Getting Around Puerto La Cruz
Puerto La Cruz spreads along the southern shore of the Caribbean in Anzoátegui State, and large avenues crisscross the city from north to south and east to west. For a visitor, the practical reality is that the city is served mainly by road: taxis, local buses, and your own two feet. There is no working rail, metro, or tram system to rely on.
Is There a Metro, Train, or Tram?
No. Although a modern mass-transport network for the Puerto La Cruz–Barcelona metropolitan area was discussed and negotiated between local mayors and a construction company, the project never launched. As a result, there is no metro, urban rail, or tram service you can use to move around the city or between it and neighbouring Barcelona. Plan your trips around road transport instead.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are widely considered the best, fastest, and safest way to get around Puerto La Cruz. Fares are significantly higher than the local bus, but you save time and avoid the hassle of working out which bus goes where — something even locals sometimes find confusing.
- Always use "legal" taxis, which are marked with the name of the cab company.
- Avoid unofficial "pirata" cabs. These look like ordinary cars, are often in poor mechanical condition, and there have been reports of kidnappings and robbery involving them.
- Bargaining is part of Venezuelan culture, so it is normal to ask your driver for a discount.
- If you are heading out of town, you will generally need to return to the bus terminal to pick up a car or bus to your destination.
Buses and Public Transport
Local buses are the cheapest way to move around, but they are generally old and uncomfortable, and the routes can be hard to figure out. If you are willing to put up with that, they will get you where you need to go at a fraction of taxi prices.
For longer journeys, the main bus terminal sits right in downtown Puerto La Cruz. Be aware that this is not the best part of town, so the usual precautions apply. The terminal is not especially tourist-friendly and it can be hard to work out where to buy tickets, but every counter has its destination painted on the window, and you will usually find several people nearby offering to help you find your way.
Walkability
Walking works well for exploring specific areas rather than the whole city. The seafront avenue, Paseo Colón, borders the Bay of Pozuelos and has a boulevard where the Holy Cross, the symbol of the city, stands, along with well-known hotels — a pleasant stretch to stroll. Avenida 5 Julio is the most popular avenue for shopping, and Avenida Municipal is the city's main avenue, with two main traffic lanes and two service lanes in each direction. Elsewhere, the city's size and its wide, traffic-heavy avenues make walking between districts less practical, so most visitors combine walking in a given area with taxis for longer hops.
Boats Around the City
Puerto La Cruz is the main seaport for Venezuela's Caribbean islands, and boats are a genuine part of getting around if you want to reach the beaches. To head out to the islands, go to Paseo Colón, where you will find boat stations at both the west and east ends of the avenue. Services supposedly leave every 30 minutes, though operators sometimes wait as long as possible to fill up, so you may need to be a little pushy. Prices change from year to year. Island beaches have white sand and clear water, while land-side beaches have brown sand and clear water — the choice is a matter of personal preference.
Ferries also connect the mainland with Isla Margarita. The ferry terminal lies to the west of the city, and Conferry offers the most routes, with a few sailings per week. Beaches in Mochima National Park can also be reached from nearby Lechería.
Getting In from the Airport
Puerto La Cruz does not have its own airport. Visitors fly into General José Antonio Anzoátegui International Airport in the neighbouring city of Barcelona, the state capital, and then take a roughly 30-minute cab ride into Puerto La Cruz.
- At the airport, use only the official airport cabs. Unofficial "pirata" cabs operate there too and can be dangerous.
- Have your hotel information ready before you arrive — drivers are not reliable sources of advice on where to stay.
- Flying into the region can be expensive, though booking early and avoiding peak holiday periods brings prices down considerably.
Arriving by Bus from Caracas
If you prefer to arrive overland, buses run from Caracas to Puerto La Cruz. The Rodovias de Venezuela line is the best option for routes east of the capital, with departures roughly every hour until late evening. Any local can point you to the nearest terminal, or you can take the Caracas Metro to the "Colegios de Ingenieros" station — go upstairs and the bus terminal is right there and easy to spot. The ride takes about six hours, and the air conditioning is kept quite cold, so bring a sweatshirt. You will arrive at the bus terminal in downtown Puerto La Cruz.