General

Island name: Isla de Aves (Spanish for "Island of Birds").

Country name: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela (VE). 

Nationality: Venezuelan(s).

Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects. 

Capital: Caracas. 

Population: Isla de Aves is an uninhabited island. 

Climate: tropical; hot, humid.
 

Geography

Area: 65 sq km.

Geographic coordinates: 15°40'18'' N 63°36'59'' W. Isla Aves is an isolated scrap of land in the eastern Caribbean.

Highest point: rises 4 m above the sea on a calm day.

Location: 30 miles west of Los Roques, 500 km north of Margarita, 115 miles southwest of Montserrat, 340 miles north of the Venezuelan mainland.

Size: 375 m in length and never more than 50 m in width. 

Terrain: flat. 
 

Tourist Information

Accommodations: none.

Activities: sailing, diving, snorkeling, swimming, fishing.

Average tourist arrivals:  no day tours or mass tourism to spoil the nature.

Electricity: 110 Volts, 60 cycles. American two-pin plugs are generally used.

Entry Requirements: VE: a passport is required valid for at least six months, but a visa is not necessary if entering on a completed Tourist Entry Card, which is valid for a touristic stay of up to 90 days. No special vaccinations are required, although those traveling to the jungle should consult their physician as to whether or not they need protection from yellow fever and malaria. 

Extension of stay: not possible.

Health: There are no vaccination requirements for Venezuela.

Telephone: country code - 58. 

Time: UTC-4.5.
 

Money

Costs of  living: very moderate. 

Credit cards: VE: There are ATMs in the cities (however some travellers have experienced problems using them), and most credit cards, including MasterCard/Eurocard, American Express and Visa, are accepted in major cities. Travelers’ checks are not recommended. Visitors are also warned that there is a serious problem with credit card fraud.

Currency: Venezuela's new currency is the Bolivar Fuerte (VEF), which replaced the Bolivar (VEB) in January 2008. US dollars are the most favoured foreign currency 

Inflation rate (consumer prices): VE: 29.9% (1998). 

Tipping: VE: Tipping is at the discretion of the client and not obligatory. A ten percent service charge is usually added to restaurant bills. Taxis require no tips, but it is customary to give baggage handlers a tip of $1USD per bag.
 

Transport

Airport: none.

Ferry Service: none.

Ports and harbors: none. Las Aves can be reached by charter boat from Los Roques, but most visiting yachts sail between Bonaire and the Venezuelan mainland.
 

Politics

Ethnic groups: VE: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people. 

Government type: VE: federal republic.

Legal system: VE: open, adversarial court system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. 

Literacy: VE: 91.1% (male: 91.8%, female: 90.3%). 

Religions: VE: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%. 
 

Economy

Agriculture products: fish. 

GDP per capita: VE: $13,000 (2009 est.). 

Industries: tourism. 

Natural resources: none. 

Unemployment rate: VE: 7.9% (2009 est.).