Cueva del Guacharo

The Cueva del Guácharo runs about ten kilometres into the limestone of the northeastern mountains and holds a colony of oilbirds, nocturnal birds that roost in total darkness, navigate by clicking echolocation and leave at dusk to feed on palm fruit. Alexander von Humboldt described them here in 1799, giving the species its scientific name. It became Venezuela's first natural monument in 1949, and tours go in as far as the birds allow.

Background

The park lies 12 kilometres from Caripe and was created on 27 May 1975, joining the cave to the cloud forest around it over 627 square kilometres. Guácharo Cave is the longest in Venezuela, with large chambers and rock formations, and inside the air stays near 19 C with humidity at 100%. The oilbirds that give the cave its name measure around 48 cm including the tail. Across the park 367 bird species have been recorded, and it is listed as an Important Bird Area.

Source: Wikipedia, "Cueva del Guácharo National Park"

Highlights

• The oilbird colony - thousands of nocturnal fruit-eating birds roosting in the dark.
• The echolocation - the clicking the birds use to navigate inside the cave.
• The Humboldt connection - the site he described in 1799 and named the species from.
• The formations - stalactites and columns in the visited chambers.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the most reliable for access. The birds leave at dusk, which is the best time to watch the exodus. The cave can close in high water.

Before you go

Guides are compulsory and cameras, phones and lights are prohibited inside to protect the birds. The visit goes only part way into the cave. Flooding closes it at times in the rainy season.

Nearby

Caripe is nearby, and Mochima is west.

Key facts