Cayo Sal, Morrocoy
Cayo Sal is an island in the southeastern Caribbean Sea belonging to Venezuela. Administratively, it is part of the Monseñor Iturriza Municipality in the western state of Falcón. It is also a protected area integrated into the Morrocoy National Park.
Geography
The island has an approximate surface area of 61.78 hectares (0.6178 km²) and a perimeter of 3.71 kilometers. It is located about 1 kilometer northeast of the Venezuelan coastal town of Chichiriviche.
A defining geographical feature of Cayo Sal is the presence of a large saltwater lagoon in its central area. Historically, this salt pan was utilized for salt extraction, which gave the key its name (Sal means salt in Spanish).
It should not be confused with a much larger key of the same name located in the Los Roques Archipelago, a federal dependency of Venezuela.
Tourism
Cayo Sal is a well-known tourist destination among domestic and international visitors to Morrocoy National Park. Due to its close proximity to the mainland, it is highly accessible, requiring roughly a 10-minute boat ride (locally known as a peñero) from the Chichiriviche pier.
The island features basic tourist infrastructure, including a park ranger post, a small chapel, public restrooms, and boat services that offer local food and shade rentals (umbrellas and chairs).
See also
- List of islands of Venezuela
- Geography of Venezuela