from the main Caracas-Puerto La Cruz highway. The journey time is approximately 2.5 hours from Caracas.
The main attraction in this area is the Istmo Caribe Peninsula, a 25 km stretch of Caribbean beachfront land which runs from
Boca de Uchire town, to the fishing village of El Hatillo, around the stunning Unare Lagoon. The lagoon is a bird watchers
paradise, with hundreds of species, including herons, ibis and flamingos. Local fisherman wade out to catch the famous
jumbo shrimp. The mountain backdrop is beautiful, and the beach is of white sand.
The peninsula is undergoing a regeneration, with a new road and tourist facilities being constructed. A group of local and
foreign owners, including poets, artists, writers and musicians, are constructing fantastic artist designed adobe style houses,
and a new adobe style shopping arcade, with a delicatessen and craft stores.
The town of Boca de Uchire does have a number of small local restaurants and shops, a bank, and some medical facilities.
An hours drive further east brings you to Puerto Piritu, a much larger town, and then Barcelona which has a regional airport
and extensive shopping and entertainments.
There are also hot springs in the nearby hills, and a new fishermans wharf is soon to be completed, which will offer boat trips
to Isla Tortuga.
