Majestic forests and countless landscapes interspersed among rivers, streams, valleys and steep. In any of its hills it is very possible to have a natural viewpoint from where, in the background, you will always see the villages and the sea.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Historical review

The Cerro El Copey National Park was established by Executive Decree No. 1,632 dated February 27, 1974. In the recitals of the Decree it is noted that El Cerro El Copey is a predominant feature of the natural conditions of the island of Margarita.

The park is located towards the north of the central-eastern part of the island, in the jurisdiction of the Municipalities Mariño, Arismendi, Gómez and Díaz and its position is fixed by the following coordinates: 10º 57 ’34’ ‘and 11º 4’ 18 ‘ ‘and West Longitude between 63º 51’ 08 ”.

It comprises an area of ​​7,130 hectares of mountainous terrain surrounded by valleys and plains where several towns and small communities settle, the most important of which is the city of La Asunción, capital of the state.

Cerro El Copey is of great importance from the ecological point of view, since it constitutes a distribution center for natural drainage that radiates in several directions and a reserve of water resources. In which high parts of the hill is concentrated the highest humidity of the island and the densest canopy of trees and shrubs.

There are also springs that are vital in a region where the water supply logically has so much importance. The submarine aqueduct that supplies Margarita is being expanded to the capacity demanded by current needs.

 

Decrees

 

Reason No. and Date
Creation: 1,632 dated 02/27/1974 / GO 30,342 dated 02/03/1974. to download
New Creation Decree: 1,544 dated 04/18/1991 / GO 34,819 dated 14/10/1991. to download

 

Plan of Regulation and Regulation of use

 

No. and Date to download
Nº 1642 dated 05/06/1991 / GO Nº 34.758 dated 18/07/1991. to download

 

Altimetry

100-988

 

Weather

Semi-arid

 

Temperature

18º C – 24º C

 

Precipitation (mm)

500 – 1,000 mm

 

state

New Sparta

 

State Superfice (Ha) %
New Sparta 7.130 100
Total Area (Ha) 7.130

 

Public consultation

Yes

 

Date of the Public Consultation workshops

02 to 04/05/90

 

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

 

Geological and Geomorphological Information

It is a mountainous area with steep slopes where the highest elevations of the Island are located, formed by valleys, foothills and abysses. In it, rivers and main streams with a constant flow are born, which allows a permanent regime of water throughout the year, together with the thickness and coverage of vegetation that prevents excessive evaporation. It reaches its culminating point in the so-called Cerro San Juan or Cerro Grande (930 masl).

 

Vegetation

With a height close to 1,000 meters above sea level and in a relatively small area, this park is characterized by a great diversity of landscapes, observed in the lower slopes between 200 – 600 meters above sea level, semi-deciduous basimontane trophophilous forests with a height between 10 – 25 m . and a relatively dense arboreal stratum where the naked Indian Bursera simaruba and the copey Clusia rosea, Clusia minor, Clusia flava stand out, a tree that due to its abundance in the area gives the name to the hill. In this area endemic species such as Mikania johnstoni and Argythammia erubescen are located. Between 500 and 750 meters above sea level, the submontane ombrófilo forest is located, always green, dense, with heights that oscillate between a relatively well developed understory, where the araguaney Tabebuia chrysantha, the icaquito or Chrysobalanus icaco iron stand out. endemic epiphytes such as Croton margaritensis and Clerodendrum margaritense. Above 800 meters. there is a shrub-herbaceous scrub vegetation of 1 – 3 m. high, very dense, where endemic species such as Blakea monticola, Epidendrum johnstonii and Inga micrantha are present.

 

Fauna

It is fundamentally endemic, among the mammals are the capuchin monarchiteño or mono machin Cebus apella margaritae and a subspecies of marguerite squirrel Sciurus granatensis margaritae, the caramerudo deer deer Odocoileus virginianus margaritae, the marguerite rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus margaritae, highlights a batrachian of the place: the frog of the copey Hyla rubra and an endemic snake of the zone the huntress Drymarchon corais margaritae. The species-rich avifauna is made up of the Speckyto brachyptera hole owl, the Glaucidium margaritae anthill, the black daisy thrush Dolichonys oryzivorus, the margariteño gonzalito Icterus nigrogularis helioeides, the common thrush Quiscalus insularis, the popular guayamate Cardinalis phoenicius,

ATTRACTIONS

This park is one of the most important natural beauties of Venezuela. It is surrounded by slopes and beautiful valleys bathed by a fresh and always humid breeze, thanks to the abundance of vegetation in the sector.

This paradise that contrasts with the rest of the vegetation of the island, offers visitors and lovers of the contemplation of nature the possibility of mountain excursions within a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea.

It should be noted that this hill has beautiful rivers such as La Asunción, San Juan Bautista Valley, El Copey and El Valle de Espiritu Santo, which function as natural water drainages that feed many of the neighboring populations.

 

LOCATION

 

Schedule

The visit to the park is from 08:00 am to 05:00 pm

 

Location from the Nearest City

The Cerro Copey Jóvito Villaba National Park is located in the El Copey Mountain Range in the eastern region of Margarita Island, Nueva Esparta State.

 

How to get

Starting from La Asunción there is a paved access road that leads to the La Sierra sector. It can also be reached through the Valley of the Holy Spirit.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations for the Visitor

Do not enter the park alone, maintain a behavior consistent with morals and good manners, stay within established trails, respect signage, not cause damage to facilities and services, do not disturb wildlife, do not cause damage to flora or mistreat, paint or mark the natural elements, deposit solid waste in the places established for that purpose. Inform the park rangers about any irregularity.

Forbidden activities

Start fires, extract species of plants and animals, leave or throw solid waste, mark or cause damage to vegetation. Hunting, carrying firearms or any other that may cause damage to natural resources, collecting any product from the flora of the park, sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, introducing exotic species of wild animals, making or fixing commercial or political propaganda, introducing to the park in hours not established during visiting hours, use of sound equipment that alters the tranquility of the park, use insecticides, take photographs or films for commercial purposes without prior authorization.