Los Roques Archipelago

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Aerial view of El Gran Roque

The Los Roques islands are a federal dependency of Venezuela, consisting of about 50 islands, cays or islets. The archipelago is an atoll located some 145 Km (80 miles) directly north of the port of La Guaira, close to Caracas. Being almost an untouched coral reef, it attracts many visitors, especially from Europe, some of which come in their own yachts and anchor in the inner, protected shallow waters.

Because of the wide variety of seabirds and rich aquatic life, the Venezuelan government declared Los Roques a National Park in 1972.

It is scarcely populated, having about 1,500 permanent inhabitants; however it receives approximately 70,000 visitors a year, many of them day-visitors who come from Caracas and the mainland. The most important island is El Gran Roque (The great roque). It is the only populated island in the group and has an airport suitable for small aircraft, controlled from Maiquetía airport in the mainland. Other important islands are Francisqui, Nordisqui, Madrisqui and Crasqui.

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Political Divisions of Venezuela

Capital District:	Caracas
States:	Amazonas \| Anzoátegui \| Apure \| Aragua \| Barinas \| Bolívar \| Carabobo \| Cojedes \| Delta Amacuro \| Falcón \| Guárico \| Lara \| Mérida \| Miranda \| Monagas \| Nueva Esparta \| Portuguesa \| Sucre \| Táchira \| Trujillo \| Vargas \| Yaracuy \| Zulia
Federal dependencies:	Los Monjes Archipelago \| Las Aves Archipelago \| Isla Aves \| Los Hermanos Island \| Islas Los Frailes \| Los Roques Archipelago \| La Sola Island \| La Tortuga Island \| La Orchila \| La Blanquilla Island \| Los Testigos Island \| Isla de Patos