Fodor's Expert Review Parque Nacional Laguna de la Restinga
Porlamar and Pampatar
The mangrove forests of Parque Nacional Laguna de la Restinga cover the 20-km (12-mi) thread of sand that makes up the tenuous link between the main part of the island and the Península de Macanao. (Laguna de la Restinga means "sandbar lagoon" in Spanish.) Here you'll find a variety of colorful birds, such as the scarlet ibis. The park has an unspoiled beach where you can rent lounge chairs, and there are several fishermen's huts where you can buy the catch of the day. Dozens of small, traditional wooden boat operators can take visitors on short trips through the mangrove forests.
