El Hatillo

El Hatillo was founded in 1784 and stayed a separate village until Caracas grew out to meet it, and the old centre around Plaza Bolívar has been kept and painted in strong colours: low colonial houses, a white church, and narrow streets now given over to craft shops, galleries, chocolate makers and restaurants. It is the standard weekend outing from the city, close enough to be easy and high enough to be a few degrees cooler.

What's there

• Plaza Bolivar - the colonial square with the church at one side.
• The painted houses - low colonial buildings in strong colours around the centre.
• The craft shops - workshops and galleries filling the old streets.
• Hannsi - the long-established craft store occupying a whole block.

When to go

Year round; weekends are busiest and the shops are all open then. Weekdays are quieter but some places close. Evenings are pleasant with the restaurants working.

Practical notes

It is heavily commercialised and the historic quarter is essentially a shopping district now. Weekend crowds and traffic are heavy. Prices are well above the city average.

Nearby

Caracas is northwest, and El Avila rises beyond it.

Key facts