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| Pueblo Viejo
with ‘old’ Caribbean architecture and a Venetian lagoon layout
puebloviejo.com.ve
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ANNUAL EVENTS: |
| The country's largest
regatta, the South Caribbean Ocean Regatta
takes place every year usually in August.
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|
November 8 of every year since then
is celebrated as the Dia de la Virgen del Amparo
(Day of the Virgin of Amparo) |
|
May 3 as the Dia de la Santa
Cruz (Day of the Holy Cross). |
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Puerto La Cruz,
Barcelona, Guanta and Lechería form a big financial and economic center
of eastern Venezuelan.
This touristic zone is also called the Door to
Eastern Venezuela. Paseo Colón (Columbus promenade) is the main
beach-front strand,from here you can either stroll along the beach and
watch the water-taxis come and go with their sunseeker passengers, or
view the town's lovely Plaza Bolivar as you prepare your appetite
for a nice dinner in one of the many varied restaurants.
The beach at Puerto La Cruz itself is
mediocre by Venezuelan standards, but the city has made its name
as a staging post to the white sand beaches of the islands just off the
coast, most of which are included within Mochima National Park.
The Islands: Near Puerto La Cruz
is a group of about 25 barrier islands, all within a short pirogue boat
ride from either Puerto La Cruz or one of the many small fishing
villages on the coast west of Puerto La Cruz. The islands, although
close in distance, are a world away. Stark cliffs rise out of the deep
blue sea into a rarefied blue sky. Cool waters offer beautiful
snorkeling and a bounty for fishermen. You can visit one of the many
beaches or anchor a boat in an isolated cove and see no one but the
frigates, pelicans and boobies swooping overhead.
Hire a boat to take a ride to the neighboring islands, such as Las
Chimanas, Cachicamo and
Borracha.
Puerto La Cruz is the home to oil
refineries and is the second largest oil producing region in the country
after Zuliaone of the most important in the country. It
refines 200,000 barrels per day, and supplies the domestic market as
well as Caribbean countries such as Cuba and the Antilles.
El Morro
Between Barcelona and Puerto La Cruz is the development of El Morro, a
vast project initiated in the 1980s. This immense complex built to house
thousands of tourists and Venezuelans in condos, apartments and hotels
has 12 miles of navigable canals. The complex is home to many marinas
and boatyards and is a popular cruising destination for yachtsmen. Many
water channels crisscross the complex, affording virtually every
dwelling access to the sea. One of the most ambitious developments
within el Morro is the Maremares Resort and Spa, originally built
by Daniel Camejo. A short dinghy ride away you will find two large
shopping malls, five stars hotels, casinos, multiplex cinemas, golf
courses, supermarkets and restaurants, all in big city style. The
international airport is a 15 minute taxi ride away.
Puerto La Cruz & El Morro Travel Guide bycaptainwiki.com
Large directory of all types of businesses and packed full of advice for
international boaters visiting Venezuela
BARCELONA
 |
Unlike Puerto La Cruz, Barcelona has
well-preserved colonial architecture. Due to its historical buildings
and tourism infrastructure, the city offers attractive options for the
tourists visiting the eastern coast of Venezuela.
Barcelona (pop. 300,000), capital of Anzoátegui, has a pleasant, small
town atmosphere, and its narrow streets and white-with-brown-doors color
scheme are quite appealing. Barcelona's city limits includ the beach
suburg of Lecherias and the Peninsula that seperates the Barcelona Bay
from Puerot La Cruz's Pozuelos Bay.
Colonial buildings
surround the Plaza Boyaca, the original plaza built when the city was
founded. The city's cathedral, named Iglesia El Carmen, was built
between 1748 and 1773; a long period that included extensive repairs for
damages caused by an earthquake. The surroundings there are very quaint
and picturesque, contrasting with the modernism found in the center of
the city.An interesting colonial building is the Museo de Anzoátegui, the oldest
building in the city, built in 1671. Other important historical areas
are centered around the three main plazas: Bolivar, Miranda and Boyacá.
On the Avenida 5 de Julio there is La Casa Fuerte (strong house), a
national historic monument which was Initially constructed on the ruins
of the old Convento de San Francisco. In 1811, during the independence
war, La Casa Fuerte was taken by the founders of the republic and turned
into a fortification by Simón Bolívar, being equipped with two canons to
defend the city from the attacks of his opponents. After several attacks
on April 17, 1817, the house was taken and destroyed by the royal
forces, which then went on decapitating all of its residents. It stands
now as a reminder of the independence spirit. There is a statue of Eulolia Buroz, a woman who died in its defense.
