Naiguatá (La Guaira)

Naiguatá is a parish of the Vargas municipality in the state of La Guaira, in the north-central part of Venezuela, whose head is the town of the same name, the group has approximately 18,964 inhabitants (2018).

History

There is no certain date of its foundation for this picturesque town, however, Luis González points out that it dates back to October 4, 1710, under the name of San Francisco de Asís de Naiguatá, although before it had other names, such as Naguater, then it was called Naigua and finally Naiguatá, the name by which it is known today.

By 1772 Naiguatá was considered an indigenous town, inhabited at that time by 261 aborigines within the town with ancient Franciscan Christian doctrine and outside it lived 474 Spaniards. There were also 240 slaves and 84 bozales (black slaves) for a total population of 1,059 inhabitants. Francisco Javier Longa and José María España would be two of the most important owners of the territory. Economic activity since colonial times was centered on the Hacienda Longa España, which belonged to Marquis Juan del Coro and later to General Colmenares Pacheco. Their main crops were coffee and sugar cane.

In the last days of Juan Vicente Gómez the town began to develop, thanks to tourists who ventured to travel east of the Macuto resort to enjoy the neighboring beaches. Already in the fifties Naiguata became a small city, which lived off the new clubs (mainly Puerto Azul and Playa Azul) built nearby. With the development of the resort city Los Caracas, the Camurí Grande Club and the Longa España urbanization, the parish acquires a new economic boost that translates into greater sources of employment.

The entire area was greatly affected by landslides and floods of mud and stones that destroyed many infrastructures and caused numerous losses of human lives in 1999.

Geography

The Naiguatá parish is the second largest in the Vargas municipality, with 241 square kilometers (only surpassed by the Carayaca parish with 475 km²) and covers a narrow coastline with small coastal towns, such as Naiguatá itself or smaller., such as Carmen de Uria (now disappeared), El Tigrillo, Care, Anare and Camurí Grande. In the latter, near the town of Naiguatá, the headquarters of the Litoral Nucleus of the Simón Bolívar University is located.

In its territory there are three of the most prestigious social clubs in Venezuela: the Puerto Azul Club, the Playa Azul Club and the Camurí Grande Club. In addition to having a private residential complex (Longa-España) and a public recreational complex (Ciudad Vacacional Los Caracas).

The colonial town of Naiguatá sits on the Central Coast, in a narrow strip of the north-central coastal region of Venezuela, on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

In the 2011 census, the Naiguatá parish had 14,653 inhabitants, a number that increased to 18,964 according to 2018 estimates.

Sectors of the Parish

Just as Naiguatá is one of the 11 parishes that make up the Vargas state, this in turn is made up of 9 sectors:

• The Horses,
• Carmen de Úria,
• Green Valley (El Tigrillo),
• Naiguatá (El Pueblo),
• Camurí Grande,
• Punta Care,
• Anare,
• Los Caracas
• Dry break.

Tourism

Beaches

One of its most famous beaches is Playa Los Ángeles, very visited by Caracas residents during the weekends. It is the busiest in the entire Vargas state.

Other no less famous beaches are

• Camurí Grande,
• Pantaleta Beach,
• Playa Pelúa,
• Naiguata Spa,
• Punta de Care,
• Bay of Anare
• The Caracas.

Other sites of Interest

The Pico Naiguatá is the highest in the Coastal Mountain Range. It is located in the central-western sector of the El Ávila National Park. It has an altitude of 2,765 m s. n. m. and a topographic isolation of 2455 m s. n. m., is the highest point in the state of Vargas and the second highest in the Caribbean after Pico Duartein the Dominican Republic without taking into account the Colón and Bolívar peaks (5,775 m s. n. m.) in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. Occasionally - during the so-called 'Pacheco', which coincides with the coldest days of the year - snow has been recorded on the top of the peak, but only in the early hours of dawn as it melts quickly.

As an additional complement, Naiguatá now has a very well-designed cycle route.

Culture

Despite its small size, it has a rich cultural and folkloric tradition. It has earned the reputation of being the town with the most parties in the region. Its long list of celebrations begins in the month of January with the arrival of the New Year. The majority of the population gathers in one of the squares to dance to the rhythm of various popular groups highly appreciated by tourists and locals. Later, on January 6, the coming of the Three Wise Men is celebrated. Then in February they welcome the Carnival, where on Ash Wednesday the symbolic “Burial of the Sardine” is held, a popular festival in which dance, costumes, music, theatrical performances and poetry are combined. In March, Saint Joseph is honored. In April you can enjoy its beaches during the Semana Mayor holidays.

In May they sing to the "Cruz de Mayo". In June they commemorate Corpus Christi with the dancing devils of Naiguatá, the festivals of San Antonio and the most popular in the town, "Los Tambores a San Juan Bautista" and 'Los Tambores a San Pedro y San Pablo', characterized by the beating of drums and typical dances, in which locals and strangers participate.

Then in July and August the summer holidays arrive, and it is an enjoyment of festivals in different parts of the town, to continue in September with the venerated Virgin of Coromoto. In October the festivities to San Francisco, and in November they celebrate, "The day of the saints and the dead".

This is how December arrives with the traditional Christmas festivities, which multiply in this town, because they begin on the 15th and last until the farewell of the old year, in order to begin again with the new year. The town celebrates around 10 other festivals of lesser renown.

One of the most famous musical groups in all of Venezuela is "Las Sardinas de Naiguatá".

Festivities

• January 6 - Feast of the Magi
• February - March - The Carnivals and the Burial of the Sardina on Ash Wednesday
• 19 March - San José
• March - April - Holy Week
• May 13 - The veneration of the Virgin of Fatima has been incorporated by the Portuguese colony that are already part of the people.
• June 13 - San Antonio de Padua
• June 24 - Saint John the Baptist
• June 29 - Saint Peter and Paul
• June - Corpus Christi (variable date) Naiguatá Devils
• July - School holidays and holidays in the squares and beaches
• August - School holidays and holidays in the squares and beaches
• September 09 - Virgin of Coromoto apparition in Naiguatá
• October 4 - San Francisco de Assisis
• November 1- Day of All Saints
• November 2 - Day of the Fools
• December 12 - holidays in honor of the virgin of Guadalupe
• December - Starting from the 16th to the 24th Masses of aguinaldo with parrandas daily.
• Dec. 25 - Christmas
• Dec. 28 - Innocent Saints' Day
• Dec. 31 - Departure of the year