Founded in 1959 and attached to the Universidad de Oriente, the Instituto Oceanográfico is Venezuela's leading marine research centre. Its small public museum and aquarium display Caribbean fish, marine fossils, and exhibits on the unique ecosystem of the Gulf of Cariaco — one of the only naturally anoxic bodies of water in the world.
For visitors with any interest in marine biology or coastal ecology, it is a worthwhile detour. The institute is on the western edge of the city and the exhibits can be visited on weekday mornings; hours are not always reliable, so call ahead if possible.