In 1693 a large group of granas Jews originally from Leghorn left Curaçao for Tucacas.

They began to purchase cocoa beans and tobacco from the interior of Venezuela, and mule trains carrying cocoa from New Granada and Quito would arrive in Tucacas, sell their produce to the Jews, and purchase textiles and other European goods in return.

The attempts by Spanish forces to attack the settlement failed, owing to the protection of Dutch naval units, the local Venezuelan population, and the defense by the Jews themselves.

[citation needed] At the end of 1717, the province of Venezuela became part of the viceroyalty of Nueva Granada which also included actual Colombia and Ecuador.

The Viceroy Jorge de Villalonga, because of complaints from the Catholic clergy and from Spain, decided to eliminate Tucacas.

Pedro Jose de Olivarriaga was nominated commissioner against the so-called Jewish "contraband trade."

There are permanent bus services to and from Puerto Cabello, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Coro and to most important localities in the region.