Located in Venezuela, Los Roques is the picture-perfect postcard retreat. Powdery white sand beaches, glassy turquoise waters and colourful coral reefs make this the ideal place to escape reality for a few days.
This South America archipelago consists of around 350 islands and islets. Unfortunately for backpackers, the islands aren’t really geared towards independent travel and the most convenient way to visit is via a guided tour. However, because of this, generally, the archipelago attracts few visitors.
The area boasts a huge array of seabirds and fascinating aquatic life, which led to the Venezuelan government creating the national park in 1972. Considering Venezuela definitely doesn’t make it into our list of safest countries in South America, you may be surprised to hear that Los Roques is actually reputed to be one of the safest areas in the Caribbean. This is in part because of its remote location and also as it has become a somewhat exclusive destination.
How to get to Los Roques National Park (Venezuela)
Unless you have your own private yacht, the only way to get to Los Roques is via plane. Flights leave from Caracas four times a day and the journey lasts around 40 minutes. It is also possible to fly from Porlamar on Margarita Island.
- Landmass: 40.61km²
- Entrance fee: $60USD for foreign nationals
- Best time to visit: Mid Feb-May
Is Los Roques inhabited?
The only island in the archipelago that has a permanent population is that of Gran Roque (1.7 km²) with about 1,200 full time inhabitants.
How to get to Los Roques?
Because there is no regular shipping service, only 15% of visitors arrive by water. For those who do not have access to a yacht or sailboat, the best alternative is to fly like 85% of the tourists who arrive in Los Roques. There are regular flights from Caracas, Maracaibo and Porlamar.
What makes the Archipelago of Los Roques special as a tourist destination?
The park has one of the most diverse and best preserved coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea and many small secluded white sandy beaches (sand flats) on the nearby islands / cays.
There are a wide range of activities although many visitors just want to enjoy the sandy beaches on the nearby islands, snorkel and relax.
A full list of activities, include:
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Snorkeling
- Fishing – “catch and release”
- Scuba diving
- Wind and kite surfing
- Visit the small museum and the turtle preservation project in Dos Mosquises by boat.
- Hiking – the highest point of Gran Roque is barely 130m above sea level but from this point, the lighthouse, one can have great views of the Archipelago.
What is the climate like?
The climate is very cool, with an average annual temperature of 28 ºC and an average annual rainfall of 250 mm. However, the sun can be very strong and regular use of sunscreen is essential.
How are the restaurants and the food?
The restaurants are generally simple but there are some posadas that are quite elaborate – all serve fabulous fresh sea food and cold beer or cocktails. Along the main beach / strip of Gran Roque you will find good breakfasts and “trendy” bars with outside sandy patios. Lobsters are a favourite with visitors, although not served all year round.
How is the snorkelling / scuba diving?
The rich variety of the marine species in the archipelago would impress any scuba diver. Los Roques’ coral reefs are exceptionally varied environments where fluctuations in temperature, small areas of rough and calm waters, and bright and shady areas where an abundance of nutrients are generated.
Some species of fish, such as the surgeon fish, angel fish and the spot fin butterfly fish, have adapted especially to the coral reef. Should you choose to scuba dive at Los Roques, you would encounter a diverse array of fish, parrot fish, barracudas, nurse sharks, various species of rays and manta rays and enormous screens of plankton.
If you were to dive in the crystal blue waters on an undersea scuba diving adventure or even with snorkel, you would also see a complex underwater ecosystem of sea grasses. This ecosystem is the home of hundred of species of fish, as well as mollusks, turtles, snails, the queen conch and large starfish.
Take your family on one of the islands best boat excursion – snorkelling for starfish.
How does one arrange a scuba diving trip?
If you want a Caribbean island vacation away from the cruise ships and crowded resorts, the Los Roques archipelago customized scuba diving vacation package from Angel-Eco Tours is for you.
Scuba diving packages are available upon request. Many travellers add this package on to another Angel-Eco Tours trip. Remember to allow an extra day for travel to acclimatize after a scuba trip.
How is the sport fishing?
One of the most sought-after fish is the Bone Fish, they don’t grow enormous but for the average or even seasoned fisherman or woman it is one of the favourites to catch and high on their bucket list.
One has to buy a permit and it is good to rent a boat (most posadas have their contacts) the captains will then take you to visit different locations.
Are there packages to Fish / Relax?
Yes! For individuals or families.
Los Roques, has been regarded as a fisherman’s paradise for decades. It is word famous for fly-fishing for bonefish, one of the fastest and most beautiful fish in the sea. Many fishermen from all over the world, dream of one day catching a bonefish.
