Henri Pittier National Park

Henri Pittier National Park is a protected area in Aragua state on Venezuela’s northern coast, established in 1937 as the country’s first national park and named for the Swiss botanist Henri Pittier. It spans coastal lowlands up into montane cloud forest and is one of Venezuela’s most biodiverse national parks.

The park offers a mix of activities across its elevation range - highland trails and cloud-forest birding at higher stations, and coastal beaches and fishing villages on the Caribbean shore. Notable visitor points include higher-elevation ranger stations that act as trailheads and accessible coastal towns that provide beach access and boat trips.

Created in 1937, the park was set aside to protect water catchments, forest and wildlife; over time it has been managed for conservation, recreation and eco-tourism, with infrastructure concentrated at a few visitor stations. The park’s name honours botanist Henri Pittier for his work on Venezuelan flora.

Geographically the park runs along the central Venezuelan Caribbean coast in Aragua, between the coastal plain and the coastal mountain range, stretching from near the city of Maracay toward the shoreline and the small coastal towns that serve park access.

• Area: The park covers roughly 107,800 hectares and includes both montane cloud forest and Caribbean coastal habitats, creating high biodiversity across a compact area.
• Birding: Well known as one of Venezuela’s top birding destinations, with numerous resident and migratory species concentrated along its elevational gradient.

What to See#

• Rancho Grande: A highland sector within the park offering cloud-forest habitat, mountain trails and the main visitor facilities around Rancho Grande at higher elevations.
• Coastal sector: A coastal sector that includes lowland tropical forest and beaches along the Venezuelan Caribbean, providing contrasting habitats to the highland zone.

Henri Pittier National Park spans Aragua state along the central-north coast of Venezuela. The town of Choroní is a common gateway to coastal sections; several entrances along Highway 09 provide access to inland trails. Local transport and guided tours are recommended for safer navigation of mountain routes.

• Hire a local guide to access birdwatching spots and hidden streams; many trails are informal and best navigated with local knowledge.
• Bring insect repellent and light rain gear in the wet season; forested trails can be humid and buggy.