[1] The national park, located southwest of Zulia state and Lake Maracaibo, was established in 1978 with the objective of protecting the biodiversity of the hilly regions.

[1] The park includes a portion of the Serranía de Perijá mountains,[3] which rises above the southwestern area of Lake Maracaibo, a large brackish bay connected to the Gulf of Venezuela.

[1] Typical species of trees include Anacardium excelsum, the wax palms Ceroxylon, Cecropia, Gyranthera caribensis, Tabebuia chrysantha, T. billbergii, T. chrysea and Podocarpus oleifolius, as well as countless herbaceous and flowering plants, epiphytic and vining aroids, ferns, mosses, lichens, carnivorous plants, tropical cacti and bromeliads.

Iconic South American mammals include the red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius), giant anteater, northern tamandua, paca, and larger felids, including the puma or South American mountain lion (Felis c. concolor) and the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis).

Primates include the Colombian red howler (Alouatta seniculus), grey-handed night, varied capuchin (Cebus versicolor) and long-haired spider monkeys (Ateles hybridus).