Morrocoy National Park is a tropical paradise made up of a series of islands and cays of white sand and crystal-clear waters, such as Cayo Sombrero, Playuela, and Cayo Sal among many others. The park is known among divers around the world for its colourful coral reefs that are home to a rich marine biodiversity. It’s a perfect destination for nature lovers as it offers different landscapes of mangroves, estuaries and salt marshes that are home to flamingos and many other birds.
The park offers numerous activities for visitors to enjoy during their holidays, such as boat rides, kayaking, and spectacular sunsets. The local gastronomy, known for its seafood and fresh fish dishes, is another great tourist attraction for the perfect trip. Join us in this post and find out how to organise your holiday to the wonderful Morrocoy National Park.
What are the best places to visit in the Morrocoy National Park?
1. Morrocoy National Park’s most famous cays
What makes Morrocoy National Park really special are its numerous cays, small islets of paradisiacal beaches which can be reached by boat from the region’s main cities. On your visit you’ll be able to visit a multitude of cays, but these are the most popular:
- Cayo Sombrero: one of the park’s most popular and largest cay. Its wide, soft-sand beaches and shallow waters make it perfect for families. It has two main beaches, both excellent for snorkelling because of the nearby coral reefs.
- Cayo Sal: distinguished by its calm, clear waters, ideal for swimming and relaxing. It is a perfect place for those looking for a serene environment to disconnect from the outside world.
- Cayo Peraza: Lesser known and therefore less crowded, this cay offers a tranquil retreat for visitors. Its waters are calm and crystalline, surrounded by a rich marine biodiversity, ideal for snorkelers.
- Cayo Pelon: with clear waters and surrounded by reefs, it’s excellent for diving and snorkelling.
- Cayo Borracho: known for its vibrant marine ecosystems, the perfect place for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts.
2. Boat ride in the cays
The only way to get to the cays is by boat, but depending on your preferences, you can book one type of tour or another. On the one hand, you can sign up for an organised tour where you’ll be taken around the numerous cays throughout the day. It’s a quick and easy way to see as many islands as possible in as little time as possible.
However, if you prefer a more intimate and relaxed experience, you can always opt to buy a round-trip ticket to the cay of your choice for the day without depending on schedules.
The frequency of boat departures depends on the season. During high season departures may be every 30 minutes or according to demand. In low season, departures may be less frequent and more dependent on a minimum number of passengers or advance booking. Prices vary depending on which cay you want to go to and whether it’s an organised tour. The prices range from $10 to $100.
3. Morrocoy National Park’s best beaches
Morrocoy National Park is famous for its spectacular beaches, each with its own unique characteristics. The most spectacular beaches are on the cays, but there are also beaches worth visiting on the mainland. Here are our top five:
- Cayo Sombrero Beach: considered by far the jewel of Morrocoy National Park. It is in Cayo Sombrero and stands out for its extension of white sand and crystalline waters of blue and green tones. It’s ideal for snorkelling thanks to its nearby coral reefs and rich marine life.
- Playa Mero: Located on the mainland part of the park, Playa Mero is famous for its soft sand and calm waters, making it perfect for families. It has tourist facilities such as sun lounger rental and food and beverages stalls.
- Playa Muerto (Dead beach): Despite its unattractive name, this beach is a haven for those seeking peace and quiet away from the crowds. Its waters are clear and calm, ideal for swimming and relaxing in the sun.
- Playa Punta Brava: also located on the mainland, Punta Brava offers a beautiful view of the park and is perfect for enjoying a day at the beach, with good services and facilities.
- Cayo Sal: This cay is another favourite for its stunning clear, calm waters, perfect for diving and snorkelling. Although less crowded than Cayo Sombrero, it offers equally impressive natural beauty, with the advantage of a more serene atmosphere.
4. Cueva de la Virgen
The mysterious Cueva de la Virgen (Virgin’s Cave) is located on the coast of Morrocoy National Park and is only accessible by boat. It is a place of pilgrimage and devotion that according to local tradition is home to an image of the Virgin Mary who is said to have miraculously appeared in the cave.
