Venezuela - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 903

EATING
Santa Elena has some good eating options, particularly if
you want to sample authentic Brazilian fare. After dark,
numerous burger stands set up along C Icabarú between
calles Urdaneta & Zea and serve up tasty grub until around
midnight.
Ì Café Goldrausch C Urdaneta T 0289 995 1576.
Adjacent to Posada Backpackers , this chilled café and
restaurant with an outdoor terrace is the perfect spot to meet
other travellers. Tasty food like the excellent lomito salteado
(BsF50) alongside ice-cold beers. There's an internet café
inside if you can't take advantage of the posada's free wi-fi
(BsF7/hr). Daily 7am-11pm, Sun from 5pm.
Churrasquería Careca Av Perimentral, at C Urdaneta
T 0426 294 2336. You'll know you're not far from Brazil
when the mouthwatering aroma of the wood-fired oven
reaches you. Load up with sides from the buffet trolley,
but leave room for the skewer-toting staff who slice pork,
chicken, beef, fish and whatever else they might have
directly onto your plate. BsF70/person. Daily 11am-5pm.
Nova Opção Av Perimentral T 0289 995 1013. Don't
expect the same quality of food that you'd get in a Brazilian
“per kg” restaurant, but do expect all sorts of meats, rice,
beans, farofa , flan and even guaraná . BsF90/kg with meat,
BsF85 without. Food runs out quickly so make sure you
get there early. Daily 11am-3pm.
Ì Tumá Serö Between calles Roscio & Bolívar. An indoor
food-alley, with numerous restaurants and their pushy

representatives hollering for your business. A good choice for
a quick bite or a slap-up meal. If you're adventurous and like
spicy food, ask your kitchen owner for catara , a delicious hot
sauce made from ants. Daily 6am-10pm, although it's rare
that more than half the stalls will be open at any one time.
Venezuela Primero Av Perimentral T 0289 995 1149.
Ironically, paella is a speciality at this restaurant. The
smartly dressed staff are lackadaisical although the food
covers a wide range of cuisines. Mon-Sat 11am-3pm &
6-10pm, Sun 11am-2pm.

DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange Banco de Venezuela, C Bolívar
north of C Urdaneta; Banco Coroní on the east side of
the Plaza Bolívar. Uno cial moneychangers at the inter-
section of calles Urdaneta & Bolívar accept dollars, euros
and Brazilian reais.
Consulate Brazilian Consulate (see box below).
Hospital Hospital Santa Elena, Av Perimentral T 0289
995 1155.
Internet In the Café Goldrausch (Mon-Sat 7am-11pm,
BsF7/hr); Megacyber, C Urdaneta at Peña, with another
branch one block south on C Zea (daily 8am-10pm, BsF6/hr).
Laundry Lavandería Pereira, C Urdaneta across from Posada
Moronkatok (Mon-Sat 7am-7pm; BsF25/kg). Hotel Michelle
(see above) also has a same-day laundry service.
Pharmacy Farmacía Vecimar, C Bolívar, at Urdaneta, daily
8am-10pm, Sun until 3pm.

11

CROSSING INTO BRAZIL
There are two main border crossings between Venezuela and Brazil. The primary crossing is
at Santa Elena de Uairén (see p.905), a simple affair with good onward connections to
Manaus. The other, at San Simón de Cocuy , involves a twelve-day boat journey only
possible from November-May at around US$150/day. For more information on this trip see
W selvadentro.com.
Citizens of the US, Canada and Australia need a visa to enter Brazil; European, South African
and New Zealand nationals do not, although citizens of Spain must register at the nearest
police station upon entry. For a list of all countries' visa requirements, visit W dpf.gov.br. All
visitors must have a valid yellow-fever vaccination certificate. Advance your watch half an hour
when entering Brazil (or 1hr 30min depending on daylight saving time).
SANTA ELENA DE UAIRÉN
The Brazilian Consulate in Santa Elena, on C Los Castaños (Mon-Fri 8am-2pm; T 0289 995
1256), supplies visas within 72 hours, although they usually process them the same day.
You must provide a passport photo and give the address for your first port of call in Brazil.
Visa fees vary by country of citizenship. If you have a problem, there's a SAIME of ce behind
the police station in Santa Elena.
The border at Santa Elena is open from 7am-10pm. There is one daily bus at 1pm from
Santa Elena to Manaus in Brazil (16hr; BsF200).
From within Brazil regular buses run to Manaus from Boa Vista, the terminal of which you
can get to from the border in a taxi for R$40. TAM ( W tam.com.br) also flies from Boa Vista to
Manaus (daily; 1hr; R$133).
You can also cross the border simply to change money (see box, p.905).