Dreaming of Choroni

Just on the other side of Henri Pittier National Park in Aragua, Venezuela, there is lovely little beach town called Choroni. A tiny mountain road leads you up into the clouds and over, into a forest of tall shade trees, rushing creeks, and lush ferns.

The beach itself is nestled beside the coastal mountains that stretch across Venezuela. Choroni is a favorite destination for nature lovers and sun worshippers alike. Hundreds of varieties of birds live there, and some lizards too.  Visitors pitch tents on the beach and camp overnight. You can rent a chair and umbrella and pass the day watching the waves crash between the mountains. Coconut water is a favorite treat, and occasionally you might see some one climb up a palm tree and get a coconut.

The small town of Choroni was constructed in the Spanish style. On the “malecon” or sea wall, there are remnants of an old Spanish fort, complete with cannons. At night, locals and visitors come together on the malecon, to share music, art, souvenirs, food, and drink. Couples and friends sit on the wall and stare into the sea, dreaming of the next time they come to Choroni.

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Finding Venezuela’s “Lost World” in Canaima

If you can’t go see the wonders of Venezuela’s “lost world” in Canaima National Park yourself, do the next best thing: watch this video from Public Television’s “Wild Chronicles.”

The five-minute documentary follows a group of Venezuelan biologists and researchers to one of the most delicate and diverse parts of the world to collect specimens. Along the way, they discover a new species of catfish, climb up into the forest canopy to check out plants, and delve into the dark world of bats.

All of this is part of a multi-disciplinary attempt to measure local biodiversity and use that knowledge to create policies for environmental preservation. Venezuela’s wild spaces are home to a vast amount of flora and fauna, a natural patrimony that is definitely worth saving.

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Venezuela: Protecting Endangered Species

Venezuela’s Caribbean coastline is known for beaches that are beautiful and pristine, but it isn’t always easy to keep them that way.

A battle to preserve Cayo Borracho in Morrocoy National Park has pitted the authorities against boaters who illegally bring tourists to the protected quay, which is home to several endangered species.

The National Parks Institute (Inparques) upped its enforcement of the ban on tourism in Cayo Borracho last week, and have already halted 150 boats. The head of Inparques, Jesús Alexander Cegarra, told the press that constitutional law in Venezuela bars access to Cayo Borracho except for scientific purposes.

Researchers say that Cayo Borracho provides an essential habitat for many endangered species, including sea turtles, marine birds, and crocodiles. These creatures cannot compete for space with tourists. But as it turns out, humans have options: Morrocoy National Park boasts thirteen other amazing beaches that allow access to visitors.

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