Lowland jungle and cloud
forest of Venezuela's northwestern coast with Choroni
as a central city is a must-see for birdwatchers and wildlife
enthusiasts. Wild monkeys, ocelots, bats, frogs, snakes,
armadillos, and deer thrive in the humid broadleaf forest
environment of Henri Pittier National Park's unspoiled
wilderness. A showcase of biodiversity, the magnificent
cloudforest of Henri Pittier National Park is home to
an astonishing array of tropical, exotic flora and fauna.
Established in 1937, this 266,374 acres park was the first
in Venezuela's National Park System. Known originally
as "Rancho Grande", it changed its name
in 1953 to honor the Swiss scientist that proposed and
achieved its creation.
The
area also hosts more than 500 species of birds, 6.5% of
the world bird population and 41% of the Venezuelan. Rising
from sea level to 4,200 feet, the park is home to Rancho
Grande Biological Station as well as Portachuelo Pass,
which serves as a natural migratory route for hundreds
of thousands of birds and insects including as many as
200 species of vibrantly colored butterflies. Birders
visiting this area can expect to see fruiteaters, blood-eared
parakeets, white-tipped quetzal, lilac-tailed parrotlets
and possibly even a harpy eagle among many other beautiful
endemic species.
A two hour drive from Caracas, the city
of Maracay serves as the gateway for excursions into the
nearby park with comfortable hotel accommodations located
just on the edge of town. The Rancho Grande Biological
Station is the starting point for an interesting nature
interpretation path of the biological processes of the
cloud forest, allowing to explore places of great ecological
interest.
The coast of the park protects steep slopes
and is comprised by small bays and coves, the most famous
being Choroni, Chuao, Cata and Ocumare de la Costa. Choroni
is a tranquil 18th century colonial town. Puerto Colombia,
directly by the coast, is your base to visit this wonderful
stretch of Venezuelan coast. This town has quaint guesthouses
built in restored houses or plantations, restaurants,
bars, cafes and other services. From here, you can visit
Chuao or Cepe by boat, where palm-packed beaches protect
cocoa plantations of world renown between chocolatiers.
One of Venezuela's hidden treasures, Choroni
and Henri Pittier National park offer views of showy birdlife,
with access to the Carribean coast
while staying in a colonial town, all only a couple of
hours from Caracas by road.
Contact
us to include Choroni or
Henri Pittier in a customized itinerary of travel to Venezuela.
