Bocono

Boconó sits at around twelve hundred metres in a fertile fold of the Trujillo Andes, wet and green where much of the surrounding country is dry, and it has been called the garden of Venezuela for the intensity of its farming: coffee on the slopes, vegetables on terraces, flowers and fruit in the valleys. The town has a historic centre around its plaza and a strong craft tradition, with potters at nearby villages and a cooperative selling the region's work.

History

The name comes from Komboc, the native name of a local river, and in 1548 Diego Ruiz de Vallejo set out from El Tocuyo for the Cuicas province in search of gold. Boconó was founded in 1560, its canton was formed in 1786, it was declared a city in 1811, Simón Bolívar stayed here in 1813 and 1821 and called it the garden of Venezuela, and its airport opened on September 3, 1955 (Wikipedia, Boconó).

What's there

• The coffee slopes - smallholdings covering the hills around the town.
• The ceramics - the pottery villages around Bocono and their cooperative outlet.
• The historic centre - the plaza, church and streets of the old town.
• The terraced valleys - the intensive hillside farming the district is known for.

When to go

December to April is the driest. The altitude keeps it mild and the nights cool. The wet season brings frequent afternoon rain and landslides on mountain roads.

Things to know

Mountain roads are winding and landslides close them regularly in the rains. Accommodation is limited to small hotels and posadas. Craft workshops are scattered and need a car.

Nearby

Valera is northwest, and Isnotu is beyond it.

Key facts