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Los Roques: general information

This page provides general information on the Los Roques archipelago in Venezuela.
First of all it is important to know that a fee of $20 (the charge varies based on the exchange rate) is required to access the park and is payable upon arrival at one of the offices located near the landing area. This fee, which goes toward the preservation and protection of the park, authorizes tourists to visit approximately half of the park. The other half is an “integral protection zone” and can only be visited for scientific or research purposes with a special permit from the appropriate island authorities. The integral protection zone was established to safeguard the many species of coral, crustaceans, mollusks and fish that live in the archipelago.
Additional information on the history, geography, services and connections, climate, activities and accommodations can be found below.

History

We are able to reconstruct the pre and post Columbian history of this location, thanks to the research of a couple of archeologists who spent over twenty years in Los Roques. Though a seemly secluded area, it is rich in its own small history and charm. The two archeologists were Marlene and Andrzej Antczak and in their book,Los idolos de las islas prometidas: arqueologia preispanica del archipielago del Los Roques" they pieced together the history of the archipelago.

Los Idolos de las Islas Prometidas

Statuettes and utensils found during excavations, offer evidence that the first group of Indians coming from Venezuela had already settled on the islands of Dos Mosquises, Cayo Sal, Gresky, Rancho Ingles and Sebastopol 1,000 years ago. The reason these peoples decided to travel over 120 miles to settle in such an inaccessible location remains unknown: in fact, research on fishing resources has not been able to justify such long and strenuous relocations.
No objects or accounts exist indicating that these indigenous groups where still present when the Europeans arrived, and thus it is assumed that the peoples had already abandoned the archipelago prior to its discovery by the conquistadores. The first accounts of European civilization appear around the fifteenth century, when Los Roques became a stopover for pirates, sailors and explorers, most of whom were traveling from the area currently known as the Netherlands Antilles. Los Roques appeared in Spanish maps for the first time in 1529, and in 1589, Diego da Osorio, the governor of the province of Venezuela, took official control of the area.
The 18th and 19th centuries were characterized by the development of trade linked to pearl diving and the exportation of guano. The 1892 agreement with the government of the Netherlands Antilles, which sent workers to increases the exportation of salt and guano, proved to be highly important for local economic development. It was during these years that the main islands and cays were given their names, which were derived from Papiamento, the native language of the Netherlands Antilles. This trade lasted only a few years, however, and soon after the archipelago was practically abandoned.
It wasn’t until 1910, following the migration of a few of the inhabitants of Margherita Island who completely relied on fishing for their livelihood, that Gran Roque, began to grow into the pueblo that it is today. In 1972, it was declared a national park in an effort to preserve its characteristic natural beauty, prompting a moderate flow of tourism that has grown to include the hundreds of visitors that today flock to Los Roques during high season.

Geography

The archipelago of Los Roques in Venezuela includes 42 major islands and over 200 oxbows and sand bars, only one of which, Gran Roque Island, is inhabited by a community of about 800 people, the majority of whom work in tourism. Los Roques is located about 120 miles north of the Venezuelan coast between latitudes 11°43' and 11°58' north and longitudes 66°35' and 66°57' west. Los Roques Venezuela map
The principle feature of the Los Roques archipelago, whose origins date back to the Late Cretaceous, is an imposing coral reef that extends across a good 24 km on the eastern side of the archipelago, and which provides natural protection against the trade winds regularly blowing from the east. The frequent hurricanes characteristic of the Caribbean never arrive in Los Roques thanks to this natural shield.
The archipelago can essentially be divided into two sections: east and west. In the center, we find the "ensenada de los corales" or "bajo de los corales", an area of extremely shallow water (at times less than 50 centimeters) and thus impracticable for boats.

Services and connections

There is only one way to reach the Los Roques archipelago: airplane. There are regular daily connections with Simon Bolivar airport in Maiquetia, Caracas (a 45-minute flight) and 4 weekly connections withSantiago Mariño airport in Porlamar, on Margherita island (1 hr 15 min flight). Los Roques does not have a full airport but a just a landing strip monitored by a control tower. Evening flights are not offered, as the runway is not illuminated. The airplanes that fly to and from Los Roques are small, (carrying a maximum of 30 passengers) double and four-engine turboprops.
An alternative to flying could be travel by boat but there are no ferries or passenger boats that offer regular connections with the archipelago, and thus guests who wish to travel to Los Roques by boat must participate in a tour or own their own private boat.
Los Roques, given its small number of inhabitants, does not offer many services but it does have: a small bank, a family doctor (for emergencies, patients are transported to the hospital in Caracas), a daycare and a primary school.

Climate

The Los Roques archipelago has a windy climate with trade winds constantly blowing from the east and often reaching velocities of 12 knots. The average temperature, virtually stable the entire year, is 28°C. Precipitation is scarce, significantly less than in the rest of the Caribbean, as clouds are always swept away by the winds. Average yearly precipitation is 250 mm.
Los Roques weather forecast