Mochima National Park
A coastal park of dry hills, deep bays and offshore islands between Cumana and Puerto La Cruz.
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Mochima runs along the coast between Cumaná and Puerto La Cruz, taking in dry cactus-covered hills, a set of deep fjord-like bays cut into them, and a scatter of islands offshore. The water is clear and cool, upwelling brings nutrients that support a good deal of marine life, and dolphins are common in the channels. Boats run out from Mochima village and Santa Fe to island beaches, and the coast road between the two towns is a viewpoint in itself.
What you actually see
- The bays - deep inlets cut into dry hills along the coast.
- The island beaches - white sand cays reached by boat from the mainland villages.
- The dolphins - common in the channels between the islands.
- The coast road - the cliff road between Cumana and Puerto La Cruz.
When to go
December to April is driest and clearest. Water is cooler here than elsewhere on the Caribbean because of upwelling. Holiday periods fill the beaches and boats.
Honest expectations
Boat prices to the islands are negotiated and quoted high. The islands have no facilities and everything must be carried. Water is cooler than most Caribbean visitors expect.
Nearby
Cumana is west, and the Paria Peninsula is east.
What to pack for Mochima National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
