A vast coral atoll in the southern Caribbean protecting one of the region's best-preserved reef systems.
Los Roques Archipelago National Park
Los Roques Archipelago National Park is a vast protected marine and island area in the Caribbean Sea, lying roughly 130 kilometers north of mainland Venezuela. Established in 1972, the park centers on a large coral atoll made up of around 50 islands, hundreds of cays, and sandbanks, scattered across a reef platform more than 200,000 hectares in extent. More than 80 percent of the park's surface is submerged, which is why Los Roques is widely regarded as the largest marine national park in the Caribbean.
The park is celebrated for the exceptional diversity and conservation condition of its coral reefs, as well as for its white sand beaches, shallow turquoise lagoons, and extensive seagrass meadows. Only one island, Gran Roque, sustains a permanent settlement, while the rest of the archipelago remains largely uninhabited and dedicated to conservation. Visitors are drawn by snorkeling, diving, sailing, sport fishing, and the chance to encounter seabirds, dolphins, sea turtles, and manta rays in remarkably clear waters.
In addition to its natural values, Los Roques plays a meaningful role in the regional lobster fishery and is the source of most of the spiny lobsters consumed in Venezuela. The park is administered by INPARQUES, Venezuela's national park authority, and is part of the country's Federal Dependencies administrative division.