South AmericaVenezuelaZulia
Maracaibo
Zulia, Venezuela · South America
About Maracaibo
Maracaibo sits on the route: 25 minutes from Los Puertos de Altagracia.
Maracaibo is in Zulia, Venezuela, with about 1.8 million people. The nearest town is Los Puertos de Altagracia, about 13 km away.
Maracaibo ( MARR-ə-KY-boh, Spanish: [maɾaˈkajβo] ; Wayuu: Marakaaya) is a city and municipality in northwestern Venezuela, located on the western shore of the strait that connects Lake Maracaibo to the Gulf of Venezuela. It is the capital of Zulia and is the second-largest city proper in Venezuela, after the nationalRead more
capital, Caracas. The city has an estimated population of 1,752,602, with the metropolitan area estimated at 2,727,957 as of 2019. Maracaibo is commonly nicknamed "Spanish: La Tierra del Sol Amada" (The Beloved Land of the Sun).
Maracaibo is considered the economic center of western Venezuela due to the petroleum industry that developed along the shores of Lake Maracaibo. It is sometimes referred to as the "First City of Venezuela" for being the first city in Venezuela to adopt various public services, including electricity. The city is also linked to the origin of the country's name, as it is located near the lake from which the name "Venezuela" allegedly derives.
Early settlements in the region were inhabited by Arawakan-speaking and Kalina peoples. The founding of Maracaibo is disputed, with unsuccessful attempts made in 1529 by Captain Ambrosio Ehinger and in 1569 by Captain Alonso Pacheco. The city was eventually founded in 1574 as "Nueva Zamora de la Laguna de Maracaibo" by Captain Pedro Maldonado. It became a key transshipment point for inland settlements after Gibraltar, located at the head of the lake, was destroyed by pirates in 1669. Permanent settlement did not occur until the early 17th century. The discovery of petroleum in 1917 led to rapid population growth due to migration.
Maracaibo is served by La Chinita International Airport, and is connected to the rest of the country by the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge.
Where to Stay in Maracaibo
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Maracaibo.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Maracaibo.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maracaibo?
Maracaibo is in Zulia, Venezuela, about 13 km from Los Puertos de Altagracia.
Road trip
Drive to Maracaibo
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Maracaibo. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 1,752,602
- Continent
- South America
- Country
- Venezuela
- Region
- Zulia
- Timezone
- America/Caracas
- Coordinates
- 10.6423, -71.6109
Tags
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Maracaibo.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Maracaibo.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.