Gran Roque is the only permanently inhabited island in the Los Roques archipelago and the hub through which all visitors pass. The village is small — a few hundred permanent residents — with colourful posadas (guesthouses) lining narrow sandy streets, a small plaza, a church, and a market. There are no cars, no high-rise hotels, and no chain restaurants. The scale is right.
The airport is a short walk from the village centre. From Gran Roque you can walk to the beach on the leeward side in a few minutes, or arrange boat transfers to the outer cays. The posadas range from basic rooms to more comfortable operations with good food; most include breakfast and often dinner in the rate. The village comes alive in the evenings when the day-trip crowd has left.