Lose yourself in the narrow streets of El Hatillo, a small, colonial village not far from Caracas. Find yourself on Margarita Island, known for not only its rich wildlife, but also its castles, fortresses, cathedrals and distinctive beaches; and wrap up your tour in Los Roques National Park, enjoying the ocean with chances to snorkel, dive, bonefish, windsurf, deep-water fish, take flight over the archipelago and explore remote cays.

Founded by the Spaniard Diego de Losada, sacked by the English in 1595 and by the French in 1766 and freed from Spanish domination in 1821 by Simon Bolívar, Caracas has profound colonial heritage apparent in its streets and palpable in the villages that surround it.

You’ll begin your tour in Plaza Bolívar—full of history and known for its symmetry and traditional, Spanish layout. Then, after you’ve seen the plaza, the colonial house where Bolívar was born and some of Caracas’s most impressive architecture (the Capitolio, Palacio Legislativo, Palacio Federal and more), you’ll check out some barrios, or shantytowns, set on Caracas’s green hills. The homes in these barrios form an almost otherworldly, nativity-type landscape at night. You’ll continue on to El Hatillo, a small town just outside of Caracas, with a central square surrounded by colonial houses that are now restaurants, bars and artisan shops.

After that, you’ll set off for Margarita Island. Home to two national parks and three natural reserves (with local colonies of scarlet ibis, flamingoes and a parrot species—unique to the island—called “cotorra margariteña”), Margarita is known for its rich wildlife as well as its castles, fortresses, cathedrals and churches and wide range of distinctive beaches (from Playa El Agua, a quiet beach bordered by small restaurants, to Yaque, set apart by its world-class windsurfing and good nightlife; restaurants, bars, discos, nightclubs and casinos are not far off).

You’ll wrap up your tour in The Roques National Park, where you’ll have the chance to snorkel, dive, bonefish, windsurf, deepwater fish and take flights over the archipelago as well as full-day trips to remote cays.

This trip can be customized to fit your individual travel dates and any specific requests you may have. Your travel consultant will prepare a customized itinerary for you. Yampu offers a choice of 3-, 4-, 5-Star and deluxe hotels. In Caracas the Deluxe option is with Marriot or the Tamanaco Intercontinental; on Margarita Island the deluxe suite is at the Hilton (and looks out on the ocean), and at Los Roques National Park the deluxe option is Posada Caracol.

Additional information on this trip:

• Days of Week the Trip can Start:
  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
• Visited Cities:
  Caracas, Margarita Island, Los Roques