Los Roques

Did you know about this place? (Yeah, me either.)

Archipiélago de Los Roques is a federal dependency of Venezuela consisting of approximately 350 islands, cays, and islets in a total area of 40.61 square kilometers. The archipelago is located 128 kilometers (80 mi) directly north of the port of La Guaira, in the Caribbean Sea.

The islands' pristine coral reef attracts many wealthy visitors, especially from Europe. Development and tourism are controlled. Because of the wide variety of seabirds and rich aquatic life, the Venezuelan government declared Los Roques a National Park in 1972.

Los Roques National Park is a Venezuelan archipelago around 160 kilometers north of the capital Caracas in the Caribbean Sea. The protected area contains more than 300 islands and cays surrounding a 400-sq.-km lagoon. The archipelago’s coral reef is popular with snorkelers and scuba divers. The park is renowned for its isolated, white-sand beaches, windsurfing, fishing and sailing. ― Google

The fastest and most exciting way to get to Los Roques is by plane, from above you can appreciate the magnificent shades of blue of the sea. There are commercial flights that depart from the Simón Bolívar National Airport in Maiquetía Caracas and take about 25 minutes to arrive. Los Roques can also be reached by boat, but it will take hours. All visitors to Los Roques must pay a BsF46 one-time entrance fee for the national park, good for the duration of your stay.

Did you know?

There is also an underwater statue called "La Virgen del Valle", which means "Virgin of the Valley".

The Virgin of the Valley "Virgen del Valle or Nuestra Señora del Valle" is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary venerated in Margarita Island, Venezuela and Catamarca, Argentina. In Venezuela, the Virgin is the Patroness of Eastern Venezuela, and her feast day is held on 8 September in her sanctuary in Margarita Valley near Porlamar.

The Spanish conquerors brought the image of the Virgin Mary to Nueva Cádiz city in Cubagua Island. After a huge hurricane hit this island in 1542, the image was moved to El Valle del Espíritu Santo in Margarita Island whereby the virgin was rename as Virgin of the Valley.

Miracles: Her holy mantle didn't abandon Margarita people. In 1541, the island was suffering a very hard drought so, the people decided to bring the Virgin in a procession. According to people believing, when they were in Asunción city a very heavy rain took place.

The islands were sighted by early Spanish navigators, and in 1589 the governor of the Venezuelan province ordered the formal takeover of these islands on behalf of the colony.

The Dutch considered Los Roques to belong to their island territory of Curaçao because of its proximity to Bonaire which also belonged to the Dutch. The author M.D. Teenstra in 1836 still writes (in his book The Dutch West Indies): "The Government of Curaçao also includes the uninhabited islets and rocks Little Curaçao, Aves, Roques and Orchilla."

In the 18th century, the Sociedad Mercantil Real Compañía Guipuzcoana was established on the islands and the first islands of the archipelago (Gran Roque, Carenero, Cayo Sal, etc.) were given their names. Also at that time, temporary fishermen began to arrive, and in the 19th century the exploitation of salt mines and guano began.