Venezuela (VE)

Oil-rich South American nation with dramatic landscapes from the Andes to Angel Falls and the Caribbean coast, experiencing economic recovery after years of crisis, with a warm culture and very low cost of living for dollar-earning expats.

Capital: Caracas

Region: Americas

Language: Spanish

Currency: VES (Bs.)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 10)

Emergency: 171

Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers before you need them.

General Emergency

171

Police

171 (CICPC/PNB) or 0800-CIPC-00

Fire Brigade

166

Ambulance

171 or IMED (Instituto Municipal de Emergencias y Desastres) in Caracas: 0212-545-5500

Road Assistance

0800-INTT-000 (road incidents) or INTT highway patrol

How to call emergency services in Venezuela

Emergency response in Venezuela can be slow and inconsistent. For serious medical emergencies, call private ambulance services directly — Caracas emergency responders vary widely in quality. Most expats use private security services (MSB, Control Risks) and private hospitals (Clínica El Ávila +58-212-555-2222, Centro Médico Caracas +58-212-555-6666). The CICPC is the criminal investigative police; PNB (Policía Nacional Bolivariana) handles general law enforcement. Tourist police (Cuerpo de Policía de Turismo) exist in some areas. US Embassy Caracas emergency line: +1-571-345-3146 (for US citizens).