La Guaira

La Guaira is a port city on the Caribbean coast at the base of El Ávila mountain, serving as the main maritime gateway for the nation's capital Caracas. The city spreads along the shoreline with extensive harbor facilities where ships from around the world arrive and handle cargo and passengers.

Spanish colonists founded the city in 1589 to serve as an important harbor for trade and connection to the mainland. Because of its strategic location, the settlement endured pirate raids for years, leading to the construction of defensive structures to protect the port.

The city has deep ties to the sea, and fishing and maritime work shape how people here live and work. You can see this connection in daily routines centered around the port and the way locals relate to the water.

The city can be reached through Simón Bolívar International Airport or by cruise ships that regularly dock at the modern port facilities. When visiting, it's wise to check current local conditions beforehand and explore during daylight hours.

Just offshore lies the La Guaira Bank, where marine life thrives and local fishers work their traditional grounds. This underwater area remains vital to the city's food supply and livelihoods today.

Location: Vargas state

Inception: 1589

Elevation above the sea: 4 m

Website: http://vargas-vargas.gov.ve

GPS coordinates: 10.60000,-66.93306

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:11