Venezuela: Los Roques: Far From Industrial and Domestic Pollutants
A South American island group with a Caribbean atmosphere, Venezuela's Los Roques provides a change of pace from chic yet crowded resorts.
In 1972, the government declared the 50 coral islands in this archipelago a national park, thereby restricting development to protect the sea turtles, lobsters, and numerous species of fish that call these waters home. Because Los Roques is so far from industrial and domestic pollutants, its coral is especially healthy, and officials aim to keep it that way.
On Gran Roque, the main tourist destination and largest of the islands, you'll find the white sands and turquoise seas that characterize most tropical spots. What you won't find are luxury hotels, nightclubs, or restaurants; in fact, the unassuming houses, narrow, dusty streets, and lack of vehicles reveal Gran Roque's intention to remain what it has always been, a tranquil fishing village. As if to prove that, the small inns called posadas that dot the island are ultra-basic and often lack hot water. Check your mosquito net for holes before sleeping, and consider getting malaria shots before you spend time in South America, especially if you plan to visit isolated areas.
Although the accommodations may not be deluxe, Los Roques offers many fun outdoor activities. Cayo de Agua, one of Venezuela's best islands for snorkeling, gives enthusiasts a chance to see exotic fish and coral up close. Diving, windsurfing, and lolling in the sun have their adherents, too. If you want to see what you're missing, head over to Francisqui, Gran Roque's busier neighbor, a more traditional resort beach replete with restaurants, boats, and tourists dozing beneath umbrellas. Then congratulate yourself on taking the road less traveled by relaxing at a laid back bar like Aquarena on Gran Roque as you watch a blazing sunset over the ocean.
On Gran Roque, the main tourist destination and largest of the islands, you'll find the white sands and turquoise seas that characterize most tropical spots. What you won't find are luxury hotels, nightclubs, or restaurants; in fact, the unassuming houses, narrow, dusty streets, and lack of vehicles reveal Gran Roque's intention to remain what it has always been, a tranquil fishing village. As if to prove that, the small inns called posadas that dot the island are ultra-basic and often lack hot water. Check your mosquito net for holes before sleeping, and consider getting malaria shots before you spend time in South America, especially if you plan to visit isolated areas.
Although the accommodations may not be deluxe, Los Roques offers many fun outdoor activities. Cayo de Agua, one of Venezuela's best islands for snorkeling, gives enthusiasts a chance to see exotic fish and coral up close. Diving, windsurfing, and lolling in the sun have their adherents, too. If you want to see what you're missing, head over to Francisqui, Gran Roque's busier neighbor, a more traditional resort beach replete with restaurants, boats, and tourists dozing beneath umbrellas. Then congratulate yourself on taking the road less traveled by relaxing at a laid back bar like Aquarena on Gran Roque as you watch a blazing sunset over the ocean.
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