Henri Pittier National Park

The park that started Venezuela's history of national parks and reserves, Henry Pittier National Park is a hotspot of biodiversity. Founded in 1937, the park was renamed after the celebrated Swiss botanist, ethnologist and geographer Henry Pittier, who contributed to study of plant and animal species found in the country. Sprawled across 107,800 hectares (266,379.60 acres), the park has two distinct ecosystems: coastal and mountainous. From misty cloud forests and cascading falls to sandy beaches that open up to the azure Caribbean Sea, the park is a natural powerhouse brimming with rich flora and fauna. Bromeliads, palm trees and ferns are most predominant forms of vegetation. An important Bird Zone, over 582 species including falcons, eagles and macaws are found in the park. 140 species of mammals from puma, tapirs and peccaries have found their home in the park. Teeming with no less than nine rivers, the park serves as an important water resource for the country. Protected and operated by INPARQUES, the pristine beauty of the park coupled with bountiful wildlife has attracted tourists and adventurers from around the globe.