National park · Venezuela
Duida-Marahuaca National ParkParque Nacional Duida-Marahuaca
Enter Duida-Marahuaca National Park for a day: pay the entry fee (≈ VES 10 000 per person), fly to La Esmeralda and take a boat to the trailhead; hike Duida summit (≈ 6 h round‑trip) in the dry season (Dec–Mar) or skip the trek and explore the river valleys from the village of Esmeralda.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2,100 km² (811 sq mi)811 sq mi (2,100 km²)
approximate
Established
1978
Best months
—
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…Check your own government travel advice for Venezuela bef…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Venezuela ↗Check your own government travel advice for Venezuela before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Venezuela ↗Entry rules depend on your passport and how you arrive (air or land); confirm with a Venezuelan embassy or consulate and your airline before booking.
- Venezuela ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Venezuela before you rely on it.
At a glance
- Country
- Venezuela
- Area
- 2,100 km² (811 sq mi)811 sq mi (2,100 km²)
- The park covers about 210,000 ha (≈ 2 100 km²); figures vary by source and boundary definitions (check).
- Established
- 1978
- Best months
- —
- Permits
- For some areas
Duida‑Marahuaca National Park protects remote tepui massifs in Amazonas, with high‑altitude savanna, cloud‑forest and steep river valleys. It hosts rare flora, jaguar, tapir and diverse birds, and offers challenging summit hikes to Duida (2 880 m) and Marahuaca (2 840 m) accessible mainly in the dry season.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1978.
Size and age
2,100 km² (811 sq mi)811 sq mi (2,100 km²) · national park since 1978
The park covers about 210,000 ha (≈ 2 100 km²); figures vary by source and boundary definitions (check).
Why go
- Remote tepui landscape with high‑altitude savanna and cloud‑forest ecosystems.
- Summit hikes to Duida (2 880 m) and Marahuaca (2 840 m) offer rare flora and panoramic views of the Amazon basin.
- Opportunity to see jaguar, tapir, monkeys and a rich bird community in a little‑visited park.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovCaution
- DecGo
- JanDry, cooler; trails clear.
- FebDry, good visibility.
- MarEnd of dry season, still cool.
- AprRain increases, trails muddy.
- MayRainy, fog common.
- JunHeavy rain, river levels high.
- JulPeak rainfall, limited access.
- AugVery wet, helicopter flights rare.
- SepRain continues, trails slippery.
- OctRainfall still high.
- NovRain decreasing but fog persists.
- DecStart of dry season, cooler.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguar, tapir, howler monkeysAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds (e.g., toucans, raptors)Mar–Aug | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| La Esmeralda gateway | Entrance gate, basic visitor info, parking. | Open daily; ticket required. |
| Duida sector | Trailheads to Duida summit and surrounding cloud‑forest. | Guided or self‑guided with entry ticket. |
| Marahuaca sector | Longer trek to Marahuaca summit, river valleys. | Guided recommended. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate; main park centre near 3.6531 N, 65.4232 W.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | VES 10,000–12,000 | person | Check at gate; covers basic access. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without special permission from park authorities.check
- Guides
- Required for Marahuaca summit trek and any off‑trail travel.
- Camping
- Only in designated campgrounds near Esmeralda; wild camping prohibited.
- Fires
- Open fires banned; use portable stoves.
- Litter
- Carry out all waste; pack‑in‑pack‑out policy.
Where to stay
Near the park
Esmeralda town
Basic guesthouses and a few eco‑lodges; 20 min drive to park gate.
Near the park
Culebra village
River‑front cabins, limited services.
Safety
Heavy rain and fog medium
Remote location, limited cell coverage high
Steep, slippery terrain medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Trailheads reachable by 4‑WD vehicle from Esmeralda.
- Summit routes are steep and not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in locally owned lodges to support community.
- Follow park waste policies; avoid single‑use plastics.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Duida-Marahuaca National Park?
Entry is about VES 10 000–12 000 per person; purchase the ticket at the La Esmeralda gate.
What are the best hikes in Duida-Marahuaca National Park?
Duida summit (≈ 6 h) is the most accessible; Marahuaca summit (8–10 h) offers a longer challenge and better views, both best in the dry season (Dec–Mar).
When is the best time to visit Duida-Marahuaca National Park?
The dry months December to March provide clearer trails and lower river levels; the rest of the year is very rainy and foggy.
Do I need a guide for any part of the park?
A guide is mandatory for the Marahuaca summit trek and any off‑trail travel; Duida summit can be done self‑guided with the entry ticket.
Are there accommodations inside the park?
No permanent lodges; stay in nearby Esmeralda or Culebra villages, which offer basic guesthouses and eco‑lodges.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Duida-Marahuaca National Park
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