The Venezuela's Eco Portal to Eco-Tourism & Ecology

National Park Morrocoy

* Ubication: Falcón State

* Location

In the north-central-western coastal region of Venezuela, better known as Golfo Triste. The park occupies continental and marine areas located between the towns of Tucacas and Chichiriviche.

* How to get there

By land, following the route that goes from Morón to Coro. The closest airport is in Valencia, although there are several landing strips in the vicinity.

* Characteristics

This park occupies continental, insular and marine zones, and it is a natural environment of exceptional beauty. It is formed by a group of islets or keys, like Borracho, Pelón, Punta Gorda, Sal, Los Muertos, Peraza, etc. The largest extension corresponds to the marine zone and the mainland zone is comprised of vacant lots, municipality lands and certain enclaves of private property. The relief is determined by three important physical elements. The Chichiriviche hill, with elevations of 250 m., the group of interior inlets and mangroves, and the keys or islands. From the geographical and scenic points of view, Morrocoy is one of the most colorful and beautiful littoral environments of the Venezuelan coast. It has countless biological wealth because of the presence of peninsulas, keys, coral formations and mangroves. Sandstone, limestone and shale rocks predominate, and they correspond to the Miocene period.

* Vegetation

There is a large diversity of vegetation in spite of the scarce rainfall, among which 300 species of phanerogams and ferns can be found. On the keys there are plants and shrubs. The most common trees are the mangrove tree, the sea grape and the button-mangrove. In the mangroves there are submarine beds of Thalassia testudinum with leaves similar to grass, with strong stems. And in the salt marshes there are grasses, shrubs of mesquite and the twisted acacia. On the other hand, in the deciduous forests found in the Chichiriviche hill, which is the only mountain zone of the park, there is a dry jungle with a large variety of trees, among which are the oak, the gumbo-limbo, the box-briar, the mountain rose, etc.

* Fauna

In the Chichiriviche hill, mammals like red howler monkeys, crab-eating foxes, opossums, pacas and deer, can be found. There are many species of birds like the White-cheeked Pintail, the Barred Tinamou, the Brown Pelican, the Magnificent Frigatebird, the Great Egret, the American Flamingo, etc. As well as vultures, the Slate-colored Hawk, limpkins, hummingbirds, the Great Kiskadee, etc. Here is one of the most important places where, as Crespo the poet said, "the birds of Venezuela and other countries meet to rest their wandering, love each other, discuss their right to the highest branch and to found a family". It is the Cuare Wildlife Refuge, created in 1972, and occupied by 79Tlf. of Venezuelan aquatic birds and 66Tlf. of migratory birds. The park also has many marine resources, among which there is a large diversity of fish. This wealth from the sea is its most important biological resource.

* Recomendations

To spend the night: 1- Make reservations, calling the User's Attention Center (800-84847), 8 days in advance. 2- Pay the corresponding tarif: 1,000 Bs. per person per night. Children up to 12 years old free. Keep the deposit receipt. 3- Get in touch with the User's Attention Center to get the locator. Confirm up to 48 hours after the reservation in order to be able to camp. The omission of this requirement causes the loss of your reservation. 4- Get the ticket and spending-the-night instruction booklet from the Coordination of the Morrocoy national park (end of the Libertadores avenue, Tucacas, Falcón State). Tlf. (042) 83.00.69. Fax 83.00.53). Show the deposit receipt, identification document and locator. Please respect the use and protection ordinances.

* Facilities

There are a large number of guest houses and hotels of different categories in the villages close to the park, as well as typical restaurants. For those who do not own a boat, there is a regular service to the different keys, from Chichiriviche and Tucacas, with fixed tariffs and flexible hours. Open air recreation is limitless.

* Climate