The dunes
Wind ripples.
Guanjarcia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Guanjarcia — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Juan Carlo Castillo Ortega — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wilmer Arias — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Aramburu Carlos — CC BY-SA 4.0
Médanos de Coro is a national park of golden sand dunes in northwestern Venezuela, near the city of Coro. Hills of fine sand roll under a blue sky, rippled by the wind, with scattered thorny shrubs at their edges. The park was created in 1974 and covers 91 km² of desert, coast and salt marsh. The dunes spread over about 5 by 30 km and reach 40 m high, constantly reshaped by the steady wind. Rain is rare, and the park is an Important Bird Area with some 21 species, including the yellow-shouldered amazon. You walk on the dunes and climb their crests, watching the sand run to the horizon, and catch the sunset over them. The best time to visit is late afternoon, when the sun is softer. The dunes begin at the northern edge of Coro, on the road to the Paraguaná Peninsula, and the centre of the park is about 23 km in a straight line north of the city. You get there by taxi or bus from Coro. It is very hot, so bring water and a hat. The UK advises against all but essential travel to Venezuela, so check current advice before you go.
Wind ripples.
Over the sand.
21 species.
Médanos Isthmus, north of Coro, Falcón State
Late afternoon; midday is very hot.
By taxi or bus from Coro.