LOS ROQUES

Los Roques is an archipelago of some three hundred and fifty tiny islands that lie within the arms of a protective coral atoll some eighty miles off the cost of north Venezuela. A seascape of exquisite natural beauty extending to 850 square kilometres, the islands were designated a marine National Park by the Venezuelan government as long ago as 1972, and remain to this day the largest and oldest Marine Reserve in the Caribbean. The sea here teems with marine life of every description, and the variety and quantity have contributed to making Los Roques one of the foremost diving and fishing destinations in the Caribbean. Spectacular coral reefs combine with extensive, deserted flats and pure white talcum beaches to create one of the most alluring of all destinations for the fisherman, diver or holidaymaker.

For centuries the only business associated with these islands was fishing and lobster catching, however since the introduction of scheduled flights to Gran Roque, one of the few inhabited islands in the atoll, a number of fisherman’s cottages have been converted into small guest houses known as posadas; these are the only places that a visitor can stay; there are no hotels or resorts. The small settlement on Gran Roque closely resembles a South American village, complete with square, church and police station and dissected not by tarmac roads, but sandy tracks. All the posadas featured on this website offer daily excursions to one of the archipelago's many islands in a small boat - guests normally take a delicious picnic lunch, together with parasols and deck chairs to ensure maximum comfort and enjoyment. Other activities available on the islands include world class scuba diving and salt water fly-fishing, snorkelling, surf kiting, windsurfing, kayaking and day excursion on board a catamaran.

The brisk trade winds that blight so much of the Caribbean are reduced to a gentle breeze by the time they reach Los Roques. These are perfect conditions for sailing, and as well as representing the best posadas on dry land, we also offer a selection of Beneteau sailboats for exclusive or shared charter, that sleep between four and eight guests each. We recommend guests spend 6 days and 5 nights exploring the archipelago by sailboat, which from £80 per person per night on a fully exclusive basis represents superb value for money. Each sailboat comes complete with skipper and crew to sail you wherever you choose within the archipelago. Fishing and scuba diving can also be easily arranged during your trip.

Some useful information of Los Roques

Please note that all guests will be sent a detailed list of essential information with their booking forms

Capital: Los Roques is part of Venezuela, the capital of which is Caracas

Visas: UK nationals, South Africans, US nationals, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, and most Western and Scandinavian Europeans do not require a visa if they fly directly to Venezuela. All foreigners entering Venezuela by land require a valid visa.

Time: GMT/UTC minus 4 hours (minus 5 hours in summer)

Electricity: 110V, 60 Hz

Weights & measures: Metric

Currency: Bolivar (Bs), but $US are also widely accepted

Recommended time to visit: Los Roques can be visited at anytime of the year. The archipelago is blessed with a year-round average temperature of 28.8 degrees Celsius. The rainy season is from November to January.

Getting there: Gran Roque is reached by scheduled or charter flight from the domestic terminal at Caracas airport. A Wild and Exotic representative will meet you off your international flight and transfer you to the domestic terminal for the flight to Los Roques. In the event of your international flight arriving too late to catch the last departure to Los Roques (there are no lights on the island's airstrip, so flying by night is not an option) Wild and Exotic will transfer you to the Embassy Suites hotel, located in downtown Chacao (the safest and most cosmopolitan part of Caracas) for an overnight stay, and you will be collected after breakfast in time to connect with the morning flight to Los Roques. On arrival at Los Roques you will be met by a representative from the posada you have selected to visit.

Los Roques - some snapshots of the islands. Please click on any thumbnail to enlarge

Los Roques logo	Beach babes	Bougainvillea	Conch monument
Fisherman in the shade	Typical Los Roques beach	Sailboat Chaito	Los Roques from the air

Posadas

We have listed our selection of posadas on El Gran Roque and provide a brief description of the location and décor for each. Below the  individual posada descriptions please find 2007 dates and prices or contact us for the latest availability. Please note that most posadas charge extra for alcoholic beverages. Please contact us for all your travel arrangements in Venezuela, and to book into any of the posada listed below.

The standard of accommodation in different posadas varies considerably, from basic facilities (cold water and ceiling fans) to luxurious (air conditioning, cable TV and hot water) offered by a handful of the most expensive. All of the posadas featured on this website have ensuite facilities attached to each guest room, and many have family rooms (often on split levels) will space for four guests. Each posada reflects the tastes of its owner, and as the majority are run by Italian families, guests will find stylish surroundings and decor, and sensational freshly prepared seafood. Whereas some posada owners and managers speak fluent English, others have great difficulty in communicating with English speaking guests. Wild and Exotic are regular visitors to Los Roques, and will help you through the maze of selecting the posada that is most suitable for your requirements. All guests booking a stay at Los Roques with Wild and Exotic will also be sent an up to date list of essential information, and tips on how to get the most from a stay in this unique archipelago.

