Located to the north of Miranda state is the Laguna de Tacarigua National Park, an ecosystem of lush mangrove forests, with a coastal barrier that encloses beautiful beaches with calm waters and white sands, where you can practice various water activities and enjoy nature.
This ecosystem meets multiple conditions to discover nature. You will be able to navigate in boats outside the edge, do sport fishing, sailing, rowing, canoeing and camping with the family or spend a day at the beach.
The Coastal Barrier, which separates the sea from the lagoon, and La Punta are two of the most visited places by tourists, where you can find beautiful beaches with calm waters, such as Playa Miami, and further on those of Machurucuto, Dorada and Caribbean.
One of the places to enjoy a good dip is La Boca, where the sea and the lagoon meet. It is the key site for fishing because the banks of fish are concentrated there and where the fishermen of the area do their work and, if you dare, you can practice sport fishing.
The Tacarigua Lagoon contains an important variety of marine species, birds and flora. A boat ride through Caño Tuy, in the afternoon, will put you in contact with a diversity of birds, including autochthonous and migratory species, which come from the South, because this park represents one of the five Ramsar sites in Venezuela, name given to the wetlands recognized by the Ramsar Convention, signed in this Iranian city.
It is a spectacle to see in the sky the thousands of colors displayed by these birds that fly in search of food towards the mangroves.
The boat ride or practicing canoeing, will take you through mangrove tunnels such as the so-called Tunnel of Love. There are four of the seven species of mangroves that exist in Venezuela.
Let’s go to the beach!
The walk to Playa Miami is quite an adventure. It is located in the coastal barrier which can be reached by boat or if you prefer more extreme, by kayak, and thus begin the adventure of entering this mangrove ecosystem. The Dorada, Machurucuto and Caribe beaches are located further east of the Laguna de Tacarigua park and can be reached by land.
Getting to Miami beach requires taking a boat at the jetty, with specialized guides, who will take you to a beautiful coast with wide sand, good waves, and because it is almost hidden, it has few visitors.
It was once Club Miami and now belongs to the Tortuga Travelodge chain. If you are going to spend the day you must bring your drinks and food, although the place has several huts with tables and benches; but if you prefer to spend the night, the hotel is beautiful and its rooms have views of the sea.
The Machurucuto, Caribe and Dorado beaches have an entrance through the town of Machurucuto. They are part of the Cúpira river, so the color of its waters is dark, but with waves and soft sand. It is an ideal place to spend a day of sun and sea.
The Tacarigua Lagoon contains 4 species of sea turtles and the coastal caiman, both in danger of extinction.
There are more than 20 species of mammals, such as the matacán deer, crab-eating fox, capuchin and howler monkeys, among others.
There are dry forests with trees 20 meters high, such as the yagrumo, the apamate and the parapara.
There are 290 species of birds, among them the earwig, pelican, cotúa, flamingos, white herons, corocoras and seagulls.
How to get?
Take the Oriente highway via Barlovento via El Guapo-Río Chico-Tacarigua de la Laguna, if you are coming from Caracas, or if you are coming from the East via Barcelona-El Guapo.
Where to Stay?
The Julymar inn, Villa Cano, in the Los Apamates or Las Piedras sector are good options.
Where to eat?
You can get to the El Gavilán de Oro restaurant in the La Punta sector or if you prefer fast food on Urdaneta street, Belén sector, you will find Yorelis Salazar’s place.
If you prefer to grill, you can buy fish at the old Eveba headquarters, where the fishermen meet and offer their fresh produce at a good price.