The first thing one sees when approaching El Morro
is the modern Centro Comercial Plaza Mayor, a shopping center built in
the colorful Dutch colonial style, similar to those found in Curaçao. On la
Avenida Principal de Lecherias one can also find numerous restaurants and shops.
The principal beaches that surround Barcelona
and Puerto La Cruz can be found on the El Morro isthmus, and include
Isla de Plata, Conoma, Arapito, Cangrejo, Lecherias and
playa Mansa. These beaches offer many open-air restaurants
that serve delicious seafood dishes |
|
Mochima National
Park
|
Mochima National Park covers
94,900ha of coastal
and marine habitat or 1000sq km. is located in the States of
Anzoátegui and Sucre, on the northeastern coast of Venezuela.of
Eastern Venezuela. The park is made up of an exclusively marine
area in its western sector (Anzoátegui State), a coastal marine
area that includes the Gulf of Santa Fé and Mochima Bay, and a
mountainous area that covers the Turimiquire Dam
watershed (Sucre State).
The mainland portion of the park consists principally of
mountainous coastline, mangroves and golden sandy coves. Along
the coast, scattered trees, grasses and shrubs predominate the
dry terrain. As the land rises to the coastal mountains, the
vegetation grows thicker and more exuberant, fostering a wider
variety of flora, particularly ferns and orchids. Further inland
are waterfalls, clear pools and woodland hiking trails. Resident
fauna includes jaguars, sloths, capuchin monkeys, opossums,
armadillos, agoutis, iguanas, many species of snake and
sea-birds such as gulls, pelicans and frigates. The park has 78
mammal species and about 28 reptile species, including four
species of endangered sea turtles. There is no bird checklist
for Mochima, but 150 species have been found near the
Turimiquire Dam in the south of the park, an area of high bird
endemism.
BEACHES: Playa Arapito, Playa Colorada and
Playa Santa Fe are the best known of Mochima's beaches.
Playa Blanca - the park's most famous and a beautiful
beach with white sand, turquoise water beach and marvelous coral
reefs. It offer many services and easy access to the town of
Mochima Near the peninsula known as Aceite Castilla, is
Manare, a fishermen settlement, lies on the western
side of the peninsula, Even closer to town, is
Las Maritas with disembarking from the sea.
Though quiet throughout the
week, the beaches transform into busy tourist hotspots at
weekends. The calm waters are perfect for swimming and fishing
boats can be chartered to visit a number of islands and reefs
just offshore, which are wonderful for snorkeling and fishing.
TOWNS: The little side road down to the
village of Mochima gives spectacular views over mangrove-lined
Mochima Bay, the mainland section of Mochima National Park and
actually a series of submerged valleys or fjords. Most of the other
villages have small hotels, posadas, and restaurants, and
camping is popular on the beaches. Por puestos, taxis and buses
operate along the coast road and any beach or bay is easily
accessible.
Santa Fe,
50 minutes from Puerto
La Cruz by road, located in Mochima National Park at the foot of
the Turimiquire Mountains, founded by the Franciscan
fathers during Columbus' third trip to the Americas.
ISLANDS: The Park contains over
35 islands, secluded beaches and crystal clear waters stretching
eastward toward Margarita Island as well as a significant portion of the
adjacent coastal mountain ranges. The deep water between Mochima’s islands is good for whale-spotting, and dolphins and turtles
are often seen, along with many seabirds. There are wonderful sunsets,
best seen from high along the cliff tops. Much of this area is
accessible by car. Fishing, diving and snorkelling are excellent as is
the seafood. The islands of Canoa and Canoíta, offer a
unique landscape where snorkeling in its rich coral bedz. There is a
sunken steamboat in this underwater universe. These deserted beaches
remain closed to the public from May to August, for the nesting season
of the protected sea turtle.
On the islands there’s good hiking
where you can easily spot iguanas. The treks to the top of the island
are rewarded with an magnificent views of the park.
When the park was created, many
human settlements were included in it which creates difficult
threats that The National Parks Institute (INPARQUES) can only
marginally mitigate. |
If you're a group of four or more,
chartering a yacht to cruise the islands of Mochima, or to head east to
Los Roques, can be more economical than you might think
|
Getting
There
|
| (BLA) Gen J A Anzoategui Airport,
Barcelona, VE |
|
AVIOR flys often from Margarita Island's Porlamar airport.
