Los Roques, Venezuela –

Paradise and Mosquitos

July 26 – August 8, 2017

Checking into Los Roques was a bit of a challenge for us, mainly because we do not speak Spanish and we had trouble finding a few “unmarked” buildings and doorways where officials were enjoying the air conditioning.

With the exception of the vicious mosquitos that came out after some rainfall, we loved our stay in Los Roques.

We spent most of our time anchored in Francis Cay in front of a beach bar drinking wickedly poured rum and cokes for $1.50. I believe we stayed for 11 days and would have stayed for the entire permit length if not for the mosquitos, which were not a problem our first week there. The locals, including the military personnel, were extremely friendly and happy to have us there.

The rate of exchange on the black market (we used the pharmacy near the restaurants on the way to the airport) when we arrived was $100 US = 700,000 Bolivars FOR TOURISTS, the actual rate was $100 US for 1,000,000. We exchanged $200. DO NOT use a bank, they would give you approx. 250,000 Bolivars.

From the documentation that we read before coming into Los Roques, the only thing that has changed was the addition of ANAYA (sp?). They are new (set up in a mobile transport trailer with a blue plastic awning) and are located next to the dive shop dock at the northern end of town which is also a few buildings south of the Coast Guard building. The park person told us that the coast guard is a bit annoyed with them. Friends of ours followed the documented method without stopping at ANAYA. After their departure from Los Roques, they arrived in Bonaire from Venezuela without a Zarpe with no issues. I’m not sure I would recommend this practice anymore.

ANAYA asked boat questions and took in our clearance from our last port, then sent us up the road to the coast guard, where coast guard issued us a form to get filled out by various government officials, as per the general instructions I have found in travel books and on Noonsite.

Check-in (slow process – plan for an entire morning or afternoon)

1. ANAYA (Port Control or Customs – not sure, manually write boat information into the book); – no payment.

2. Coast Guard (manually writes same boat information into another book and issues form to be completed by officials); – no payment.

3. Parks; (small 1 room house a few buildings south of ANAYA on the same side of the road – fills out their portion of the form and information in another book) – no payment.

4. National Guard (manually writes same boat information into the book and fills out their portion of the form); – no payment.

5. Immigration at the airport (red door) enters boat and crew information into a computer, then stamps your passport and issues you a park/cruising permit to be paid for at the cashier booth outside – incurred a 20,000 bolivar ($2) “processing fee” not shown on invoice :)

5. Cashier booth – paid Approx. 800,000 Bolivars for 14 days (max) permit for 47’ Catamaran with 4 persons aboard approx. $110 US

6. Returned to ANAYA to show paid cruising permit receipt (which you must keep for the duration of your stay)

Check-out (easier and much faster)

1. Return to Cashier to cancel permit (that’s why you need the receipt) – no payment.

2. Check out with immigration (more stamps in passport) – no fees incurred.

3. Proceed to ANAYA to be issued clearance Zarpe. – no payment.

Before we departed the exchange rate went to $100 US = 1,400,000 bolivars, but the best we could negotiate as tourists was 900,000. Locals expected the price of goods to jump in the coming days and markets were very poorly stocked, so we only bought a bottle of sangria and left much-needed items for the locals.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Two other cruising boats (French and Swiss) were present in the islands when we departed. The next day a naval warship arrived and ANAYA prevented the departure of the cruising boats over the following 48 hours by orders of the Admiral aboard. They were later allowed to depart without issue. It is our understanding from discussions with the locals, that the ship stops in the islands sporadically.

Shaun Schmidt

sv Element – CAN – (currently in Bonaire)

https://keepcalmmomonelement.blogspot.com.es/

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