| Official Name: | Higuerote |
| Pushpin Map: | Venezuela |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name: | Venezuela |
| Subdivision Name1: | Miranda |
| Subdivision Name2: | Brión Municipality |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Population As Of: | 2007 |
| Population Total: | 25,000 |
| Timezone: | VST |
| Coordinates: | 10.4833°N -72°W |
| Elevation M: | 1 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Patron Saint: | Virgen del Carmen |
Higuerote (pronounced as /es/) is the capital city of Brión Municipality, located in the coastal region of Barlovento, in the state of Miranda, Venezuela, approximately an hour and a half from Caracas.
Its average annual temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius.
The area was sighted by Alonso de Ojeda on his voyage of 1499. The site, inhabited by Island Caribs, has been mentioned since 1515.
Its name comes from the indigenous cacique Igoroto who led the indigenous tribes of the area. Also its name is derived from the Latin origin voice "La Higuera", that is the plant whose fruit is the fig; In addition, it is named after an indigenous tree of this area known as Higuerote, similar to the fig, but smaller and used in America, for the construction of boats.
It was a place of refuge for buccaneers and pirates, and from its waters came the smuggling of cocoa from the Barlovento area.
According to Bartolomé de las Casas, Dominican friar and human rights activist in the Spanish-controlled New World, in his A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, an unnamed Spanish adventurer exploited the goodwill and hospitality of the residents of this indigenous chiefdom. He issued an invite to the locals to board his ship, a frequent occurrence with many passing-by Spanish ships. However, this was a trick in order to get many men, women, and children on board so he could sail to Puerto Rico and sell them into slavery. According to Las Casas, this resulted in the destruction of the town and it caused anxiety among Spanish adventurers who lost a hospitable place of refuge in the area.[1]
The place has been a permanent settlement since the middle of the 19th century
To the west it find Cabo Codera Cape and beyond this we find El puesto de Víctor, the beaches of Chirere, La Cangrejera and finally the Aricagua river. The Cabo Codera Cape works like a giant barrier that prevents that the brown waters that pour out of the rivers diffuse towards the west, explaining thus the bright blue color that has the sea in the zone of El Banquito.
About 30 km north of the city is the Farallón Centinela, a large white and solitary rock of 3200 m2 that emerges 28 meters above the sea.
The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen church, along with Plaza Bolívar square, the modern Plaza Francisco de Miranda square (inaugurated in 2009) and the different beaches of the town, are among the attractions of this town, which celebrates its patron saint festivities each year from 16 to 22 July, with different religious events and celebrations. Like several coastal towns and cities in Venezuela, Higuerote has a musical tradition, highlighting Afro-Caribbean rhythms, especially the Tambor.[2]
Surrounded by beaches, lagoons, natural channels, housing, commerce, urban spaces, shopping centers, tourist developments, inns, hotels, marinas, clubs, spas, restaurants, beach kiosks, communications centers, banks, ATMs, bakeries, among others, constitute it as a true tourist center.
Higuerote has several beaches at a very short distance, such as Los Cocos beach. Other beaches in the area include: Chirimena, Puerto Francés, Caracolito, San Francisquito, Corrales, Chirere, Buche, and Playa Los Totumos beaches.
It has the sculpture of its patroness virgin Virgen del Carmen at the entrance, a monument about 7.5 meters high; Showing us the religious faith of the inhabitants of the town of Higuerote.
In the area there is a great variety of beaches, which are:
More cloudy beaches
More transparent beaches
The fairs in honor to the virgin Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of Higuerote, are celebrated on July 16, and there are processions by land and sea, songs, offerings and fireworks throughout Higuerote.
Religious activities in honor of the Virgen del Carmen are organized every year by the Sociedad del Carmen.