Domestic airlines Aserca Airlines Aeropostal, CONVIASA are
regulars as well |
| Bus: Terminal de
Pasajeros is 3 block south of Plaza Bolivar on Calle Juncal. Its
5 hours to Caracas 4 by por puesto, 5
hours to Ciudad Bolivar, 3 hours to
Maturin, 1.5 hours to
Cumana |
FERRY: Terminal is off Paseo
Colon opposite Paque Andres Eloy Blanco The express ferry takes
2 hours.
Conferry
conferry.com 0212/782-8544
or 0295/261-6397, Their big conventional ferries take 4.5 hours to
cross to Margarita Island and runs as often as 6 /day depending
on season.
Gran Cacique Express
grancacique.com.ve/0800/227-2600
or 0295/239-8339 for schedules and fares, which change
frequently. Their passengers only ferry operates up 3/day and
takes 2 hours |
| Mochima Transfers:
Best options for transfers to the beaches of Parque Nacional
Mochima is Trastupaco, located at the east end of
Paseo Colon. It runs shuttles services to Playa El Faro
on Isla Chimanade Sur, and to Playas Puinare and
El Saco on Chimana Grande. Just east of town,
at Pamatacualito, shuttle boats go to Isla de Plata
and Isla de Monos. |
|
Places To Stay
|
Cristina Suites
- 4 « [ 250 suites] TV por satélite, mini-bar, restaurant, piano
bar, piscinas con bar, agencia de viajes, tintorería, salón de
belleza,
Dirección: Av. Municipal con Calle Maneiro, Puerto La
Cruz.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 67.4712 / 67.3224 |
El
Dorado Suites
- =4 « [ 111 rooms] suites con jacuzzi, piscina, gimnasio,
sauna, restaurant, bar,
Av. Principal Mesones con Calle 2, Zona
Industrial Mesones, Vía Distribuidor Los Mesones. Barcelona.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 76.9166 / 76.9245
Fax: (58) (081) 76.9366 |
Golden
Rainbow Maremares Hotel & Marina [495 rooms]
maremares.com
Av. Americo Vespucio, Complejo Turístico El Morro de Puerto La Cruz.
Teléfonos: (58) (081)) 800-73767 / 81.1011 /
81.3022 Fax: (58) (081) 81.3028
"Having
lived in Puerto La Cruz for one year, we had
alot of family come and stay at Maremares. It is
definitely a nice hotel, but there are lesser
known yet equally as nice hotels in the area for
probably 1/3 as much ...The
upside is the all speak english at the Maremares
and are very helpful when you have a question." |
a
lagoon-style pool with a wave machine,
cascading
Golden Rainbow Maremares hotel Puerto La Cruz
Marina & Spa. in El Morro
Fotos
at vikingrose.com
|
 Hesperia
Puerto Cruz 200
rooms and 20 suites
Located in the
Paseo Colon,Puerto
La Cruz
telephone TV, swimming pool, restaurants, discoteca, tennis
courts, gymnasium and sáuna as well as beauty parlor, barber's
shop and hall games. |
Hotel Caribbean Inn
-Cuenta con 102 habitaciones y
suites con aire acondicionado, TV, piscina, restaurant, bar,
servicio de habitación, salón de conferencias, parking.
Dirección: Calle Freites, Puerto La Cruz.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 67.4292 Fax:
(58) (081) 67.2857 |
Hotel Caribe
Mar by enoriente.com
- 3 « [73
rooms] Calle Ricaurte Nº 12, a media
cuadra del Hotel Rasil, Puerto La Cruz.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 67.3291 / 67.4973 /
67.5722 / 67.5846
Fax: (58) (081) 67.2096 TV por satélite,
restaurant, bar, |
Hotel Gaeta -
3 « [52 rooms]
Paseo Colón con Calle Maneiro, Puerto La Cruz.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 65.0411 / 65.1822 /
65.1211 / 65.7033
Fax: (58) (081) 65.0065 restaurant/bar,
tintorería, agencia de turismo, etc. |
Hotel Meliá -
5 « [220 rooms]
Paseo Colón, Puerto La Cruz.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 65.1393 / 65.3402
restaurantes, bares, agencia de alquiler de vehículos, servicio
de habitación, salón de conferencia, tintorería, línea de taxis,
etc. |
|
Paseo Colon Gran
Hotel Puerto la Cruz
Sleek Multistory Hotel set in
tropical gardens on a sandy beach, facing Bay of Pozuelos;
30 miles from Jose Antonio Airport.
