Morrocoy National Park is located on the east coast of Falcón State and the north-west side of Golfo Triste, on the west central coast of Venezuela. It is near the towns of Boca de Aroa, Tucacas, Sanare, Chichiriviche, and Tocuyo de la Costa. The park was declared a national park on May 26, 1974. The park's wildlife has been affected by human activities, and there has been a large decrease in coral species in recent years.
Geography
The park covers both land and water areas in Golfo Triste. It spans 32,090 hectares (79,300 acres). The park includes mangrove forests and many small islands or cays, such as Borracho, Muerto, Sombrero, Sal, Las Animas, and Peraza. White sand beaches on these cays include Mero, Paiclas, Los Juanes, Playuela, Tucupido, Azul, and Boca Seca.
The park’s bays, mangroves, cays, and islands are located near the Chichiriviche hills, which reach heights of up to about 250 meters. Chichiriviche Hill, the highest point in the park at 285 meters, is surrounded by a coastal environment formed from coral during the Tertiary period. This area is part of the Capadare–Agua Linda limestone geological formation.
The warm tropical climate is shaped by the northeast trade winds and has low rainfall. Temperatures remain fairly consistent throughout the year, ranging between 27 and 35 degrees Celsius. During colder periods, temperatures may drop to between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius. The wettest months are August through December, with the most rain falling in November and December.
Environment
The plants in the area are typical of tropical dry forests. The types of vegetation change based on the land's shape and features, with important areas including the coast, coastal lagoons, marshes, salty sandbanks, small islands, and shallow ocean floors. The plants range from evergreen species, like olives, to deciduous species, such as Bursera simaruba. Some plants, like glass grass, are adapted to grow in soil with high salt levels. Moving toward Mayorquina on the eastern side of the Chichiriviche hills, plants from the cactus family, which need very little water, can be found.
Red, black, white, and buttonwood mangroves are the main types of plants in the park. These plants help protect the delicate balance of the coastline in an area covering about 4,500 hectares. Underwater, there are many types of algae and seagrass, which are a favorite food for green turtles.
The park is home to about 266 bird species, according to the Cuare Wildlife Refuge. Since Morrocoy National Park and the Cuare Wildlife Refuge are in the same area, it is likely that the bird populations are similar. Some important bird species include the osprey, the American flamingo (a species at risk), the tricolored heron, and the brown pelican. Other birds live in mangroves, such as the neotropic cormorant, snowy egret, scaled piculet, orange-winged amazon, and scarlet ibis. Some birds have limited ranges, like the magnificent frigatebird.
The mangroves in Morrocoy Bay serve as bird sanctuaries, especially on the mangrove-covered island of Pájaros in the park’s central area. Morrocoy has been recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports large numbers of bird species.
Mammals in the park include dolphins and whales that use the area as a refuge. Land mammals are mostly found near the Chichiriviche Hill, such as brocket and white-tailed deer, anteaters, crab-eating foxes, howler monkeys, three-toed sloths, opossums, pacas, agoutis, and peccaries. Marine reptiles include several turtle species, such as green, hawksbill, leatherback, and olive ridley sea turtles, as well as the American crocodile, all of which are considered threatened.
Fish that breed in the park include grouper, snapper, corvina, tarpon, snook, toadfish, school shark, sardines, mackerel, grunt, barracuda, and many species found in coral reefs. Shellfish species include mangrove oysters, sea hares, quigua, spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus and Panulirus guttatus), blue and red crabs, and other types. The park also has a wide variety of insects.
Access
From Caracas, travelers take the Central Regional Highway past Guacara, which is about 140 kilometers away. An alternative route is to take the highway through Yagua to Puerto Cabello. In Morón, the Morón-Tucacas highway is used, and after traveling 40 kilometers, the entrance to Morrocoy National Park is reached.
Morrocoy National Park includes many different types of landscapes. Beaches within the park include Sombrero Cay, Playuela, Playuelita, Alemán Cay, Mayorquina, Pescadores Cay, Mero Beach, Punta Brava, Boca Paiclás, Boca Seca, Los Juanes, Bajo Caimán, Tucupido, Sal Cay, and Borracho Cay. Three small islands—Norte, Medio Cay, and Sur Cay—are located about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Tucacas and are part of a Special Protection Area.
Los Juanes is part of Morrocoy National Park and can only be reached by sea using a private boat or a small fishing boat. It has two islands that are good for snorkeling near coral reefs and among mangroves.