Barinas is the capital of its namesake state and the largest city in the region. It is set on the edge of Los Llanos in the north-west. Since the primary occupations of the state are agriculture and ranching, Barinas the city is a trading centre. It is also an important transportation centre, which makes it a convenient base for travellers who want to visit Los Llanos for some adventure. Overall, the city is likeable, and easy going with a lively centre and large spread out green suburbs.

History and Culture
The city has experienced a turbulent past despite being prosperous, and as you walk around the city, you will notice the relics, which speak their own story. Barinas was a famous tobacco-growing town with a trading community in the 17th century. Soon, its fame spread as being the only city that the Spanish King allowed to cultivate tobacco. Slowly, other cash crops such as bananas, cacao and sugarcane were also allowed to be grown in the region and so was raising cattle. By the beginning of the 19th century Barinas was the largest and most prosperous town in Venezuela after Caracas! However, the 19th century civil war disrupted the regular trade in the town and country, but soon afterwards, a steady revival of the economy began with agriculture and cattle industries thriving.