Location: Sucre state Map
Area: 949 sq km
Mochima National Park is a coastal protected area in northeastern Venezuela, spanning the states of Anzoátegui and Sucre, and covering 94,935 hectares (949 square kilometers or 235,000 acres) of marine, coastal, and mountainous terrain. Established in 1973, it was the second marine national park in the country, created to safeguard the montane forests of the Turimiquire Range, coral reefs, mangroves, and the eastern Caribbean Sea's marine landscapes. The park is divided into three zones: a western marine zone, an eastern coastal-marine zone including the Gulf of Santa Fé and Mochima Bay, and a continental mountainous zone protecting the Turimiquire Dam watershed. It is part of the Venezuelan coastal mangroves, La Costa xeric scrublands, Araya and Paria xeric scrublands, and Cordillera de la Costa montane forest ecoregions. Mochima is renowned for its biodiversity, including endangered marine species and coral reefs, and serves as a model for integrating conservation with local community involvement, though it faces significant threats from development and pollution. As of 2025, it remains a key site for ecotourism and research, attracting around 500,000 visitors annually in peak years, while emphasizing sustainable practices amid Venezuela's broader environmental challenges.
Geographically, Mochima National Park stretches about
50 kilometers (31 miles) along the coastline between the cities of
Puerto La Cruz and Cumaná, encompassing a mountainous coastal zone with
elevations from sea level to 1,150 meters (3,773 feet) at Cerro de la
Virgen in the Turimiquire Massif. It includes 32 offshore islands, bays,
gulfs, inlets, and peninsulas, with habitats ranging from coral reefs
and mangroves to tropical dry forests, wet montane forests, and cloud
forests. The geology features Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks
such as sandstone, limestone, and lutite, with emergent limestone along
the coast forming cliffs and micro-climates that vary from
vegetation-scarce areas to lush jungles and sandy beaches. The park's
coordinates are between 10°09'N-10°26'N and 64°13'W-64°47'W.
The
climate is tropical coastal, with year-round temperatures ranging from
20–26°C (68–79°F) in the mainland and islands, influenced by trade winds
and humidity. Annual rainfall varies from 250 millimeters (10 inches) on
islands to over 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) in mountainous areas, with
a rainy season from July to October and drier periods from November to
May, when high temperatures and constant winds prevail. Water
temperatures for marine activities range from 24–29°C (75–84°F), with
calm mornings ideal for boat trips.
Mochima National Park was officially created on December 19, 1973, under Decree No. 1,667, making it the second marine park in Venezuela after Los Roques. It was named after the nearby town of Mochima and established to protect the Turimiquire Range's montane forests and the eastern Caribbean's marine environments amid growing threats from urbanization and resource exploitation. The park's creation included existing human settlements, leading to ongoing management challenges. Prior to protection, the area was inhabited by indigenous groups and later influenced by colonial activities, with the region's coastal resources used for fishing and trade. In the 20th century, oil industry development in nearby areas like Puerto La Cruz accelerated environmental pressures, prompting the park's designation.
Mochima National Park is a biodiversity hotspot within
the Venezuelan coastal ecoregions, hosting a wide array of marine and
terrestrial species. The plant life exhibits 18% endemism in the
Turimiquire Massif, with species like Cynanchum sucrensis and Carex
turimiquensis, and shares affinities with Guayana and Amazon floristic
provinces. Mangroves and tropical dry forests dominate coastal areas,
with Moriche Palms (Mauritia flexuosa) in lagoons.
Fauna includes 78
mammal species (25% of Venezuela's total), such as cetaceans including
humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera
edeni), sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus), pilot whales
(Globicephala macrorhynchus), and dolphins. Reptiles feature 28 species,
including four endangered sea turtles: green (Chelonia mydas),
loggerhead (Caretta caretta), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), and
hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata). Bird diversity reaches 150 species
around Turimiquire Dam alone, with 10 endemic subspecies and globally
threatened species like Basileuterus griseiceps (gray-headed warbler).
Marine biodiversity includes over 300 fish species, sea turtles, rays,
and occasional whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), with mollusks and
gastropods in turtle grass meadows. Land animals include howler monkeys
(Alouatta palliata) and green iguanas (Iguana iguana).
Managed by the National Parks Institute (INPARQUES), Mochima's conservation is guided by a Use and Management Plan revised in 1993, dividing the park into nine zones: Integral Protection, Primitive or Wild, Managed Natural Environment, Natural Recovery, Recreation, Service, Special Use, Settlers Use, and Buffer Zones. Efforts include environmental education programs, such as youth park guard brigades involving children from 16 schools in activities like clean-ups and events (e.g., World Beach Day). Alliances with oil companies like Petrolera Ameriven provide resources for marine monitoring, such as patrol boats. The park's status is critically threatened, with inadequate infrastructure (e.g., only one functional boat out of four) and budget constraints (2002 budget of USD 35,000 excluding salaries). Conservation focuses on protecting endangered species and reefs, with community involvement improving relations.
Mochima is one of Venezuela's most threatened national parks, facing habitat destruction from a new national highway between Puerto La Cruz and Cumaná, which deforested a 70-meter-wide swath, and a parallel natural gas pipeline. Other major threats include uncontrolled urbanization, low environmental awareness, pollution from untreated wastewater and boat traffic, illegal hunting and fishing, mineral extraction, tourism impacts, forest fires (556 hectares affected in 2001-2002), and confrontations with communities over settlements included at creation. Industrial pollution from nearby petrol zones and drag fishing further degrade marine ecosystems. Broader Venezuelan environmental crises, including oil spills and invasive species, indirectly affect the park.
Tourism in Mochima revolves around its coastal and marine attractions, with over 500,000 visitors in 2005 and continued popularity for backpackers and nature lovers. Key activities include island hopping to spots like Isla Caracas, Isla Arapo, and Isla Las Borrachas via boat tours from Puerto La Cruz, Santa Fé, or Mochima village; beach relaxation at Playa Blanca or sandbar walks at Isla Las Borrachas; snorkeling and diving in bays with over 300 fish species, sea turtles, rays, and whale sharks, including night dives; wildlife watching for marine mammals, birds (265 species like osprey and flamingos), and land animals; and hiking trails like Cerro El Morro or Turimiquire for panoramic views and waterfalls. Access involves flying to Barcelona or Cumaná, then buses or taxis to coastal towns, with boat charters for islands. Best visited December to April for dry weather, with tips including early morning trips for calm seas and sustainable practices to minimize impacts.
Research in Mochima focuses on marine ecology, with 115 studies on zoo- and phyto-plankton, fish, and floral inventories, primarily by Universidad de Oriente. Key work includes habitat use by common dolphins, diversity of mollusks in turtle grass meadows, and a recent fauna inventory of the Turimiquire zone. The park's coral reefs and mangroves are studied for conservation, with emphasis on endangered species like sea turtles. It contributes to broader Venezuelan coral research, highlighting threats like bleaching and pollution. Scientific importance lies in its representation of Caribbean coastal ecosystems, aiding global studies on marine biodiversity and climate resilience.
As of August 2025, Mochima has seen no major reported events, but Venezuela's environmental rebranding efforts, including new reforestation and climate adaptation programs, may indirectly benefit the park amid criticisms of mining expansion in other areas. A 2025 article on rivers in danger notes disturbances from deforestation and pollution, potentially affecting coastal parks like Mochima. Tourism guides from 2025 emphasize the dry season (December–April) for visits, with no specific updates on infrastructure. Earlier concerns, such as the 2000s highway and pipeline constructions, continue to impact the park's integrity.