Barinas
Venezuela · Americas
About Barinas
Barinas is a city in west central Venezuela. According to the 2011 census, its population is 503,442. It is the capital of the Barinas Municipality and the State of Barinas. The city of Barinas is known as the capital of the Llanos.
The original city was founded under the name Altamira de Caceres on June 30, 1577, by Captain Juan Andres Varela fulfilling orders of the governor of La Grita Francisco de Cáceres, who had founded this Andean city and established it governorate in 1576.
In 1786 Barinas state was established in the territories of the existing states of Barinas and Apure. The city became the capital of the state and an important bastion of the patriots during the War of Independence. Cristóbal Mendoza, the first President of Venezuela, lived and practiced his profession in Barinas.
The name of the city comes from an indigenous word which identifies a strong wind that occurs during the rainy season, from the valleys of Santo Domingo.
The city is located in the northwest part of the state, along the river Santo Domingo in the Andean foothills about 165 km from the city of Mérida and 525 km from...
Barinas travel guide
Understand
Venezuela's Llanos is sparsely populated, mostly by tough farmers and cowboys living off the region's main activity, extensive cattle-ranching.
See
Amazing wildlife including anacondas, the ubiquitous capybaras and caimans, hundreds of bird species, and the much rarer jaguars and anteaters. This is also the last stronghold of the Orinoco Crocodile. Stunning flat landscapes.
Do
Go on a plains safari from at one of the ranches in the region. Dance to joropo - the traditional Llanos music.
Eat
Chiguire, or capybara, meat. Venezuela's best beef
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range Posada Doña Bárbara, On the San Silvestre-San Rafael de Canaguá road in Barinas state, 60 minutes from the state capital, ☏ +58 251 269-2304 (Reservations), +58 273 552-3208 (Posada).
Splurge
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.