Venezuela

4. "Morrocoy" National Park - Chichiriviche

Departure/Arrival:
Bus connections . . .
. . . Chichiriviche from 6 am until 6 pm
- Caracas (4 hours ride)
- Valencia (2 hours ride)
- Coro (3 hours ride)

Flight connections . . .
. . . Chichiriviche doesn't have an airport, near airport from Valencia or Coro.

Description:
The tranquil but not so attractive fishing town of Chichiriviche has been slowly changing into a tourist center. On its small ports fishing boats wait ready, to ride the visitors to the cayos (coral islands) during the whole day.

Undertaking:
Visit of 32.090 hectare Morrocoy National Park. A small part of the park lies on the mainland, and another big one is located at the Caribbean see. This area consists mainly of islands, some of them are just beaches with palms and mangroves, other have lagoons, coral reefs, bays. This national park counts also with the steep coast of Cerro Chichiriviche where a cave is located. The climate is tropical-hot. However, through the continuos wind the temperature gets very confortable whose average is 26.5 °C.

Information and tips:
We recommend staying at "Posada Alemania" The guesthouse sorrounded by palms and located two hundred meters from the boat departure. From there, you can get easy to the islands.

5. "Médanos" (sand dune) - Coro

Departure/Arrival:
Bus connections . . .
. . . Coro
- to Maracaibo, Valencia and Caracas

Flight connections . . .
- to Maiquetia (Caracas) and to the dutch Antilles.

Description:
Coro was the first province of Venezuela. The oldest settlement of Venezuela offers several parks with its numerous trees -places where you can hide from the sun-, nice colonial architecture and a friendly atmosphere. Coro is the capital city of Falcon state -the driest state of Venezuela- and lies on the deepest part of the arid peninsula of Paraguaná. The word "coro" means "wind" in Arawak language. This wind blows strongly to the east, along 28 km of wonderful sand dune (Médanos) which belongs to the national park "Los Médanos de Coro".

Undertaking . . .
. . . in Coro is a pleasure. You could stroll along the alleys of this old city, looking at old-colonial architecture like the old balconies and doors, nice wooded and iron windows, nice ledges, glazed tile. Sometimes, you may think of Andalusia when looking at the courtyard of the colonial houses where usually an ancient "Tinajero" on the corner is. Coro has maintained through time its unique colonial architecture, that why it is nowdays considered as the most beautiful and complete example of a Venezuelan colonial city because of its worth seeing construction and streets. Along the well-tended old houses and the cobblestone pavement of the colonial area, it extends the city to all cardinal points in 20th century.

Visit:
Different museums, e.g. "Museo de Coro" (modern art), "Museo de Cerámica e Historia" (archeologist discovery from the pre-colombian time), Museo Diocesano (religious works of art). National park "Los Médanos de Coro" with its sand dune.

Information and tips:
We recommend staying at Posada El Gallo.

3. "Henri Pitier" National Park - Choroni

Departure/Arrival:
By bus from Maracay to Choroni and Puerto Colombia Choroni
(3 hours). Bus schedule: 6 am to 6 pm.

Description:
From the nice town of Choroni, there are just two kilometers to the small fishing port of Puerto Colombia where in 1843 German immigrants went ashore to found Colonia Tovar. Few minutes away from Puerto Colombia, you can also reach the beautiful plam-beach of Playa Grande. .

1. "Araya" Peninsula - Carupano

Departure/Arrival:
Bus connections . . .
. . . Carupano
- Maturin (Ciudad Bolivar)
- Caripe ("Guacharo"-Cave)
- Cumaná (Ferry to Margarita)
- Barcelona and Caracas

Flight connections . . .
. . . Carupano airport
- to Maiquetia (Caracas) and Maturin

Description:
Carupano was founded in 1647. The city had big importance as center of Cacao production. In February, the most living Carnival of Venezuela is celebrated.

Undertaking:
Carupano is the start point for the most beautiful beaches in Venezuela, "Playa Medina" and "Playa Puipui", as well as "Cueva del Guácharo" (Cuacharo-Cave) which is considered an excellent excursion.

Information and Tips:
We recommend staying at "Posada Nena".