Catia La Mar
Venezuela · Americas
About Catia La Mar
Catia La Mar is a city and port in the municipality of Vargas, in the Venezuelan state of La Guaira (also previously called Vargas). It is Maiquetía's neighbor to the west.
Catia la Mar is about 10 minutes from Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela's main airport.
Named after the 16th-century cacique Catia, contemporary of Guaicaipuro, founded in 1558 by Francisco Fajardo with the name of "La Villa de Catia", currently called Catia la Mar. The city hosts a naval academy and university, a fishing port called La Zorra, and several beaches (Costa Dorada, Playa La Zorra, Playa Candilejas, Puerto Viejo). Its main neighborhoods are Atlantida, Playa Grande, Páez, Ezequiel Zamora, La Lucha, and La Soublette.
According to the 2011 population census, the city had 85,366 inhabitants, making it the most populous of the 11 parishes in La Guaira.
The city was affected by the 1999 Vargas tragedy, by 2026 United States strikes in Venezuela and 2026 Venezuela earthquakes.
Catia La Mar travel guide
See
1 Castillo Las Salinas. A castle that is quite an eye-catcher but spooky too in its abandoned state. Can only drive by and photograph it. (updated Oct 2020)
Do
There are beaches everywhere. These are just a couple of representative ones.
1 Playa Candilejas A y B, Calle Real de Playa Verde. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Playa Marina Grande, ☏ +58 212 3515019. You have to pay a fee here but it is probably safer than just about anywhere else. Plus umbrellas and food vendors available. (updated Oct 2020)
Eat
1 El Meson del Faro. Restaurant with good seafood choices like paella, and a bar. (updated Oct 2020) 2 El Caney del Chivo, Av La Marina, ☏ +58 424 1794385. Seafood by the sea. (updated Oct 2020)
Sleep
Hotel Catimar, Urbanización Puerto Viejo Av. Ppal., ☏ +58-212-351-90-97, fax: +58-212-352-46-03. Has an airport shuttle 5 minutes from Caracas airport. US$30-60. 1 Venezuela Marriott Hotel Playa Grande, Avenida El Hotel. Playa Grande, ☏ +58 212 3358700. This is a nice hotel if you're looking for a pool fronting the sea and willing to pay a price for it. Comes with a spa and restaurant and the Marriott brand name too of course. $89. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Hotel Restaurant Alto Mar, Avenida La Armada, Catia La Mar 1162, ☏ +58 212 3525393. Hotel with inviting restaurant not far from the sea but also right next to a noisy road. (updated Oct 2020) 3 Hotel Playa y Brisa, Calle El Pedregal, Maiquetía, ☏ +58 212 3125217. This hotel with a unique building design and a restaurant is right across from the beach. (updated Oct 2020) 4 residencia Nautilius, Av La Playa. Pool by the beach. (updated Oct 2020)
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.