Cerro María Lionza Natural Monument, Protected mountainous area in Yaracuy State, Venezuela.
Cerro María Lionza Natural Monument is a protected area in Yaracuy State, Venezuela, covering 117 square kilometers of tropical humid forest. Elevations range from 210 meters to 1,205 meters, creating different forest zones with dense canopies, ferns, and vines that wrap around the trunks.
The Venezuelan government declared this area a protected natural monument on March 18, 1960, under President Rómulo Betancourt. Before that, the mountain region had been a site of spiritual practices for indigenous communities for centuries, who held their ceremonies there.
The name comes from a revered deity of the local population, and visitors often encounter altars with candles, flowers, and colorful cloths along the trails. Believers gather at specific spots in the forest, where they chant and leave offerings tied to the beliefs of the region.
Access is through several trails starting from the surrounding towns, and some sections require hiking experience on steep paths. The best months to visit are the dry season between December and April, when trails are less muddy.
Three major rivers originate in this mountain range: the Yaracuy, the Chorro, and the Charay, all of which supply water to the Majaguas reservoir system. The mountain is part of the Caribbean Mountain System within the Massif de Nirgua and spans four municipalities: Bruzual, Urachiche, Páez, and Nirgua.
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