Venezuelan Islands

[Luna Azul]

Hello fellow sailors,

In August I am planning to sail across from Trinidad to Curacao and am tempted to spend some time in Los Roques.

I have lived for long time in Venezuela and am well aware of the situation on mainland but Los Roques has always been somehow different, thanks to its distance from the coast.

Has anybody got any direct experience of sailing to Los Roques o Las Aves in the last 6 months?

Thanks

[neilpride]

They are considered safe, but due the actual situation if is me I give it up and don't take the risk,beautiful place by the way.....

[robert sailor]

We stopped there several months ago, did not check in. Very cool spot pink flamingos and all. Very few local boats as business is poor but we did run into several other cruisers. Also stopped at the next one further east and it's really nice,deserted if your into that with good snorkeling but lots of reefs inside,eye ball navigation needed. Personally I found these islands completely safe but that's a personal decision. Cheers, R

[landsend]

Ah, Las Aves. One of my favorites.

[zeehag]

there have been incidents at the vene islands. warnings have been issued.
situation has exacerbated within the past 3 months.

https://www.safetyandsecuritynet.com...g-5-25-2106-2/

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by zeehag

there have been incidents at the vene islands. warnings have been issued.
situation has exacerbated within the past 3 months.

https://www.safetyandsecuritynet.com...g-5-25-2106-2/

I do read regularly the reports on Safety & Security Net but I did not see anything about Venezuelan islands. Frequent reports of incidents in the Grenadines, SVG, etc and the attach to some cruisers N-W of Trinidad, on their way to/from Grenada, most likely done by Venezuelan "pirates". That's why I was wondering if there were recent personal experiences.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Luna.

[zeehag]

i have friends living on margarita. they speak with friends.
this has been published.
it gets into usa publication as a,warning a bit of time after the incidents.
try reading all you can find about the area.
especially if you plan on sailing and spending time there.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Luna Azul

I do read regularly the reports on Safety & Security Net but I did not see anything about Venezuelan islands. Frequent reports of incidents in the Grenadines, SVG, etc and the attach to some cruisers N-W of Trinidad, on their way to/from Grenada, most likely done by Venezuelan "pirates". That's why I was wondering if there were recent personal experiences.

Cruisers do a pretty good job of communicating with each other and I'm sure all cruisers know that the mainland is not safe, nor are the islands that are well populated or close to the mainland safe.
That leaves the islands with little to no people that can be visited in reasonable safety. Los Roques is one and Barlovento is another one that is right on the path to the ABC's. Los Roques used to be a place the mainlanders would holiday or get married but with the economy in tatters very few make their way there anymore. In my mind there are many areas in the Caribbean that are less safe than these outer islands but it's always up to each individual to do their own due diligence when making new landfalls. .