Carnaval de Puerto Cabello

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Carnival & ParadePuerto Cabello
DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking
Duration4 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forMasks, paradesWhat sets Puerto Cabello apart from other
Language["es"]Currency: VES
CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type
The story

Carnaval de Puerto Cabello in Puerto Cabello

Carnaval de Puerto Cabello is the pre-Lenten street carnival of the historic Caribbean port city of Puerto Cabello in Carabobo state, with a documented lineage tracing back to 1871. Known locally as one of Venezuela's fiestas de la carne, it fills the colonial port streets with masked comparsas, costumed dancers and Carabobo carnival characters in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday.

Puerto Cabello has held carnival celebrations since at least 1871, making it one of Venezuela's longest-running civic carnival traditions and a fixture of what Venezuelans call the fiestas de la carne, the pre-Lenten feast before the fasting season of Cuaresma begins.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What sets Puerto Cabello apart from other Venezuelan carnivals is its layering of distinct local diversiones rather than one generic parade

02

The mystery stays covered

Carabobo-style carnival brings out La Burra, a costumed mock-donkey figure, El Caiman, a snapping crocodile character, and El Alacran, a scorpion figure, all paraded through the streets by neighborhood comparsas

03

The city starts moving

The port town also keeps a rarer, more solemn strand alive in its San Millan district: La Hamaca, a ritual dance performed during carnival season that honors the dead, folding an older commemorative custom into the street party

04

The water draws everyone in

Combined with more than a century and a half of continuous celebration in a working Caribbean port, this mix of costumed mischief and ancestral remembrance gives Puerto Cabello's carnival a character distinct from the beach-resort carnivals of nearby coastal cities

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Rooted in the Carabobo state carnival repertoire of costumed diversiones such as La Burra

Water and renewal

Living ritual

El Caiman and El Alacran

The sacred route

Living ritual

alongside the more solemn La Hamaca de San Millan

The local code

Living ritual

a dance of promise and remembrance for the dead performed in the San Millan barrio during carnival season

Tradition 5

Living ritual

distinct from the region's Corpus Christi devil-dancing traditions

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Expect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing suited to a hot, humid Caribbean port climate; closed shoes that can survive crowded, sometimes wet streets from water play; sun protection such as a hat and...

Safety

For Carnaval de Puerto Cabello, keep the basics simple: small bag, charged phone, meeting point and respect for crowd controls.

Where to stay

Choose lodging by the part of Puerto Cabello you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

["es"] · VES

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map10.47 N, 68.01 WOpen in Google Maps

Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela

Nearest airportVLN — Arturo Michelena
TransportExpect street closures, dense pedestrian flow, and slow exits. Comfortable shoes are essential.
Stay areaChoose lodging by the part of Puerto Cabello you will actually use, not only by the cheapest room.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Puerto Cabello via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Puerto Cabello, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing suited to a hot, humid Caribbean port climate; closed shoes that can survive crowded, sometimes wet streets from water play; sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen for daytime events.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Venezuela and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Carnaval de Puerto Cabello?

Carnaval de Puerto Cabello is listed for Past edition: 14–17 February 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Carnaval de Puerto Cabello take place?

The festival is listed in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

4 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Puerto Cabello, Carabobo, Venezuela

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLguiacomercialpuertocabello.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February
Source statusOfficial source linked
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