
Maracay doesn't have its own commercial airport (although it has two air military bases), but the visitor can approach it by plane using the Maiquetía's Simón Bolívar Airport and the nearer Valencia's International Airport Arturo Michelena. From both airports the traveler can take a licensed taxi to Maracay (the most expensive although the safest option), or make his way through the unorganized Venezuelan public transport system to the main buses terminals in [wiki=c9fa5b8cb3b197ae5ce4baf8415a375b]Caracas[/wiki] or [wiki=1a4253732ca85d0cfeb6ab6e80a4bdf2]Valencia[/wiki] (La Bandera and The Big Low Center, respectively), and then take a bus to Maracay (the cheapest option). Be advised to take official authorized taxis, there are some reports of tourists that have been gun-pointed robbed by unlicensed taxi drivers, that usually charge cheaper than their official counterparts.
From Caracas to Maracay you should drive 108 km west on the ARC highway (Autopista Regional del Centro), this trip usually may take you about 60 to 80 minutes, but at rush-hour (5-8pm) you can take that long just trying to exit Caracas. Usually after passing the Charallave-Santa Teresa exit (Caracas' suburbs at 32 km distance) the traffic tends to go easier. Try to avoid driving in the Caracas-Maracay direction on Fridays' afternoon, because this is the period where the highway tends to be more crowed by people trying to leave Caracas for the weekends.
From Valencia to Maracay you should drive about 40 km east on the same ARC highway. This trip usually may take you about 30 to 40 minutes, but at rush-hour (5-8pm) it make take you two hours to reach Maracay. Usually after passing the Guacara toll post the traffic tends to go easier.
To enter Maracay from the ARC highway you should take one of the three exits: La Encrucijada (which takes you to the Maracay's eastern suburbs: Cagua, Turmero, Villa de Cura, etc.), Palo Negro (Maracay east) and Tapa Tapa (Maracay west). If you're coming from Caracas, you will find La Encrucija exit first, and the Tapa Tapa exit last; if you're coming from Valencia, the order is inverse.
Hotel Sao Vicente, Avenida Bolivar (near Plaza Bicentenario), singles from 50 Bs.F. Matrimonial rooms for 70 Bs.F.
*Hotel Mara, Calle Mariño, singles from 65 Bs.F.
*Hotel Florida, Calle Soublette, singles from 65 Bs.F.
*Hotel Las Americas, Calle Lopez Aveleda, singles from 70 Bs.F.
*Hotel Guayana, Ave Bolivar, near Plaza Bicentenario, singles from 30 Bs.F.
*[url=http://www.hotelprincesaplaza.com]Princesa Plaza[/url]. Tel: 0243 233-0177. A good mid-range hotel in the city centre, close to Plaza Bolivar. Single room Bs.89,000 ($41); double Bs.109,000 ($51).
[url=http://www.hotelpipo.com]Hotel Pipo Internacional[/url]. Tel: 0243 241-3111, Av Principal El Castano, via Choroni. A plush, high rise hotel on the outskirts of Maracay, overlooking the spectacular Henri Pitter National Park.
*Eurobuilding Express. Tel: 0243 2326860. A five-star business hotel.
*Italo. Tel: 0243 246-0195 to 98. Mid-range.