Travel Guide Parque Nacional Ciénagas De Juan Manuel

Even very rarely visited, this national park created in 1991 is no less beautiful! Located in the south-east of Zulia, it covers a few kilometres near the same extent as Los Roques (269 400 hectares) and protects a endemic flora and fauna that finds, particularly in mangroves and marshes, ideal conditions for prosperity. These swamps are a paradise for ornithologists and have also been classified to protect their flora and historical character. Bolívar went there, during his return from Cúcuta to Maracaibo in 1826. One of the predominant aspects is the existence of a deltaïque system formed by many tributaries— Ríos Catatumbo, Escalante, Chama, Santa Ana to mention some of them— from the Lake of Maracaibo. To locate the park by far, it is at the foot of the spectacular electric arc - a permanent and silent thunderstorm - called Relámpago (lightning) of Catatumbo.You will probably not see jaguars, too hesitant, and probably not more manatees, but instead, without any doubt singes monkeys by dozens, freshwater dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis), different from those which one observes in the Llanos, which let themselves approach without too much difficulty and one can even swim in company of these nice cetaceans. At night is a privileged moment to observe caïmans and various ducks snakes that slip between branches of trees. With a flashlight and a good shelter on his canoe, they are marked with their eyes which shine in the dark. All this in the midst of the famous and surprising "relampagos". There are also innumerable raptors and sunset, trees filled with white, black and red ibis, which would make the most Beautiful Jalousie jalousie!! Let's not forget the beautiful sunsets, which are savoured from the house on stilts (palafito) while sipping a coco punch with Omar. At the meal you can sample excellent grilled crabs.You can also visit El Congo, another village on piles of 2 000 souls, properly equipped with a church, a school and even a… plaza Bolívar on stilts!