Active Pursuits

In addition to the activities discussed below, you should be able to find a Windsurfer, Hobie Cat, or kayak to rent for a few hours or for the day. Ask at your hotel or around town.

Hiking

Two volcanic humps mark the western end of Gran Roque and give the archipelago its name. The tallest of these is just 130m (426 ft.) above sea level. There's an active lighthouse on the farthest hump, as well as an abandoned lighthouse on a high hill toward the center of the island. Both make nice little hikes, providing wonderful views of the Caribbean Sea, turquoise lagoon, and surrounding islands.

Snorkeling & Diving

The diving and snorkeling around Los Roques is some of the best in the Caribbean. Barrier reefs surround the archipelago, with sheer walls on the southern and eastern flanks dropping off steeply to depths of as much as 900m (2,952 ft.).

Almost all of the hotels and local operators will include snorkel equipment (or help arrange rental) as part of their day tours to the outlying cays. A knowledgeable guide will be able to point you to many excellent shallow reefs for great snorkeling. Tip: Whenever you sign up for a snorkel trip, insist on being taken to a live and active reef. Many of the trips are more geared towards bringing guests to the nearest and most popular cayes, where the reefs may be dead or unspectacular, at best.

Ecobuzos (tel. 0237/221-1235; www.ecobuzos.com) is the best and most established dive operation on Gran Roque. Rates run around BsF183 ($85/£42) for a full day of diving (two tanks), including a guide and gear. Your hotel will most likely pack you a bag lunch. Ecobuzos also offers package tours and certification courses.

Scuba divers will have to pay a one-time BsF5 ($2.35/£1.15) national park dive fee, in addition to the park's entrance fee paid upon arrival.

BYOM -- Although all the dive and snorkel operators will provide equipment, either free of charge or for a small fee, I highly recommend you bring your own mask. A good mask that properly fits your face is your most important piece of equipment and a worthwhile investment. Nothing will ruin a day of snorkeling more than a leaky mask.

Fishing

Bonefish (pez ratón) is the primary game fish here. They are stalked in the shallow waters and grass flats all over the archipelago. Offshore fishing options include tuna, dorado, marlin, and sailfish.

You can hire a guide and a boat for the day, with lunch and beverages, for between BsF400 and BsF900 ($186-419/£91-£205) for bonefishing, and up to BsF3,225 ($1,500/£735) for offshore fishing, depending on the size of the boat, number of fishermen, and game sought. Most hotels either have their own fishing guides, or will hook you up with one. Alternately, you could look into working with a specialized fishing operation such as Pez Ratón Fishing Lodge (tel. 800/245-1950 in the U.S., or 0414/257-0167; www.pezraton.com).

Sailing

A handful of charter vessels anchor in the Gran Roque harbor. With the constant trade winds and flat water, Los Roques is an ideal place to sail. The fleet fluctuates seasonally, but there's always a sailboat available for a day cruise or multiday charter. Rates range from BsF215 to BsF550 ($100-$256-£49-£125) per person per day, all-inclusive, for multiday charters with a minimum of four people. Day tours cost BsF95 to BsF215 ($44-$100/£22-£49) per person. Ask at your hotel, or contact TTM (tel. 0212/978-4092; www.roques.org) or Explore Yachts (tel. 0414/287-7554; www.explore-yachts.com), both of whom manage a fleet of vessels.