Introduction[]
Situated on the Western shore of the largest freshwater lake in South America, the city of Maracaibo is the second largest city in Venezuela and is also the oil capital of the country. Many people also travel to the region around Maracaibo to watch the phenomenon of Catatumbo lightning, although the phenomenon has disappeared during a recent drought in the region. While there is a pleasant looking colonial core in the city, the main attraction of the city is as a hub to explore the West of Venezuela.
Location[]
In Northwestern Venezuela, on the Western coast of Lago Maracaibo, 262 kilometres Northwest of Caracas.
Things to Do[]
- Catatumbo lightning where Río Catatumbo empties into Lago Maracaibo
- The colonial centre
Weather[]
The city of Maracaibo has a tropical climate, which is slightly tempered by Lago Maracaibo. It is one of the warmest cities in Venezuela, with a pronounced wet season lasting from April to November.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Av. High/˚C | 32.5 | 32.8 | 33.1 | 33.1 | 33.1 | 33.6 | 34.1 | 34.2 | 33.6 | 32.5 | 32.4 | 32.5 |
| Daily Mean/˚C | 26.5 | 26.8 | 27.4 | 27.9 | 28.1 | 28.3 | 28.5 | 28.5 | 28.2 | 27.5 | 27.3 | 26.8 |
| Av. Low/˚C | 22.8 | 23.2 | 24.1 | 24.8 | 25.0 | 24.9 | 24.9 | 24.9 | 24.6 | 24.1 | 24.1 | 23.3 |
| Precipitation/mm | 5.1 | 2.7 | 5.9 | 52.1 | 66.8 | 55.4 | 26.5 | 60.0 | 104.0 | 114.4 | 70.6 | 16.9 |
Getting There & Away[]
La Chinita International Airport near Maracaibo has flights to Miami on American Airlines. Various domestic locations are served, including Caracas, Barcelona, Valencia, Puerto Ordaz, Las Piedras, Porlamar and Oranjestad.
The long-distance bus terminal, Terminal de Pasajeros, is located about a kilometre Southwest of the historic centre of the city. It serves domestic destinations such as Caracas (10 hours 30 minutes), Mérida (9 hours), Barquisimeto (5 hours), Carora (3 hours 30 minutes), Coro (4 hours) and Valera (4 hours). There are also buses to Santa Marta in Colombia.