About Tinaquillo
Tinaquillo grew up on a high plain at about 420 metres above sea level, where the hills of the interior range meet the first plains of Cojedes, beside the Tinaquillo and Tamanaco rivers. Settlers gathered here from the late seventeenth century to raise cattle and make cheese, and the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was established in 1781.
Its position on the road between Valencia and the western plains put it in the path of history. On the savannas of Taguanes, Simon Bolivar's army won a decisive battle in 1813, and a monument raised for the centenary still marks the field. Today the busy Troncal 5 highway has turned the town into an industrial and commercial centre.
What makes Tinaquillo special is its living folk calendar. Its masked Dancing Devils, recognised by UNESCO, take to the streets at Corpus Christi, Holy Week brings a procession every day, and on 28 December costumed Locos parade house to house. Between festivals, look up at the twin summit of Cerro Las Tetas above town.
Best seasonDecember to April, the dry season; time a visit for Corpus Christi or Holy Week to see the town's traditions
Ideal stay1 day, or a stop on the road between Valencia and the plains
ArrivingBy road on the Troncal 5 highway, which links Tinaquillo with Valencia and Tinaco
