Cidade Turismo
Venezuela

Before you go

Your trip to Gran Roque.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Gran Roque – Dependências Federais Capital

How to get there

  • Aeropuerto de Los Roques (LRV) 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Check before buying. Flights to Gran Roque depart from Maiquetía, next to Caracas's international airport, in small planes, and take about 40 minutes. The runway is at the edge of the beach, a few minutes' walk from the guesthouses. There is a baggage limit; confirm beforehand.

How many days

Three days and two nights for the village, the lighthouse and two or three cays. With four or five days you can vary the cays, snorkel on different reefs and have time to rest.

When to go

The climate is warm and dry year‑round, around 28 °C, with little rain. From January to May the trade winds usually blow stronger; from July to October the sea tends to be calmer. The sun is strong in any month, and there is almost no natural shade on the cays.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. There are no cars circulating in the village, which can be walked in a few minutes along the sandy streets. Trips to the cays are by boat, departing from the village pier.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Gran Roque
  1. Morning
    Arrival and village

    Arrive on the morning flight, leave your luggage at the guesthouse and walk along the sandy streets to the square and the pier, where the boats prepare to depart.

  2. Afternoon
    Madrisquí

    Take a boat to Madrisquí, a few minutes from the village, and spend the afternoon on the beach, walking along the sandbar to Cayo Pirata.

  3. Late afternoon
    Climb to the lighthouse

    Return to the village and climb to the Faro Holandés to see the sunset over the archipelago. The trail takes less than 30 minutes.

  4. Evening
    Dinner at the guesthouse

    Have dinner at the guesthouse, where dinner is usually included, with the fish of the day and, in season, lobster.

3 days in Gran Roque

Day 1

  1. Morning
    Arrival at Gran Roque

    Morning flight, check in at the guesthouse and a first walk through the village and along the pier beach.

  2. Afternoon
    Madrisquí

    Short boat ride to Madrisquí and an afternoon at the beach, with a walk to Cayo Pirata.

  3. Late afternoon
    Faro Holandés

    Climb up to the lighthouse for sunset, with views of the village and the cayos.

Day 2

  1. Morning
    Cayo de Agua

    Leave early by boat for Cayo de Agua, about an hour, and walk along the sandbar that connects the two cayos.

  2. Afternoon
    Snorkeling and lunch on the cay

    Lunch provided by the guesthouse, shade from a beach umbrella and snorkeling on the reef before the return boat.

Day 3

  1. Morning
    Francisquí

    Boat to Francisquí and a morning in the natural pool, protected by the reef, with snorkeling on the shallow corals.

  2. Afternoon
    Return

    Return to the village, take one last swim at the pier beach and catch the afternoon flight to Maiquetía.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How do the cayos tours work?

Boats leave from the village pier in the morning and return in the mid-afternoon. Many guesthouses include the day trip, supplying beach umbrellas, chairs and lunch taken to the cay. Destinations change depending on the wind and the sea.

What to bring to Gran Roque?

Light clothing, swimwear, hat, sunscreen, a UV-protection shirt, flip-flops and a snorkel mask. There is almost no natural shade on the cayos.

Is there an ATM and internet in the village?

The village is small, with few services. Payment options and connectivity are usually limited; check with your guesthouse before traveling.

What to eat in Los Roques?

Fresh fish, seafood and, in the fishing season, lobster, which usually runs from November to April. At guesthouses, meals are often included.

Does Gran Roque have a beach?

Yes — on the island's south side, next to the pier and the airstrip. But the most popular beaches are on the surrounding cayos, a few minutes by boat.

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