Its terrain is made up of plains almost entirely with the exception of the mountainous western border with Venezuela.

The town of Becerril was founded on March 4, 1594 by the Spanish Captain Bartolomé de Aníbal Paleólogo Becerra during the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

The act of foundation was written by the scribe Martin Camacho and processed in the Royal Audience of Santa Fe de Bogotá on March 4, 1594.

The first mayor of the city was Gregorio Romallo and the first church was named Santa Eugenia.

[5] Becerra ordered the introduction of some 500 units of cattle in the region producing mainly to supply the village of Cartagena de Indias and using the Magdalena River as supply route.