The **Anzoátegui parish** of Morán Municipality is the southern gateway from El Tocuyo to the Andean parishes. Its name pays tribute to **General José Antonio Anzoátegui**, hero of Boyacá. It is a land of small coffee, vegetable, and potato producers, with typical hamlets such as **Bucares**, **El Tural**, **Las Tunas**, and **Los Quediches**, where daily life still revolves around the conuco (small farm), coffee threshing, and Cross of May vigils.
About Anzoátegui
Mountainous parish south of El Tocuyo, with transitional landscapes between the Tocuyo valley and the Lara Andes. A traditional, agricultural town planted with coffee, vegetables, potatoes, and black beans.
History of the Anzoátegui parish
The territory of Anzoátegui was part of the **encomiendas of the Bucares**, Jirajara-Ayamane indigenous people who inhabited the area before the Spanish arrival. During the colonial period it was an area of cattle ranches and small conucos dependent on El Tocuyo. The modern civil parish was established in the 20th century when the main hamlet was elevated to parish status. The toponym commemorates Venezuelan general **José Antonio Anzoátegui** (1789–1819), hero of the Battle of Boyacá.
Geography, terrain and climate
Anzoátegui extends across the foothills of the **Lara Andes mountain range**. Its terrain is rugged, with altitudes between **900 and 1,400 m above sea level**. The parish is crossed by tributaries of the Tocuyo River (Bucares and Las Tunas streams) and features transitional vegetation between tropical dry forest and pre-montane humid forest. The temperate climate and deep soils make a productive mosaic of coffee, potatoes, and vegetables viable.
Culture, religion and traditions
Anzoátegui preserves a strong rural heritage: **Cross of May vigils**, December parrandas, **galerones**, and the **patron saint festival of Saint Joseph** (March 19). Traditional cooking revolves around black beans, farm-grown coffee, and goat cheese.
Economy and production
A markedly **smallholder agricultural** economy: shade-grown arabica coffee, vegetables (cabbage, cilantro, scallions), potatoes, black beans, taro, and plantain. Small-scale trade and transport of harvests to El Tocuyo and Barquisimeto.
Main crops
This parish stands out for the production of: coffee, vegetables, potatoes, tubers, black beans.