Tale of Princess Carú – A Tragic Love Legend from the Venezuelan Andes

In the towering peaks of the Venezuelan Andes, where the clouds touch the earth and the winds carry ancient whispers, there once lived a proud and resilient indigenous tribe known to the Spanish as The Dancers. The invaders gave them that name not out of admiration, but because the tribe’s combat style resembled a graceful, mesmerizing dance—swift, fluid, and deadly.

Among the Dancers was their cherished princess, Princess Carú, daughter of the wise Chief Toquisái. Carú was known far and wide for her beauty that seemed kissed by the dawn, and for her wisdom that rivaled the elders. But her most precious treasure was not her title or her intellect—it was her heart, which belonged wholly to Prince Mucay, a valiant warrior from the neighboring tribe of the Mocotíes.

The two were bound by a love as deep as the valleys and as steadfast as the mountains. Their wedding day approached, and the entire land was ready to celebrate the union of the two tribes, a bond that would symbolize strength, unity, and peace.

But fate had other plans.

As the sun cast golden hues over the land on the morning of the ceremony, the blaring sound of the alarm horn shattered the peace. The Spanish conquerors, led by the brutal Juan Rodríguez Xuárez, advanced with steel, fire, and horses—forces the Dancers had never seen before.

The warriors of the Dancers tribe readied their bows and arrows. They moved with grace, their defense as intricate as their dances, but the enemy’s swords and muskets tore through them mercilessly. The once serene mountain echoed with the cries of the dying, and the ground was soaked in blood.

When the battle’s fury subsided, Princess Carú scoured the battlefield, her heart pounding with dread. Among the lifeless, she found Mucay, his brave heart still and his eyes forever closed. She fell to her knees, her cries echoing across the bloodied land. Her grief was so profound that even Yurá, the god of life who watched from atop the sacred mountain, felt sorrow stir within his immortal heart.

Moved by compassion, the god whispered from the heavens:

“Carú, if your love is true, carry your beloved’s body to me atop the mountain. I will restore his life, and you shall be reunited.”

Without hesitation, Carú lifted the lifeless body of her beloved, her tears never ceasing to fall. She began her ascent up the steep, perilous mountain. The climb was treacherous—sharp rocks tore her skin, the cold winds lashed at her face, but she pressed on, driven by love.

Days passed, and her strength waned. Yet her determination burned bright. On the third day, her body gave way to exhaustion. She collapsed upon Mucay’s body, her tears soaking his chest. With her last breath, she whispered:

“Let my love find you, even beyond life.”

And there, in her grief, she succumbed to the cold and pain, cradling her beloved in death as she had in life.

High above, Yurá watched the tragic scene unfold. His heart, though divine, could not bear the sorrow of the star-crossed lovers. In their honor, he gathered every tear that Carú had shed and, with them, formed a majestic waterfall—a cascade that eternally wept for love lost and devotion undying.

In that waterfall, Yurá placed the spirits of Carú and Mucay, binding them together forever. It is said that their souls dance within the mist, whispering to the wind, their love eternal, flowing with the tears of the earth.

Even today, in the depths of the Venezuelan Andes, the waterfall remains. The locals call it the Falls of Carú, and those who visit swear they can hear the faint music of a dance and the soft murmur of two lovers speaking to each other—forever entwined.

Moral of the Story

True love transcends even death. Though life may end, love’s memory and spirit can remain eternal, echoing in nature, in legend, and in every tear shed for those we cherish.