|
"The air condition was not
turned on in the restaurant in the 4 days we eat
there. The tiki-bar at the pool area was not
open at all and there was no staff working the
pool area to assist us with towels and drink
orders |
|
Punta Palma
www.puntaplama.com
Located in
El Morro
it has rooms Standard, doubles with terrace, Jr Suites and
executives, with Vista to navy and the bay, all equipped with
TV, parabolic and conditioned air. Also the hotel counts on 3
restaurants, bars, discoteca, tennis courts, and swimming pool,
and halls for meetings up to 300 people
|
Hotel
Cristina Suite [250 Suites]
Located in the residential zone, near the sea. 236 Junior Suites
with capacity up to 4 people, 12 suites duplex, a nuptial suite
and a presidential one, mini bar,2 swimming pools,
restaurants, discothèque and gym. |
Hotel Rasil
Cumberland Rooms:
[356 rooms] Paseo Colón
No. 6, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 67.2422 / 800-87833
Fax: (58) (081) 67.3121 |
Hotel
Teramun - 4 «
[110 rooms]
Dirección: Av. Principal Lecherías con Calle Monagas,
Lecherías.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 81.0411 / 81.3773
Fax: (58) (081) 81.3874 restaurant, bar,
boutiques, piscina, discoteca, sala de juegos, TV por satélite,
aire acondicionado. |
|
L' Hoteles New Doral Beach
[1,302 villas] Av. Americo
Vespucio, Complejo Turístico El Morro de Puerto La Cruz.
Teléfonos: (58) (081) 81.2325 / 81.1911 /
81.2628 / 80.1111
Teléfonos en Caracas (reservaciones): (58)
(212) 959.4113 / 959.0291 de hotel y tiempo compartido, piscina,
canchas de tenis, restaurantes, bares, agencia de viajes, tienda
de belleza, librería, boutiques, agencia de alquiler de
vehículos, bicicletas, jet skis, sillas para la playa, etc. |
Riviera Hotel Puerto
La Cruz Paseo Colon 33 ,Puerto La
Cruz,Venezuela Location: Puerto La Cruz - City
Center 72 tastefully-appointed guestrooms
Save
up to 75% by booking this hotel and others in Puerto La Cruz
through Precision-Agoda |
Vista Real
hotel
157 rooms w/ sea views
Located in
Cerro El Morro,
restaurant, cafeteria, a piano bar, 2 swimming pools, gymnasium,
sauna, tennis and all type of marine sports. |
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Parque Nacional Mochima |
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Santa Fe
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|
Playa Cochaima, Santa Fe
Telef. (0293) 231-0073 Right
on the sand in beautiful Playa
Cochaima, our Posada has a wonderful atmosphere. French,
English and Spanish are spoken fluently by the day to day
operators Lynn and Philippe. |
|
Posada La Sierra in
Santa Fe PLAYA COCHAIMA, SANTA FE, ESTADO SUCRE, VENEZUELA TELF.:
+58 093-210042 White water rafting on the Neveri river
is close by |
http://www.santaferesort.com/
only beachfront hotel with diving facilities in the town of
Santa Fe, Venezuela, we offer relaxation and adventure with
incredible views. Dining
in the nearby Nautical Club offers international cuisine
including fresh fish and authentic Venezuelan dishes .
|
Villa Majagual -
Sante Fe, Mochima 12 room posada
Situated in a secluded cove in the Gulf of Santa Fe, Beautiful
gardens surround the 6 cabañas which are positioned away from
each other for privacy. Amenities include: pool, beach
with kayaks, paddle boats and snorkle equipment. Sport fishing
and boat transfers to remote beaches can also be arranged... |
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Los Altos de Sucre
|
http://www.posadavistamontana.com
Los Altos
de Sucre, Sector Cogollalito, Hacienda Vista Montaña, detrás del
Noviciado.TEL: 0293 - 4323542 / 0414-8086430
Fax: 04147756155
situated between sea and mountains on an altitude of 750 meters
above sea level. You will find a fresh climate in a healthy and
secure environment. exercises in Yoga Hatha, Tai Chi, Music
Therapy and Aromatherapy, "Chi Cun", Massage, a bath and
treatment in a natural spring and the contact with the virgin
nature in our mountains. |
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Barcelona
|
 http://www.puntapalma.com/
Punta Palma Resort/Hotel. in the Complejo Turístico El Morro,
in Lecherias with the Caribbean sea in front
"rooms were
fairly nice, but older. Very safe Hotel, friendly
staff, not much English spoken there, $5.00 taxi
ride to the nearest shopping
area, Plaza Mayor. I paid $20,000 b's to get there
from the airport." |
|
Mariano Cubi
Aparthotel
Mariano Cubi 62/64, Barcelona 8006, Venezuela |
|
Marinas &
Places to Stay
|
Repair Services
You can get pretty much anything done here, including major
boat overhauls for a very decent price. Just try to bring in
any specialized materials you may need.