El Caracol: This small posada has just 4 guest rooms, and offers rustic simplicity in a beachside setting. The rooms are furnished in simple Caribbean style with ensuite showers and ceiling fans. Caracol is owned and run by a delightful Italian family who specialise in producing superb food, which is served either on the rooftop terrace, or beneath the shade of a parasol pitched between two palm trees on the white sandy beach. If requested the owners light a beachside barbeque on which to cook fresh lobsters that are delivered alive to their kitchen.

Caracol lobby	Caracol roof terrace	Caracol seafood	Caracol from beach

La Cigala: This charming posada is especially well organised to receive guests from the UK, as the Italian owners, Liana and Enrique, also speak fluent English. The 9 simple rooms are arranged around a central courtyard, in which breakfast and dinner is served to the accompaniment of rustling orange coconut palms. Wooden shutters screened with a nautical canvas for extra privacy secure all rooms, which offer a variety of accommodations including three split-level rooms for family occupation. The posada’s lethal Caipirinha cocktails have achieved legendary status, even making the pages of the Sunday Times magazine. 

La Cigala bedroom	La Cigala courtyard	La Cigala dining room	Outside La Cigala

La Gotera: This small striking blue and white posada comprises 5 guest rooms, and occupies a prime beach location. The foliage of a mature sea grape tree and a roof of palm thatch shade the wooden deck of the outdoor terrace, which is separated from the sea by a narrow spit of white sand and surrounded by comfortable chairs and bright bougainvillea plants. A huge sofa fills the posada’s living room, which is decorated with bright paintings, vases of flowers, and bowls of fresh tropical fruit. Freshly prepared meals are served on the gorgeous seaside veranda and incorporate the best of Italian seafood cuisine.

La Gotera	La Gotera roof terrace	La Gotera living room	La Gotera terrace

Piano Y Papaya:  A relaxed ambience permeates this posada, which is located just behind the island's small church., and a short distance from the beach. There are five rooms surrounding a spacious living area that  incorporates a delightful tropical garden, and a huge hammock in one corner. There is also a lovely roof terrace with commanding views in all directions.

Papaya at night	Papaya dining room	Papaya courtyard

Posada Malibu: Located off the Calle Laguna, a quiet back street leading to the inland lagoon, this 11 bed roomed posada is one of the most sophisticated retreats on the island, with some rooms offering both air conditioning and hot water. A sophisticated ambience swirls around the clean wooden beams, and sunlight streams into the open courtyard with a floor of tiles, cobbles and wooden slats where sea grape, bamboo and ferns grow from a garden. Wooden stairs decorated with fragments of coral lead up to a shaded rooftop terrace that is arranged on three different levels featuring colourful plants, a bar and driftwood sculptures. The Italian owners also let out their personal living space by special arrangement for guests wishing to experience the ultimate in comfort and sophistication.    

Outside Malibu	Malibu alcove	Malibu bar	Malibu courtyard

Macanao Lodge: This is one of the largest - and certainly one of the most luxurious - posadas on the Island, located on the beach but also close to the bustling village square. All the rooms have showers and are light and airy with an attractive tropical garden in the courtyard. The rate at Macanao is inclusive of all national beverages.

Posada Macanao	Inside Macanao	Macanao bedroom	Macanao roof terrace

Posada Movida: This posada has 6 rooms and is located off the Calle de Laguna. Run by a young Italian couple, there is a friendly laid back atmosphere. The main living area features a graceful mahogany table, turtle shells on the walls, and wooden shutters that are flung open to let light pour into the room. Guestrooms are located off a narrow alley leading away from the main living area, and decorated with beautiful arrangements of coral and shell. A wooden staircase leads to a rooftop terrace, where guests can relax on the wrap around sofa with a cold drink to hand, or in hammocks slung beneath the shade of a wooden trellis.

Posada Natura Viva: Located between the plaza Mayo and the sea, this large posada occupies a central position in the settlement. 16 rooms lead off from a central courtyard framed by lime green walls. The door of each room features an original oil painting depicting some form of marine life, such as corals, shells, flamingos or tropical fish.  The garden in the courtyard is surrounded by mosaic patterns, and colonnades supporting the eaves impart the feeling of a sun drenched Italian Palazzo. Guests dine at the far end of the courtyard beneath the shade of a tiled roof, or giant parasols to shield them from the sun. Brightly coloured stairs lead to an expansive roof top terrace that enjoys panoramic views out to sea. Here guests can sit up at the bar fashioned from the varnished bows of a ship’s hull and sip an ice cold cocktail, or relax on comfortable sun loungers, perhaps visit the tiny spa, or read a book in a shady alcove surrounded by a tangle of pink flowering vines.

Posada Natura Viva	Natura dining room	Natura roof terrace	Natura terrace

2007 - 08 dates and prices (£) for Los Roques posadas