The Venezuelan islands

Logbook

A real Polynesian lagoon, lost in the middle of the Caribbean, the Los Roques archipelago is a gem! A superb coral seabed, impressive underwater fauna and countless white sand beaches await you in this archipelago, situated in the extreme north of South America... Los Roques are 75 miles from the South American continent and Venezuela, on which they depend. With around fifty small and large islands and incredibly rich flora and fauna, the Los Roques archipelago has been a National Park since 1972. It is therefore very well protected: just one island is inhabited (Gran Roque), and very few tourists have access to it. It is therefore definitely a paradise for lovers of deserted anchorages, playing at Robinson Crusoe, and above all, exceptional cruising in catamaran. With temperatures ranging from 26 to 28°C, the destination is pleasant all the year round.

But Los Roques is not the only destination Venezuela offers. With more than 3000 kilometres of coast and no less than 311 small and large islands of an incomparable beauty; you could sail here in catamaran for years without getting bored...

Practical info

• Situation:
  Venezuelan territory stretches from close to the equator to north of the 11^th parallel. It also possesses 72 islands, scattered around the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. And of course these are what we are interested in for sail in catamaran!

• Access:
  Direct flights to the islands from Caracas, which can easily be reached from the main towns in Europe and the USA.

• Formalities:
  A valid passport is sufficient for citizens of the EU, the USA, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay. No visa needed for a stay of less than 90 days...

• Climate:
  We are in the tropics here, and the climate is therefore...tropical! The so-called dry season is from December to April. It is of course the best period to come and cruise in Venezuela in catamaran. But the rest of the year is just as pleasant, with an average temperature of 26°C over the year.
  The sailing conditions are very pleasant, with steady winds from the north-east or the south-east. You must of course be very careful of the numerous ‘cayes’, but on-sight navigation is very easy in the archipelagos.

• Safety:
  There have been a few pirate attacks in Venezuela, certain of them of a rare violence. The cruising community has naturally been worried by these attacks, and some sailors have even boycotted this destination. But it appears that the authorities have tackled this problem radically, to make the anchorages safe. Whatever, the ‘flagship’ destinations - Los Roques, LaBlanquilla and Las Aves - are perfectly safe.

 And also...

• Health: nothing is obligatory, but certain countries require the traveller to be vaccinated against Yellow Fever on returning from Venezuela...

• Currency: The Bolivar Fuerte (VEF). 1 euro = 3.03 VEF. 1 US$ = 2.14 VEF (changing money ‘on the street’ is often a much better deal than that offered by the banks...)

• Language: Spanish

Itinerary

Los Roques is just a 30-minute flight from Caracas. Once you have arrived in Gran Roque, you embark aboard your catamaran, and all that remains is to enjoy this coral gem, which forms the biggest marine sanctuary in the world. And if you stay for more than two weeks, there is nothing to stop you from going as far as Las Aves, for an unforgettable cruise.

Another solution: leave from Puerto La Cruz, which is a real centre for yachting in Venezuela. No fewer than six marinas await you there, with all the essential services, from which you can cruise towards La Tortuga, La Blanquilla, Margarita, Mochina National Park and Los Testigos...