Central-Western Region

The Central-Western Region is an administrative zone in Venezuela that covers four states: Falcón, Lara, Portuguesa, and Yaracuy. It stretches along the northwestern coast and into the interior, where coastal plains, mountains, and river lowlands follow one another.

European seafarers reached this coast in the late fifteenth century and explored bays and rivers. The division into four administrative states came later and reflects regional differences in landscape and settlement.

The name comes from the administrative grouping that joins these states by geographic position. Visitors notice the shift between dry plains and green valleys, where local markets offer fruit and vegetables grown in the surrounding areas.

Barquisimeto, Punto Fijo, Acarigua, and San Felipe are the main towns of the four states and serve as starting points for travel. Roads connect coast and mountains, with weather conditions varying by altitude and distance from the sea.

Some coastal stretches in the north lie in semi-desert, while just a few miles south dense forests grow. This contrast arises from differences in altitude and shifting wind patterns that distribute rain unevenly.