Archipiélago de Los Roques National Park

Archipiélago de Los Roques National Park is a Venezuelan national park that protects an offshore Caribbean archipelago of coral islands, sand cays and reefs administered from La Guaira state. The park conserves marine and island ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds and seabird colonies.

The archipelago’s fringing reefs and shallow lagoons are popular for snorkeling, scuba diving and sport fishing; the area is also important for seabirds and nesting sea turtles. Tourism is largely centered on day trips and overnight stays launched from the main inhabited island, which provides basic accommodation and services.

The park was created to preserve the islands’ marine and island habitats and remains managed as a protected area. Access is typically by small plane or boat from the Venezuelan mainland, with Gran Roque serving as the administrative and visitor hub.

The archipelago lies in the Caribbean Sea off Venezuela’s north coast and is reached from the Venezuelan mainland; it is geographically separate from the continental shoreline and composed of numerous small islets and sandbanks.

• Visitor base: Gran Roque is the usual base for visitors and contains the archipelago's airstrip and the small community services that support tourism and park administration.

What to See #

• Gran Roque (main island): Gran Roque, the archipelago's main and only permanently inhabited island, which contains the airstrip, guest services and the local community that supports tourism.
• Reefs, cays and lagoons: Fringing coral reefs, sand cays and shallow lagoons that form the park's marine habitats and offer snorkeling and diving opportunities around protected banks and channels.