The valleys lie in the rain shadow of the surrounding Serranía de Macuira, which reaches an elevation of 900 m (3,000 ft) over sea level.

An important tourist destination in the area is Cabo de la Vela, and Klein Curaçao.

Common species include Acacia glomerosa, Bourreria cumanensis, Bulnesia arborea, Caesalpinia coriaria, Copaifera venezolana, Croton sp., Gyrocarpus americanus, Hyptis sp., Jacquinia pungens, Malpighia glabra, Myrospermum frutescens, Opuntia caribaea, Pereskia guamacho, Piptadenia flava, Prosopis juliflora, and Stenocereus griseus.

[1] The ecoregion is notable for being the habitat of a large community of Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), besides a diversity of birds and bats.

Nearby is the 80 km2 (31 sq mi) Los Flamencos Sanctuary, which is a center of plant diversity for species of Hechtia, Salvia, and cactus.