The Delta Amacuro is a 220 miles wide gigantic maze of rivers and creeks through which the mighty Orinoco pours its waters in the Atlantic ocean. The Northern part of the delta is the most humid and swampy, but nevertheless where is most concentrated the native population.

A typical characteristic of the delta is the mangrove (Rhizophora mangle ) which allows the stability of a land in constant formation by the continuous sedimentation of the river.

It is on these shores, flooded daily by the flow of tides (and especially during the swelling of the Orinoco around August), that are erected, almost two meters above the water, the rectangular houses made of manaca and moriche palm trees of the local population, the warao Indians.

The warao, of which the translation would be “people of curiara” wa arao, are born-sailors. Perfectly adapted to this environment, the curiara, or dugout canoe, is not only their principal mean of transportation it is a central object accompanying them all along their life, as a toy from their childhood to their last days.

To learn more about the warao and their culture, click here

Cristopher Columbus saw the coast of South America for the first time on his third trip, it was the coast of the Peninsula de Paria, North of the delta, across the gulf bearing the same name. He landed to the present day village of Macuro around August 3, 1498.

Extraordinary landscape, exuberant vegetation, a pleasant climate, warm hospitality from the population, deserted beaches, here is what appears like the perfect definition of paradise... already 500 years ago Columbus called this area "Tierra de Gracia".

Because of the high endemic number of plants and animals, the 37.500 ha streching from the mouth of Cumana to the Promontory of Paria and including most of the superior portion of the Coastal range have been included since December 1978 in the national Parks system as the National Park of the Peninsula de Paria. It harbours quantity of gigantic trees, flowered- trees, medicinal plants and still virgin cloud forest with its typical bromelias.

The Paria Peninsula is a paradise for the nature tourist. The absence of road protects it again crowds and weekend invasions. It is still one of a few places protected from man-made degradation and pollution. But the small-scale farming in forms of "conuco", the cotton fields, tobacco, cocoa, and some animals demand more and more fertile land and so more forest is beeing destroyed by indiscriminate fires.