Cidade Turismo
Venezuela
Morrocoy

Falcón · Venezuela

Morrocoy

White-sand islets, mangroves and clear water of Parque Nacional Morrocoy in the Venezuelan Caribbean, with boat trips from Tucacas and Chichiriviche.

Ocidente

In the photo: View of the cays of Parque Nacional Morrocoy

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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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Parque Nacional Morrocoy lies on the eastern coast of the state of Falcón, in western Venezuela, facing the Golfo Triste in the Caribbean Sea. Created in 1974, it covers about 32,000 hectares of land and sea, with mangroves, channels, coral reefs and dozens of islets and white-sand cays such as Sombrero, Sal, Muerto, Boca Seca and Paiclá.

The cays are visited by motorboat from the piers of Tucacas to the south and Chichiriviche to the north. Each cay has its own beach: some have coconut palms and beach stalls, others are only sand and shallow water. Between them, mangrove channels shelter herons, pelicans, frigatebirds and, in some seasons, flamingos.

To the north of the park, near Chichiriviche, is the Refúgio de Fauna Silvestre de Cuare, an area of mangroves and lagoons where flamingos often feed and where the Cueva de la Virgen is located, a cave with a religious image in the cliff.

Entry rules for Venezuela can change: check with the consulate before traveling.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Tucacas, Chichiriviche.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Morrocoy is
TucacasChichiriviche

Contornos: INE da Venezuela e OCHA, via geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Morrocoy

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Michelena (VLN), in Valencia · 110 km to Tucacas

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar (CCS), in Maiquetía · 250 km to Tucacas

Check before booking. The nearest airports are Valencia, about 110 km from Tucacas, and Caracas, about 250 km. From Valencia, buses and cars follow the coastal road to Tucacas and Chichiriviche.

Suggested arrival point: Tucacas

The local experience

Things to do in Morrocoy

Cayo Sal
Chichiriviche · Falcón · Island

Cayo Sal

White-sand cay with coconut palms and shallow water, a few minutes by boat from Chichiriviche, with beach stalls and shade.

Parque Nacional Morrocoy
Tucacas · Falcón · National park

Parque Nacional Morrocoy

Park of about 32,000 hectares of mangroves, channels, reefs and white-sand cays, created in 1974 between Tucacas and Chichiriviche.

Cayo Muerto
Chichiriviche · Falcón · Island

Cayo Muerto

The caye closest to Chichiriviche, about five minutes from the orla, with many palm trees, white sand and calm water.

Cayo Punta Brava
Tucacas · Falcón · Beach

Cayo Punta Brava

Cay connected to Tucacas by a bridge, the only one in the park reachable by car, with calm-water beaches and mangroves.

See 4 more places in Morrocoy
Cayo Paiclá
Tucacas · Falcón · Island

Cayo Paiclá

Cay in the south of the park with three beaches: Playuela, Playuelita and Playa Mero, the latter reached by a short trail through the mangrove.

Refugio de Fauna Silvestre de Cuare
Chichiriviche · Falcón · Natural area

Refugio de Fauna Silvestre de Cuare

Protected area of mangroves and lagoons next to Parque Morrocoy, with flamingos, red corocoras and the Cueva de la Virgen, a cave in the cliff.

Cayo Boca Seca
Tucacas · Falcón · Island

Cayo Boca Seca

Cayo with white sand and very shallow, calm water, near Tucacas, popular with families.

Cayo Sombrero
Tucacas · Falcón · Island

Cayo Sombrero

The cayo farthest from the park, with beaches on both sides, coconut trees and clear water for snorkeling, reachable by boat from Tucacas or from Chichiriviche.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

The climate is warm and sunny year-round. From December to April, in the dry season, it usually rains less and the sea is clearer. From May to November there is more rain, often in short downpours. Holidays, Carnival, Holy Week and August school vacations crowd the piers and the cays.

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

How many days to stay

Three days are enough for two or three cays and a mangrove tour. With five days, you can visit the cays on both sides of the park and the Refúgio de Cuare.

Which city to stay in

Tucacas is the larger town, with more lodgings and restaurants, and serves the cays to the south and center of the park. Chichiriviche is smaller and quieter, near the northern cays and the Refúgio de Cuare. In both towns, guesthouses are close to the piers where the boats depart.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Morrocoy

How are the cays of Morrocoy visited?

By motorboat from the piers of Tucacas and Chichiriviche, with departures to each cay and a prearranged return time. Check park rules beforehand.

Tucacas or Chichiriviche?

Tucacas is closer to the southern cays such as Boca Seca, Paiclá and Punta Brava; Chichiriviche is closer to the northern cays such as Sal and Muerto, and to the Refúgio de Cuare. Cayo Sombrero can be reached from both.

What is the best time to visit Morrocoy?

From December to April it usually rains less. Avoid holidays, when the cays become crowded.

Are there flamingos in Morrocoy?

Flamingos often feed in the lagoons of the Refúgio de Cuare, near Chichiriviche, but their presence varies with the season.

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