Parque Nacional El Ávila, Caracas

The Cerro El Ávila forms an integral part of Caracas, and it is from this famous hill that Caracas has obtained the nickname of "The Sultan of Ávila". Our valley owes its yearly average temperature of 23°C to this hill, which separates the city from the Caribbean coast, and is known as the "green guardian". It also provides the city with a permanent supply of oxygen. The Guaraira Repano hill in Sierra Grande, whose indigenous name was changed, is now named after Alferez Mayor from Campo Gabriel de Ávila. In 1575 he set up camp on its hillside. Few cities in the world possess a place of such diversity like that of El Ávila, which is a paradise for adventurers, explorers, nature lovers, generations of artists, scientists and children of all ages. The Parque Nacional, which was opened in 1958, and currently covers an area of 85,192 hectares, offers many places of interest, such as El Pico Naiguatá (the Naiguatá summit, which reaches a height of 2,765 meters), la Silla de Caracas (the Seat of Caracas), el Camino de los Españoles (the Route of the Spaniards), el Castillo de San Carlos (San Carlos' Castle), la Hacienda Santo Cristo and la Fila del Indio. The historic ruins include Corozal, Guayabal and Tabacal, the Sanctuaries of Sabas Nieves, Sebucán and La Julia, and the Galipán village, which is the sole authorized commune in the park.