☰Henri Pittier National Park

Henri Pittier National Park surrounds Choroni on three sides, a mountain wall of cloud forest that separates the coast from the inland plains of Aragua state. The park protects over 107,000 hectares of some of the most diverse tropical habitat in South America. The road from Maracay to Choroni passes through the park for about 30 kilometres, climbing through secondary forest into true cloud forest before descending dramatically through steep switchbacks to the Caribbean coast. The drive alone, particularly in the upper reaches, is worth slowing down for.

For birdwatchers, Henri Pittier is a pilgrimage site. The park's range of elevations and habitats — from the coastal scrub near the beach through cloud forest to humid montane vegetation — supports over 500 bird species, including numerous species found nowhere else in Venezuela. The Rancho Grande Biological Station at the park's pass is a good base for birding in the upper forest; local guides can be arranged there. Hiking trails leave from various points along the Maracay road, but most require a guide and suitable footwear. The lower trails near the coast are more accessible without a guide.