U.S. Reissues 'Do Not Travel' Warning for Venezuela

The United States Department of State has an extensive database of travel advisories for hundreds of countries across the globe, giving travelers all of the information they need to ensure their safety while they travel abroad. Sometimes, however, the State Department warns against traveling to a particular country at all, as was the case in its most recent travel advisory.

The State Department's advisories range from Level 1 to Level 4, with the most severe advisory warning travelers to simply "do not travel" to that country for any reason. This week, the United States has reissued one of those advisories for a country that has become known for its natural beauty and natural landmarks.

Levels of U.S. Travel Advisories

The United States lists four levels for its travel advisories, ranging from relatively mild Level 1 advisories to severe Level 4 advisories.

A Level 1 travel advisory acts as a soft nudge to travelers, reminding them to “exercise normal precautions” when visiting other countries. This level is typically assigned to destinations broadly viewed as safe, such as Canada, Australia, and Greece.

A Level 2 travel advisory, on the other hand, encourages travelers to “exercise increased caution” when visiting places where concerns like theft may be more common. Brazil, France, Italy, and India are among the countries currently classified under Level 2.

Level 3 advisories raise the alert further, advising individuals to “reconsider travel” due to more substantial safety risks. Nations such as Colombia, Pakistan, and Uganda are included in this more serious category.

Level 4 advisories represent the highest level of warning, instructing travelers to “do not travel” to those areas under any circumstances. Countries designated at Level 4 include Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Natural Beauty of Venezuela

Venezuela is a top destination for avid hikers or adventurers, especially given the country's vast and varied natural landscape, offering everything from its unique, flat-topped mountain ranges to jungle treks, snow-capped mountain peaks, and even tropical islands.

The most iconic natural landmark in Venezuela is Angel Falls, which is the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world. The falls have a drop of 979 meters from the top of a flat top mountain into the dense rainforest below.

Getting to Angel Falls requires a true adventure, however, as it typically involves a boat ride up jungle rivers and hiking through rainforest.

Outside of that, Venezuela offers several other iconic hiking and trekking destinations, like El Ávila National Park, Sierra Nevada National Park, and the Andean Highlands.

U.S. Issues Travel Warning

While traveling to Venezuela might be tempting for those seeking an adventure, the United States Department of State warns against traveling to the country for any reason.

In a travel advisory reissued on Wednesday, Dec. 3, the State Department issued a Level 4 "do not travel" warning for the country.

"Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure. All U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents in Venezuela are strongly advised to depart immediately," the travel advisory reads.

The advisory notes that the United States withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the embassy in Venezuela back in 2019, meaning the U.S. government has no way to provide emergency aid or consular assistance to U.S. citizens in Venezuela. That, coupled with other risk factors, has led the U.S. to advise against any travel to Venezuela.

"The Department has determined there is a very high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Venezuela. Security forces have detained U.S. citizens for up to five years without respect for due process. The U.S. government is not generally informed of the detention of U.S. citizens in Venezuela nor is it permitted to visit U.S. national detainees in Venezuela. The U.S. government has no way to contact U.S. nationals detained in Venezuela, and those detained are not allowed to contact family members or independent legal counsel. According to former detainees, as well as independent human rights organizations, detainees have been subjected to torture and cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment, including severe beatings, prolonged restraint in stress positions, and waterboarding," the advisory reads.

"Violent crimes, such as homicide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and carjacking, are common in Venezuela. Political rallies and demonstrations occur, often with little notice. Police and security forces have instituted a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy or anti-regime demonstrations, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, which occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism."

Needless to say, it does not seem like now is a good time to travel to the country.