Guanare

Portuguesa state capital on the llanos, known for the Virgen de Coromoto pilgrimage tradition.

Guanare is the capital of Portuguesa state, located on the Venezuelan llanos (plains). It is known as the spiritual capital of Venezuela — the Virgen de Coromoto, the country's patron saint, is said to have appeared here in 1652.

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Coromoto is the city's main church, while the National Sanctuary outside town — a striking modern basilica consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1996 — houses the site of the apparition itself. The city itself is a quiet, agricultural place on the edge of the plains, without much else for visitors, but it is a convenient stop when travelling through the western llanos.

Guide

Things to Do

Guanare's identity is inseparable from its role as Venezuela's spiritual capital. The city receives pilgrims year-round, with the largest crowds arriving on September 8th, the feast day of the Virgin of Coromoto. The cathedral on the main plaza and the National Sanctuary outside town are the two principal sites.

For travellers not specifically drawn by religion, Guanare makes a serviceable stop when passing through the western llanos. The town has the services of a provincial capital, the surrounding plains offer wildlife, and the journey into or out of the city crosses some of the most characteristic Venezuelan landscape — flat, open savannah with waterfowl-filled wetlands in the wet season.