Puerto la Cruz: Getting there & around

The nearest airport to Puerto la Cruz is in Barcelona, about 15km (9mi) to the southwest. Airlines providing regional services include Avior, Aserca and Rutaca.

The busy bus terminal is four blocks from the beach. Destinations include Caracas (5hr), Carúpano (4.5hr), Ciudad Bolívar (4hr), Cumaná (1.5hr) and Maturín (3hr). Sit on the left side for views of Carúpano and Cumaná. Por puestos (shared taxis) service Caracas (4hr), Carúpano (4hr), Ciudad Bolívar (3.5hr), Cumaná (1.25hr), Guanta (10min), Los Altos de Sucre (40min), Maturín (2hr), Santa Fe (45min) and Barcelona (30min).

Puerto La Cruz is the major departure point for boats to Isla de Margarita, with services offered by Conferry (www.conferry.com) and Gran Cacique Express (www.grancacique.com.ve). Smaller excursion boats leave from the smaller piers in town. Go during the day - it's a spectacular journey between the islands of Parque Nacional Mochima.

To get from Barcelona airport to Puerto La Cruz, take a city bus from Plaza Miranda or a por puesto (shared taxi) from near the fuente , about 500m (0.3mi) south of Plaza Bolívar. The main bus terminal is on Calle Concordia, about three blocks southeast of Plaza Bolívar. City buses run between the main waterfront boulevard, Paseo Colón, and the tourist complex. The ferry terminals are accessible by por puesto from the center.