However, for most people a bonefish trip is too expensive and can be too ‘hardcore’. Hardcore fishermen will pay a lot of money for the privilege of a few days chasing these silver bullets. And it can be intense, sometime 10 hours fishing, under the hot Caribbean sun. As a family enjoy the perfect balance of a holiday, where those who want to catch bonefish can do so, and those who want to relax can relax.
As Paul Stanley, the President of Angel-Eco, recently wrote – “On a trip some weeks before the pandemic struck, a friend, who is an avid fisherman, my brother, a beach “bum” and myself spent three days / two nights in paradise. We visited three small islands, close to Gran Roque, over the three days and my good friend convinced me to fish with him at each of the locations where we were dropped off each day.
During those few days I fished just using a simple spinning outfit and I caught around 10-11 different species of fish, culminating in one special catch of the day, a nice sized bonefish! I was told that this particular fish is an angler’s dream. Understandably really after the fight that it put up, even better than the two Spanish mackerels, snappers and barracuda that I had caught prior to that. I was literally hooked; I had a blast. After that last catch I stopped fishing, as I felt I had done it all. I then enjoyed the luxurious sunshine and beautiful azure waters – of course washed down with a nice refreshing beer (maybe two!).”
How is the bird-life on the islands?
The islands are also a bird watcher’s paradise. Species include masked, red-footed and brown boobies, sooty terns, brown noddies, laughing gulls and brown pelicans.
Of the 92 species of birds that have been recorded in the Los Roques archipelago, 50 migrate from North America to escape the harsh winter. Because of its location, Los Roques National Sea Park is ideal as a resting and feeding ground for the birds.
Is there much wildlife on the islands?
Due to the extreme environmental conditions and the lack of fresh water, land animals are not very abundant so the list is limited to a few species of iguanas, lizards, spiders, and insects. The fishing bat (Noctilio leporinus) is the only native land mammal.
It is in the water that the immense wealth becomes evident: 307 species of fish, 200 species of crustaceans, 140 species of molluscs, 61 coral species and 60 species of sponges. There are also 45 species of sea urchins and starfish. Dolphins, sharks, whales, manta rays (Manta birostris) and turtles abound.
The animals that are mostly represented are the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), the botuto or pink queen conch (Strombus gigas), the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), typical coral reef fish and 92 species of birds. Los Roques is a meeting point for some 50 species of migratory birds from North America . Among the most frequent birds are the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), two species of booby birds, the red-footed (Sula sula) and the brown booby (Sula leucogaster) and the guanaguanare gull (Larus atricilla). Flamingos can also be seen (Phoenicopterus ruber).
Four types of turtles regularly nest in the archipelago and are on the list of globally threatened species: loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), green or white turtles (Chelonia mydas), leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and hawksbill turtles. (Eretmochelys imbricata).
General information
Geology
The original rock that serves as its base originated about 40 million years ago, in the Upper Cretaceous Calcareous sediments from snails, corals and other marine debris accumulated on it. With the drastic rise in water level during the last glaciation, the growth of reefs that form two well-defined barriers to the north and south was facilitated. These, in turn, facilitated the formation of islands and keys with their protective effect.
The origin of the archipelago as we know it today is – geologically speaking – very recent, dating back only 10,000 to 15,000 years. Los Roques has the particularity of being the only coral atoll in the world in whose formation were not formed by volcanic activity.
History
It is estimated that the human presence in Los Roques dates back to the end of the first millennium of our era. According to recent archaeological studies, the archipelago was a frequent destination for indigenous from Lake Valencia and the central coast of Venezuela and perhaps the Taino Indians from Puerto Rico, who came to perform ritual festivals and to collect botutos, fish, hunt turtles, as well as extract of salt. Also later, during the colonial era, the arrival of people attracted by pearls, salt and mangrove became frequent. Smugglers and pirates used its intricate shorelines as a hiding place.
In the second half of the 19th century, the Venezuelan government signed an agreement with a Dutch businessman for the extraction of guano, an activity carried out mainly by people from Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. To them we owe the curious names of many of the islands, ending in the syllable qui derived from the English word “key” which means “cay”.
In the mid-20th century Venezuelan fishermen from Isla de Margarita began to settle permanently, initially on eight of the islands and since the creation of the national park, only on Gran Roque.
Can you imagine this?
The sun filters through the warm blue-green waters. The only sound you hear is your own breathing. From the depths, a large barracuda glides by, and then a squirrel fish and a red snapper. You swim deeper to get a better look at the dazzling colours of the beautiful yet fragile Cabecera de Los Roques barrier reef.
You are taking a fantastic voyage into one of the world’s most spectacular locations for scuba diving and snorkelling. You are experiencing one of the few eco-diving destinations in the world today.
Then choose your own private beach to fish or simply lap up the sun’s rays – even snack on a delicious lobster and other local fresh seafood.