Venezuela’s cayos: picture perfect paradise

While relatively undiscovered by European travellers, Venezuela has far more to boast than famous (late) Pesident Hugo Chavez and its oil resources. It’s a country teeming with natural beauty and we’re going to show you just a slice of it, Morrocoy.

 

Venezuela is a bit like Colombia in the 1990s: it has huge potential as a tourist destination with sublime landscapes and nature but is plagues by urban crime and gang violence. This is just a preview of what one corner of the country has to offer. Venezuela’s Morrocoy National Park is simply paradise.

The park is located some 200km west of Caracas, the capital. It’s easy to reach as long as you have a rental car. On-site, endless white sand beaches await, turquoise sea waters, coconut trees… just what you ordered!

 

The park includes a handful of deserted islands, called cayos too, with names like Borracho, Sombrero, Sal, Peraza, Playuela and Pelón. If you’re after a quiet and peaceful day on your own, arrange with a local fisherman to take you out to one of these islands, just make sure he comes back to get you at the end of the day!

Packing tip: don’t forget a pair of binoculars. The Gulf of Cuare, also in the national park, is home to many different types of exotic and sea birds (ibis, flamingoes…).

Flights to Caracas

From the Foreign Office: Around 9, 500 British nationals visit Venezuela every year. Most visits are trouble free. With presidential elections scheduled to take place April 14th with campaigning between April 2nd to 11th, you can expect many political rallies to take place in large cities, especially Caracas. Large public gatherings should be avoided. Otherwise, avoid all travel within 50 mi of the Colombian border (Zulia, Tachira and Apure). 

Imgs: ruurmo, Edoardo Tacconi, pedroa88 / Flickr cc.