Cabimas, Venezuela

Capital City

This gritty oil town is not for the faint of heart. With a population of 351,735, Cabimas is firmly in Venezuela's industrial heartland, dominated by the oil industry that has shaped its development since the 1920s. The weather is oppressively hot and humid, while the streets are prone to collapsing due to erosion from the rainy season. And bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with political infighting often stalling infrastructure projects.

Cabimas is a hardscrabble place, but one that has carved out an important role in Venezuela's energy sector. For those drawn to the rugged realities of frontier oil towns, it may hold appeal. But for the average expat, the combination of challenging climate, crumbling infrastructure, and convoluted bureaucracy make Cabimas a tough sell.