency exchange but we managed to get about 15% more Bolivars than the pharmacist was willing to give initially. Bargaining seems acceptable.) The bundle of cash fitted well into my 2 backpacks but weighed nearly 50 pounds. A mate commented that the Bolivar was cheaper than toilet paper thus.

We visited Los Roques and Los Aves in October 2016. We were 2 boats with 2 kids on each boat. Before taking a firm decision to visit or not Los Roques, we made a lot of research, back in Grenada: We were hearing much bad news in regard to the situation in Venezuela. Our main concerns were not piracy but more the army or coast guards, both having a lot of power since June 2016. As it is impossible to get direct information from Los Roques on the internet, we made a few phone calls to pousadas to inquire about the situation on the islands. We also got a contact of a local guy running a kite school over there. Every feedback was positive. We were only warned that we may experiment with food or water shortage. When we arrived, we were very well received by the Coast Guards. They were really and helpful. Same thing with immigration agents.
It cost us around 110 USD for immigration and park fees for a 43 feet boat with 3 adults and 2 children aboard. All the money gets changed on the black market, but there is no other solution. Formalities are not complicated and we saw no need for an agent.
Gran Roque is charmful, with many beautiful pousadas and nice restaurants. There 2 supermarkets where we found more choice of veggies and fruits than in the Grenadines! Just be aware of the cargo ship scheduled to go shopping the next day (In October, the cargo ship came every Thursday). Water is free for whoever has paid the park fees. For a few bucks, you can even get someone to deliver it to your boat in Francisquis.
We spent the next 2 weeks in the archipelago: Franciscus, Crasqui, Noronsqui, Carenero, Cayo de Agua and never noticed any suspicious people/activity. We had a very good contact with local people and fishermen and an overall wonderful experience.
Los Roques does not share much with the situation on the mainland as the main income is tourism, paid in USD. So, people keep a better buying power than on the continent.
Los Roques is beautiful, unspoiled islands, missing it would be too bad.

Olivier Rocher
S/Y Korrigan
http://www.altitudezero.org

Posted on behalf of Alejandro Linares (Yacht Agent – Los Roques)

Due to Political and economic situation, always thinking in the safety of the crew, passengers and the vessel, my advice is to avoid cruising to Venezuela for now.

I’m the most interested person to have you here, but make you come to Los Roques in this critical time in Venezuelan history, means to put you at risk.

Los Roques is still a safe place, but the lack of food and inflation rate are uncontrollable and we are about to have a civil war.

Sorry for the news, but safety is first and Los Roques will always be there, it is just not the right time.

As soon I think it is possible to visit without any risk I’ll notify noonsite.

Please note the correct e-mail addresses for Alejandro Linares are:
info@yachtservicelosroques.com
Yachtservicelosroques@gmail.com

Hello,

We arrived on Sunday at Los Roques and paid no overtime.

We Paid:
Saime: 4500 Bolivar
National Park Fees : 3852 Bolivar

Thats it !

Exchange Rate is 650-750 Bolivar for 1 USD.
We are 3 persons on board of a 38 feet vessel.

Be sure your clearance from previous port are correct with “next Port” VENEZUELA OR LOS ROQUES. Otherwise you have to pay a bribe of 180-40 USD. 🙁 Depends on your condition and arguments.

The people are friendly and helpfull.
At the moment there are only few sailors here.
The market are very cheap for Rhum,Cigarettes and Beer.
Fuel are also very very cheap.
0,75l Rhum 2,8 USD
1can of Beer 300ml 0,16 USD
1ciragette box Marlboro 0,5 USD
10 L Petrol 0,04 USD
20 L diesel 0,09 USD.

CRAZY !

We are now 4 days at el gran roque, and the village are very safe.

No worries about anything.

We recommend everybody to visit Los Roques.

Enrico
SV Telefine
info@sailness.at

Visiting Los Roques is one of our cruising highlights. Extremely safe, beautiful, and welcoming. We have been there on 6 separate occasions over the past 2 years.

To clarify some of the costs of clearing in, and the procedure…
First go to the SAIME office, near the airport. They give you a bank account number, and you have to got the bank and deposit 1016 Bolivar. Then you go the Garda Costa post, near the airport. (Located in the Trailer, next to the National Park office. No cost for Guarda Costa, just paperwork. Then to the National Park office. Cost us 3000 Bolivar (for 47′ yacht) plus 254 bolivar per person. TOTAL COST was 4500 Bolivar for the boat, and 2 people, for 14 days.
This equated to about $55 US at the current exchange rate.
To change Dollars(Cash only) to local currency, go the the Pharmacist in the main square. Always fair rates, and can manage large amounts. Be prepared. If you change $100 USD, you are given around 150 bills, (quite bulky!) Bring something to carry the cash in….
In October 2014, the exchange rate was 85 bolivar to US$1. (Better rates on the mainland, but still pretty good!).

To clear out, go back to SAIME (Immigration) and get your exit stamps,(No cost) then go to the Police station,(Guardia Nationale) to get another stamp. (No cost) then off to the main Guarda Costa base, to get your Zarpe. (Clearance form)
Everything closes between 12 noon and 2 or 3pm, so it is best to start early, and get it all overwith in the morning hours. If you have a wifi antenna, there is now wifi available in Grande Roque.

We discovered an awesome Day Spa in Los Roques, “Spa Horua” . 90 minute massage is $25. to give you an idea of pricing. Top quality, professional spa. Thai stretching massage also available. Just ask the locals for directions. Bit hard to find, but well worth the effort.

We spoke to the Coast Guard when there, and asked about getting some gasoline for our tender.
No Problem, they said. Just turn up at the end of the beach, at the gas pump, at 2pm.
So, I turned up with the gas can in hand. Lined up with 15-20 locals, and was able to fill the can. Cost 8 bolivar for 20 liters. Try to carry small bills, because they may not have change! It was not possible to get diesel, although I have heard stories of others being successful there. Fresh water is available for free, but you need to bring containers.
There are NO DOCKS to go to. You have to beach your tender, and drag it up the sand.

They sell fresh fish at the beach each day. Fisherman come in around 12-1pm and there is a few guys cleaning and selling fish. Costs about $2 per kilo for cleaned and filleted fish. Wahoo, Mahi, Tuna, Macrel, etc etc. As far as I could tell, everything was the same price.

Grocery stores are hit and miss, lots of empty shelves on any given day.. If you see something you want.. Buy it right away, because they will run out at any time. Typical supply day is Wednesday, so Late Wednesday or Thursday shopping is the best. Some things are extremely inexpensive. If you want an imported item such as a bottle of Baileys, you will pay the US price. Better to buy local products.

You can use the clearance agent if you wish, but we fumbled through the process, and were fine.

Best overnight anchorage near Grand Roque is at Francis Cay, just East of Grand Roque. Very protected from all directions, calm water, etc. only 1-2 miles form G.Roque.

Los Roques Cruisers Paradise!

Travel safe!

Capt. Russ.

We have been planning to go to Los Roques for many months and have been in touch with Alejandro to do the paperwork clearances etc. He seems like a great guy and very efficient and helpful. 5 days before we were due Grenada bound for Los Roques I received an email from Alejandro asking us to delay our visit because of the”critical” political situation. We have taken he advise so, unfortunately, missing out these wonderful islands. I advise anyone wishing to visit to contact Alejandro info@yachtservicelosroques.com for an update.

Paul Atkinson Talulah Ruby111