Holiday in Maracaibo

About Maracaibo

Maracaibo is the second largest city in Venezuela and the capital of the Zulia state. The city is located on the western shore of Lake Maracaibo, the largest lake in South America, which is connected to the Caribbean Sea by a narrow strait. Maracaibo was the historical center of the Venezuelan oil industry — the first oil was found here in 1914, making Venezuela the richest country in South America for decades. The natural phenomenon of the Catatumbo lightning (Relampago del Catatumbo) at the southern end of the lake is unique in the world: Up to 300 nights a year, up to 280 lightning strikes occur per hour over the mouth of the Catatumbo River — the largest single ozone-producing thunderstorm in the world. The light show has been known for centuries and served as a natural lighthouse for sailors. The Rafael Urdaneta Bridge (Pünte sobre el Lago) spans Lake Maracaibo for a length of 8.7 kilometers and was one of the longest concrete bridges in the world at its opening in 1962. It connects Maracaibo with the rest of Venezuela. The Maracuchos (inhabitants of Maracaibo) are known for their pride, humor, and unique Gaita music — a rhythmic music style with drums and singing, traditionally played during the Christmas season and part of the national cultural heritage. The Basilica de Nüstra Senora de Chiquinquira (La Chinita) houses Venezuela's most venerated statue of Mary and is a destination for millions of pilgrims. The old town (Santa Lucia) with its colonial facades in vibrant colors recalls the trading boom of past centuries.