Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2018 | Page 404
Festival and Traditions
The most important celebration in Los Roques
is the Festival of Our Lady of the Valley, the
patroness of sailors and fishermen. The
celebration begins the first week of September,
with decorations throughout the villages, all
reflecting and commemorating St. Mary’s nativity.
There is also dancing to the catchy sounds of
Latin American music and many other activities.
Boats are decorated with colorful flags and, while
playing traditional music, head towards Crasquí
Island in a floating pilgrimage which includes a
statue of the Virgin. They all head to El Gran Roque
where the celebrations continue in the main
square until the next day.
Fishing and Tourism
Lobster fishing season goes from November
1st until January 31st. This is a great time to
be in Gran Roque as culinary competitions
and other activities are held on the island
at that time, allowing you to sample
local dishes and observe and participate
in traditional dances dedicated to the
important resource of fishing on the island.
Ecological Sanctuary
The National Park of Los Roques is considered an ecological sanctuary. The area has been protected from
net fishing and other disruptive activities in order to preserve the coral reefs and its delicate marine life.
Construction in most islands is not allowed and there are some marine protected areas where not even
locals can go, to ensure the conservation of the ecosystem. In town, building construction is limited to
a max of 5m, to avoid visual pollution and overpopulation. All this, together with the limited amount of
tourists that visit throughout the year make Los Roques an exceptional place where absolute virgin islands
are seen and enjoyed as they were initially found by Spanish explorers in the 16th century.