“The nineteenth century saw Corsican immigration to Venezuela, with Corsicans playing a substantial role in the cocoa industry. German immigration included the founding of Colonia Tovar in 1843, and German traders played a significant economic role particularly around Maracaibo. By the turn of the nineteenth century and the Venezuela Crisis of 1902–1903, German traders dominated Venezuela’s import/export sector and informal banking system”

And here is one of their websites

http://www.coloniatovar.net/historia.htm

If you read articles from the era of the Colonia Tovar..the idea was to preserve and shared their culture (and..until they could no longer married within..)

Some
Translation from their website

Economy.

During the administration of Guzmán Blanco, starting in 1870, they achieved great the progress in their economy. The thriving coffee economy led the settlers to expand outside the boundaries of the Colony, cultivating the lands north of the range.

Over the years, despite many setbacks, the “Coloniero” name under which from the beginning it was known to the descendants of German settlers, were intensifying the cultivation of legumes, vegetables and fruits, which were selling well in Caracas (cap. of Vzla) and La Victoria.(AND still do!!and high end quality) Also taking advantage of the superb quality of the wood in areas near the Colonia Tovar areas, Coloniero began manufacturing barrels that were sold, especially in Victoria.

Tourism.

In 1964, during the government of Romulo Betancourt, it is decreed to the Colonia Tovar and adjacent areas as tourist areas, by Presidential Decree No. 1165, and thereafter the various sectors of the municipality Tovar have been integrated to tourism.

Slowly and taking advantage of excellent weather conditions in the area as well as the gastronomy of their native Germany, and the ability of Coloniero to manufacture all kinds of craft items, they were comprising the natives of the region, the splendid possibilities tourism in the valley.

The first hotel to be built was the Black Forest, which followed the Kaiserstuhl and the Drei Tannen. Subsequently Bergland, Upper Bavaria, Edelweiss and many more were built, making the Colonia Tovar in one of the first tourist centers of the country and, undoubtedly, the highest per capita income of Venezuela, in proportion to its population.

We love the Colonia Tovar …unique in every way…
You can purchase Real Great Hammocks!! 🙂