Gran Roque is the only inhabited island in the archipelago. A 30min flight from Caracas, it has a small fishing village with just three sandy streets of cottages, a few tiny shops, an excellent dive centre and a number of attractive posadas (guest houses). Most buildings are whitewashed with brightly painted doors and window frames, and fishermen’s colourful wooden boats are beached on the sand. There are no telephones, cars, bars or hotels. No wonder Christopher Columbus called Los Roques "Heaven on Earth"!