|
maremares.com
Golden Rainbow Maremares hotel Puerto La Cruz
Marina & Spa. in
El Morro
491 rooms
divided in three-story buildings with different views, as
well as a spectacular 3,000 square meter swimming pool,
styled after a lake with waves, a private marina, a spa with
Jacuzzi, sauna and steam,
3 restaurants, 2 bars, halls
for conventions until for 800 people,
a 9-hole golf course, racquetball courts, gym,
2 tennis courts,
terrestrial and marine taxi tours and entertainments in
general
The Maremares Marina is located at the following
coordinates:
L-10º 11.858º North L-64º 40.515º West
The Marina offers lodging services for vessels of up to 150
feet . It has 52 berths
Save
up to 75% by booking this hotel and others in Puerto La Cruz
through Precision-Agoda
La Marina
Maremares by captainwiki.com
|
Centro Marino de
Oriente in El Morro.
PMO - Proyectos Marinos Orientales by captainwiki.com
|
Marina Americo Vespucio on
the Bay of Pozuelos
Avenida America Vespucio Complejo Turistico El Morro
Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Tel: (011) 58-281-281-4321
Fax: (011) 58-281-282-0829
Marina Americo Vespucio by captainwiki.com
|
|
Aqua Vi Marina by captainwiki.com by captainwiki.com
|
Bahiaredonda.com
Bahia Redonda Marina
Av. Tajamar No. 1, Centro Náutico, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Tel: 011 58 281 267 7412, Fax:011 58 281 267 7810, VHF
Channel 71
150 slips for boats up to 90 feet Electricity: 110/220
volts, 30/50 amps Cable TV available in floating docks.
spotty Wi-Fi HotSpot
Bahia Redonda by captainwiki.com
" pay for internet access (6 computers) inside the TBS
Travel Agency office. There is a free internet access
available for email in the Venezuela Travel office" |
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Camping
|
Mochima National
Park
Camping is possible on the beaches, but there have been
mixed reports about security, especially on the more
isolated beaches. |
Santa Fe
Hammocks may be slung on the terrace of the Posada Café del
Mar for $4 pp pday. |
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___________ |
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Weather
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weather.yahoo/Barcelona
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|
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the
Caribbean Mall Needle - You
locate the entrance to El Morro by
looking for the bulbous needle like
building near the Caribbean Mall
then looking east for the entrance.
[more
at captainWiki.com]
|
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Christopher
Columbus was so enthralled by Venezuela's landscape, when
arriving to its coast in 1498, that he referred to the land as
Tierra de Gracia (Land of Grace), |
|
Mochima
National Park |
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Trip Reports
|
|
"Barcelona
is the capital of the state Anzoategui. It is a large city
located right next to its sister city, Puerto La Cruz. In my
experience, Barcelona is much dirtier and run down than PLC. In
fact, this was the area that had the most mugging stories in my
mission. This may have been mostly due to the areas I lived in,
though, I did hear of much more upscale neighborhoods. " |
Santa Fe:
"Posada Bahia del Mar. It's in the middle of the beach and
has the benefit of a kitchen, internet and currency exchange.
Very friendly owners and a nice atmosphere. Cafe del Mar, the
first one on the beach, has good food and is decent, but less
atmosphere.
You are likely to meet Johannes Baumgarten while in Santa Fe.
He's an adventure, slightly crazy, and not recommended for
everyone. If you go to off to the falls in Los Altos de Santa Fe
with him, don't bring much of value and start off early.
Johannes is a local, knows just about everyone and will protect
you from predators both human. He'll show you a whole different
side of things, but some of it you may wish he hadn't. Most
people are really buena gente, but there are some bandits in
these parts. Unless I were in a large group I wouldn't go to the
falls without him" [more]
 |
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|
Mochima National Park, one of the most spectacular in the
country, a long inlet of deep anchorages and beaches off a remote part
of the mainland. |
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