By means of scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy techniques, a taxonomic study of planktonic dinoflagellates of the order Dinophysales from the eastern coasts of Venezuela (South of the Caribbean Sea) was carried out. The order was represented by the families Amphisoleniaceae, Oxyphysaceae and Dinophysiaceae, the latter being the best represented (12 species) by the genera Ornithocercus, Histioneis, Dinophysis and Metaphalacroma. The Oxyphysaceae family presented only the genus: Phalacroma (8 species) and the Amphisoleniaceae family presented the genus Amphisolenia (2 species). 26 species plus one specimen identified down to the genus level are described and illustrated. The number of species found represents around 9% of the total species of the Dinophysales. Four potentially toxic species were recorded (Dinophysis acuminata, D. caudata, D. tripos and D. infundibulum) of which D. acuminata has been involved in diarrheal poisoning events on the European coasts and southern Chile. D. caudata, D. acuminata and D. tripos were the most frequent species. D. infundibulum constitutes a new record for Venezuela and the Caribbean Sea.