Destinations And Sightseeing

A. Archipelago of Los Roques

Located 109 miles north of Caracas in the Caribbean Sea, the Archipelago of Los Roques is one of the largest National Marine Parks of the Caribbean. The region is naturally gifted with a wide variety of flora and fauna, white sandy beaches, and sparkling turquoise warm waters. The most popular island in the Archipelago is Los Roques, which is located ninety miles north of Venezuela. This island is inhabited by around one thousand permanent residents who are mostly generations of anglers that arrived on the island in the beginning of the nineteenth century. These people still use traditional methods and tools of fishing and their main catch consists of lobsters, King Conch, and Spanish mackerel.

While on the island, you can explore its beautiful beaches and calm bays along with its exquisite cuisines, which are prepared from fresh lobsters and fish sourced from the sea. The island also offers plenty of exciting opportunities such as Scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kite surfing, fishing, and fly-fishing. You can stay at any of the ‘posadas' located on the island, most of which are just 100 meters from the beach.

The Archipelago of Los Roques is spread over an area of more than 221,120 hectares and consists of some hundred islands, several sandbanks, and coral reefs. The ‘La piedra de la Hausa' located in the Archipelago is considered as one of the best places for scuba diving in the world. Reefs protect the region, which makes it suitable for sailing. It was declared a National Park in 1972 and is the biggest marine reserve archipelago in the world.

B. Isla Las Aves Venezuela

The islands of Las Aves are located thirty miles west of Los Roques, forty miles east of Bonaire, and are some ninety miles from La Guaire. The region does not have an airstrip, which means that you will have to hire a sailboat that takes around ten hours to reach the islands from La Guaire or Carenero Higarote. The region is home to two big islands namely Aves de Barlovento and Aves de Sotavento and sixteen other smaller islands. Together they cover an area of about 355 square miles.

You can engage in a number of activities such as sailing, diving, swimming, fishing or just relax in complete solitude of the deserted islands. The islands are virtually deserted apart from a few anglers who visit the islands during the fishing season and stay here for approximately three months. While snorkeling, you will come across different types of sea life such as King conch (Botuto), Lobsters, Turtles, and many other species that have become very rare in most parts of northern Caribbean.

The island of Aves Barlovento is popular as a bird sanctuary, where you can watch different species of sea birds passing through the canals or flying between the mangroves that grow to a height of 20 meters. The island of Aves Sotavento is famous for its wrecks as a number of shipwrecks, both ancient and modern are scattered along the barrier reef.

C. Isla la Orchila

Famous for its pink sandy beaches, the island of Isla la Orchila was once banned for tourists and only the president and some high rank military officials were allowed to visit. Eventually the ban was lifted and now you can visit the island only after obtaining a special permit that is issued by the Armada of Venezuela. Guided ferry tours are the best way to explore this paradise. The ferries depart from Los Roques or Bahia de los Piratas and cost around 200 dollars per day, which includes cruises, scuba diving, spear fishing, trawling and other activities.

D. Islas Ios Frailes Venezuela.

Cruise tours are the best way to explore the island, where you can practice snorkeling in the sparkling waters and view the wide variety of fish and corals that are not found anywhere else. While snorkeling, you can hunt for oysters that are easily found in the shallow waters. You may or may not find a pearl, but the oysters are certainly delicious, especially after a little limejuice is added to it. The cost of the ticket includes sightseeing, breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with sodas, juice, beer, rum and Cuba Libres.

E. Isla Margarita

The island faces the east coast of Venezuela and is famous for its white sandy beaches and coral reefs against the backdrop of deep blue Caribbean Sea. Many Europeans and Canadian consider it as the best alternative to other islands in north Caribbean, which are relatively expensive. The island is less racist and crime is virtually nonexistent. Visitors come here to enjoy the sun during the day and party late in the night in pubs and discos or try their luck in the modern casinos. You can buy electronic goods and liquor from shops located on the island, as these are available at cheap prices.

F. Angel Falls

Angel Falls are probably the most popular destination in Venezuela and are situated in the Guayana highlands, which is a part of the five topographical regions of Venezuela. The fall starts from the edge of a tabletop mountain and plunges to about 2421 feet to the river below, making it fifteen times higher than Niagara Falls as well as the tallest waterfall in the world.

The falls derive their name from Jimmy Angel, who sighted the island along with McCracken in 1933, while searching for a legendary gold mine. Jimmy along with his wife and gardener, came back to the area in 1937 and landed his monoplane on the tabletop. The plane remained there for 33 years until it was lifted by a helicopter and is now displayed at the Aviation Museum in Maracay. There is a replica of the original plane displayed at the tabletop now.

The falls are located in the National park in Canaima, which apart from the falls are also home to numerous rivers, lagoons and savanna forests that provide the perfect combination of magic and reality. The park is inhabited by the natives of the Pemon Indians, who follow their own ancestral culture, craft, folklore, and fare. The park is spread over an area of three million hectares, which makes it the second largest protected natural area in Venezuela and the seventh largest in the world.

G. The Gran Sabana

The Gran Sabana land mass is supposed to be around two billion years old and looks so surreal that it gives a feeling of being on a different planet. It is one of the most extraordinary places in Venezuela and is situated at the Canaima National Park. The region is home to some of the oldest formations on earth including the Tepuyes that surround most parts of the Gran Sabana. Much of the ancient landmass has eroded over the years and what is left looks like mountains similar to those located on newfound land. You will enjoy the placidness of the natural environment on the island and take back memories of mesmerizing savanna forests and waterfalls. The waterfalls on the island add to the magic and mysticism of the region and some of the most famous falls are the Jaspe Falls and Aponwao Falls. Jaspe falls is a solid rock waterfall, which cascades from rocks made from jasper, a semiprecious stone. The rock is considered more beautiful than marble and has shades of red and yellow. The Aponwao Falls plunge almost 105 meters to the river below and offer some of the best sounds and scenery near the waterfall.