Maracay is a city (population 2001 census 491,797) in central Venezuela, the capital of Aragua state. Officially established on March 5, 1701, by Bishop Diego de Baños y Sotomayor in the valleys of Tocopio and Tapatapa (what is known today as the central valley of Aragua) in northern Venezuela. It was named Maracay after a local indian chief. Maracay seems to mean "Tiger" in an ancient Caribbean tongue.

Today Maracay is a modern city with a large manufacturing park. Main products are paper, textiles and chemicals.

Maracay is also the home of the local baseball team "Tigres de Aragua".