Beyond its religious value, it’s worth a visit for the beautiful landscapes of lush vegetation surrounding the cave and the pleasant boat ride. You can book the excursion in Chichiriviche.
5. Tucacas
Tucacas is one of the reference cities of the Morroco National Park and a tourist destination famous for its beautiful beaches of crystal clear waters and white sands. In the town, which has all kinds of shops, restaurants and accommodation, you can also book activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling and boat trips to the nearby cays.
The town offers a relaxed atmosphere that combines a varied gastronomic offering with a wide variety of activities for all ages in a setting of varied ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in 1 day at Morrocoy National Park
It is generally recommended to spend at least 2 or 3 days to enjoy the Morrocoy National Park. But if you wish, you can extend your trip for several more days to discover each cay.
If you’re short on time, we recommend hiring an organised tour that will take you around the main islands and cays in a single day. And if you have more days, we encourage you to spend each day on a different cay and explore the beaches on the mainland coast.
We also recommend booking a diving or snorkelling trip to enjoy the marine life of the coral reefs.
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Where and what to eat in Morrocoy National Park?
The gastronomy in Morrocoy National Park stands out for its fresh seafood and fish, such as snapper and lobster, which are prepared on the grill or in ceviches. Some of the area’s most typical dishes include arepas, empanadas, and seafood casserole.
There are many islands (or cays) in Morrocoy National Park that are inhospitable. It means that there are no restaurants or any way to get food there. It is therefore recommended to check it before you set off on your excursion and prepare enough food and water.
These are some of the park’s best restaurants:
- La Guicha: is a local restaurant located on the boardwalk of Chichiriviche. It specialises in seafood and its cuisine is simple but of the highest quality. We recommend you try the seafood soup and the fish grill. It is more expensive than average due to its location.
- Cacique Paramacay: If you want to try authentic Venezuelan street food, we recommend this fast-food restaurant. You can eat delicious arepas, stuffed cachapas and other simple but essential dishes to understand the Venezuelan culture. And the best thing is that the price is moderate.
- Txulipa: is also located in the port of Chichiriviche and offers an extensive menu of delicious local and international dishes, including seafood and fish dishes.
Where to stay in Morrocoy National Park
In Morrocoy National Park the best areas to stay in are Tucacas and Chichiriviche, both of which offer a variety of accommodation options, although flats or houses are the most common. Another less crowded but equally good area to stay in is Flamingo and Playa Sur.
Here’s a list of our favourite places to stay in the area:
- Apartamento Playa Ciudad Flamingo Tucacas Chichiriviche: this is a house for up to 8 people with 3 bedrooms, flat screen TV, fully equipped kitchen with oven and microwave, washing machine and 2 bathrooms with shower. It also has a swimming pool, barbecue area and parking. The price per night starts from 100€.
- Cozy Casa VIP Tucacas: Located in Tucacas, this holiday home features air-conditioned accommodation with a private pool, garden views and a patio. The property is 9.3 km from Morrocoy National Park and offers a garden and free private parking. In total the house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen satellite TV, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen and a terrace with pool views. The price per night starts from 200€.
- Villa Vacacionales Los Cayos: This private accommodation in Boca de Aroa offers 2 bedrooms, a kitchen with dining area and 2 bathrooms with shower. It has air conditioning, a swimming pool and a private beach area. The house has a capacity for 8 people and the price per night starts from 80€.
- Posada Ardileña: This is undoubtedly one of the nicest inns we’ve ever stayed at. It is a very Mediterranean family house with a maximum of 10 rooms overlooking the se where guests can enjoy barbecue areas, spa, swimming, fishing, skiing, walking under the stars, and many more. The price per night starts at $149 from Sunday to Thursday and $179 on weekends. The price does not include alcoholic beverages or the spa. But it does include: a daily visit to an island, continental, American or Creole breakfast, lunch, champagne with ice and soft drinks, chairs and umbrella for the beach and finally a haute cuisine dinner with appetizers, starter, main course and dessert.
