The city of Santa Ana de Coro was founded in 1527 by Spanish colonists. The name "Coro" is believed to be an indigenous word meaning "wind". Coro is the capital of Falcón State and the oldest city in the west of Venezuela. From historic, colonial architecture to unique natural scenery, Coro presents a diverse set of tourist attractions. On its north-east border the city blends into “Los Medanos de Coro”, extensive sand dunes that form the only desert in Venezuela. The dunes are alongside the road between the colonial zones of Coro and its port La Vela, which are about eight kilometres apart. The World Heritage Site presents an urban landscape of typically 18th and 19th century appearance with cobbled streets and hundreds of historic and traditional buildings. Some buildings reflect the Spanish "Mudejar" (ie Islamic) style, others reflect the cultural influence of Holland via its colony of Curaçao. There are interesting churches and an old Jewish cemetery. Other colonial towns in Venezuela tend not to have conserved their heritage so well, and in any case, the cross-cultural influences of Coro are unique.

Tourist Offices
The tourist information centre is north of Plaza Bolívar on Paseo La Alameda.

Around and closeby
Travelling one hour north, you will find world-famous beaches for windsurfing in the Paraguaná Peninsula. One hour south, La Sierra de Coro presents small towns with a more temperate climate and views of the city. On clear days, you will be able to see the Medanos and behind them the Paraguaná Peninsula with its Cerro Santa Ana. Driving west, you can also visit Urumaco, an important fossil site.

Sightseeing
A feature that immediately catches your attention is the houses' colourful contrast. Deep indigos alongside intense burgundy and ochre yellows give the town a picturesque tropical gaiety. You can enjoy Coro simply by wondering along the enchanting streets,under the lush trees. Coro's cathedral, a valuable architectural work from the XVI century, is well worth a visit. It was the first cathedral built in the country.

Getting there
There are regular flights from Caracas. Frequent buses arrive from Punto Fijo, Maracaibo, Valencia, Caracas and Valencia.