How to get to Morrocoy National Park
If you’re travelling from abroad, the most common way is to fly to the Simón Bolívar International Airport of Maiquetía, the main gateway to the country. Once there, you can choose from these options to get to your destination:
- Car: the most direct route is to take the Autopista Regional del Centro towards Valencia, continue along the Valencia – Puerto Cabello highway. And then take the Morón – Coro road to Tucacas or Chichiriviche, which are the main accesses to the park. The trip can take approximately 4 to 5 hours and you can rent it at the airport.
- Bus: you can take a bus from the Caracas passenger terminal to Tucacas or Chichiriviche. Several companies operate this route, but it is advisable to buy your ticket in advance, especially in high season.
- Airplane: if you’re travelling from neighbouring countries or another Venezuelan city, you can fly into Arturo Michelena International Airport in Valencia.
Once you’ve arrived in Valencia or Chichiriviche you can hire a boat to take you to the cays.
What should I consider before travelling to Morrocoy National Park?
- The currency of Venezuela is the Venezuelan bolivar
- Hedge against medical emergencies: travel insured. Choose good travel insurance, such as Mondo.
- We recommend that you change money before you set off on your trip to Morrocoy National Park, as it will be cheaper than at the airport.
- Remember to take plenty of water and food with you for excursions to the more remote cays.
- Morrocoy National Park is a safe destination for tourism in the Caribbean.
- The best time to visit Morrocoy National Park is between December and April, due to the dry weather and lower probability of rainfall, ideal for outdoor activities.
- Always drink bottled water.
- During high season it is advisable to arrive early to ensure a place on the boats due to high demand.
- It is advisable to check and agree on the price before boarding the boats that will take you to the cays.
- Take sunscreen with you, especially in the summer months, as well as light but sun-protective clothing and stay hydrated.
- Respect the environment, the beaches and the biodiversity of Morrocoy National Park.
- Get yourself an eSIM card to have internet connection on your trip to Venezuela.
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Morrocoy National Park
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you’ve visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Morrocoy National Park.
If you have doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
What to see around Morrocoy National Park
1. Los Roques Archipelago
The Los Roques Archipelago is a national park located in the Caribbean. It is formed by 300 islands and cays that stand out for their crystalline waters of turquoise tones, white sands and a rich marine biodiversity. This destination is a paradise for diving and snorkelling enthusiasts, who can enjoy the wide variety of aquatic life in the area’s coral reefs.
Los Roques is also ideal for sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing thanks to its optimal wind conditions. In this post we tell you more about this paradisiacal destination: Things to see and do in Los Roques Archipelago?
2. Caracas
Although Caracas is a 4/5-hour drive away, it’s likely to be the point of origin for your trip to the park. So while you’re there, we recommend spending a couple of days discovering the city’s charms.
Among its main tourist attractions are the Caracas Cable Car, which provides spectacular views of the city and gives access to hiking and recreational activities. Plaza Bolívar, the heart of the historic centre, and the National Pantheon, where the remains of the liberator Simón Bolívar rest. We also recommend a visit to the Parque del Este, a park designed by the famous landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx; the Museum of Fine Arts and the La Estancia Art Centre, which offer a wide range of cultural activities. If you want to know more about this lively city, read on in this post: Things to see and do in Caracas?
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Morrocoy National Park
The best time to visit Morrocoy National Park is between December and April, due to the dry weather and less chance of rain, ideal for outdoor activities.
From the International Airport of Maiquetía Simón Bolívar you can get to your destination by car or by bus. The journey by road takes between 4 and 5 hours.
In the Morrocoy National Park there is a wide range of accommodation, including apartments and private houses with gardens and swimming pools. It is recommended to book well in advance.
The area is famous for its gastronomy based on seafood and fresh fish. You can also try other typical local dishes such as arepas.
It is recommended to spend at least 3 days in the Morrocoy National Park.
Our favourite beaches in the park are Cayo Sombrero Beach, Mero Beach, Muerto Beach, Punta Brava Beach and Cayo Sal Beach.
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