What do you seek? Perfect climate, fresh air, mountains, waterfalls, great landscapes?... Here, we have it all!. Your biggest challenge is to decide which place you will visit first: National Parks, with a wide selection of flora and fauna. Walk through a Rain Forest, or take a horse and feel the mountains charm. Waterfalls, with crystal clear waters!. Fish in a glacial lagoon, or have a picnic on it's shore.
Wildlife? Whatever you want! The largest bird in the world is here, the Andean Condor. Something more exotic?: Shoot (with your camcorder!) the Cock of The Rock, a brilliantly plumed bird in bright orange with a funny face. Anything else?: Parks, squares, hot springs, and highest and longest Teleférico (cable-car) in the world!.
Come to Mérida, and enjoy its beautiful landscapes. Here, you will experience a whole different world!
Mérida offers something for everyone!
Páramo de la Culata, a magnificent mountain road and a barren plain (2,800 m) with fantastic views of the different mountains, rivers, trees and breathtaking mountain landscapes surrounding the area. Dangerous bends all the way long. Arrival at San Javier del Valle where you will visit the "Fe y Alegría" (Faith and Joy) Foundation. On your ride you can visit a Trout Farm. Along the road you will stop at many artisan shops, old churches and typical houses.
Route El Valle - La Culata
The villages
of La Punta, Ejido known for their "Trapiches" (sugar cane plantations
and sugar mills), or Pozo Hondo a small village that preserves all its ancient
flavor, with very large houses with central patios that once upon a time served
as lodges for peasants and traders that traveled on horseback through the region.
Visit a "Trapiche", where it will be possible to see the ancient process
of making "Papelón" (brown sugar), try "Guarapo de CaÒa"
(sugar cane brew) and "Alfondoque" (typical Anean sweet). Visit the
local astisans who specialize in wooecarvng and ceramics. Sierra de La Culata National Park: Here you will find beautiful, desert like, páramos and spectacular glacier lagoons. The park is home to our Andean Condor, one of the world's largest birds. Visit the beautiful Mucunturia (Mucu means "place of", and tur means "Condor", in the old language of our first inhabitants). "Combatiente", the only captive Condor in the area is located here where you can get a close-up look at this magnificent animal.
Jají passing through La Chorrera (The Water Fall) and Las Cruces on the way. Every aspect of Jají is preserved in the colonial style, an example of the XVII century villages of the region. Jají is a lovely village with traditional Spanish design, with its church, government buildings and wealthy ressdences making the central square. Time for handicraft shopping and do some exploring of your own. Hacienda La Victoria is the most ancient coffee farm in Venezuela. A majestic house, and although rebuilt, it still keeps its ancient style from the XIX century. Here you visit the Immigrant Museum and Coffee Farm (history of the first European settlers in Venezuela) and also the machinery, still preserved, used for processing the coffee in those Venezuelan golden years. To the South Ride along the magnificent road that leads to the southern part of the state, passing through the villages of Estanques, Santa Cruz de Mora and Tovar. These villages are known world wide for their great coffee. Bailadores, a beautiful, small village (famous for having the most delicious strawberries with cream and beautiful flowers and waterfalls), place for a museum called Casa Bolivariana (Bolívar's House), right in front of the main square. Very near Bailadores you can visit the India Carē Park, where you have to climb up hundreds of steps to see one of the most amazing, gorgeous and highest falls in the Andes: a magnificent natural paradise for those looking to contact nature and peace.
Hot Springs: About 2 miles north east of Tabay, and up a very steep, mostly paved road, is a very nice hot springs where the water from the mountains empties into a large pool of about 3 feet in depth. Here they have space for changing your clothes and a small snack bar as well. If you drive to the Páramo Region you will find a spectacular mountain area where you will discover our Hot Springs in La Musui. Here, you'll be able to swim in warm, clear waters, and share a refreshing experience with the people and children who live in the area. Take your bath suit and enjoy one of nature's marvels. In Ejido there are hot springs too, and only 13 miles away from the City of Mérida. Except for a couple of plastic pipes driven into the mountain, these small springs are strictly non-commercial and used daily by the locals to bathe and relax. The trail to the springs is about a 5 minute walk from the road and the locals will point you in the right direction. You'll also find hot water springs in Chiguará, Jají, and Santa Apolonia, all tourist towns of great beauty and traditional culture.
Los Aleros which is the only village museum in the Andes Region. It reflects the colonial spirit and architecture, the houses are lined with red tiled roofs that protect them from the sun and the rain. This is the origin of the town's name, which means wings. Located at about one hour from Mérida, Los Aleros was constructed to show an agricultural village life, housing and customs of the 20th century beginning when the main city Mérida was at a day ride by mule. The Astronomical Research Center is an observatory located near the equator. This location permits a very clear view of both astronomical hemispheres making it one of the best in the world. Specialized guides, who after detailed explanations and fact filled guides, conduct this visit will allow tourist to observe the universe through the powerful telescope.
The
Páramo is the typical moorland of this
part of Venezuela, where the destination is rough and hilltops can be into fog
plunged without warning. This wonderful excursion gives you the opportunity
to witness the most impressing landscapes of the Andean region during a peaceful
and refreshing ride. Our sights will be delighted with the variety of colors
given by the terraced farmlands. It is completely wild, however Spanish-style
houses and old hillside terraces carved by the Indians bear witness to man's
attempts to overcome adversity up here. A visit to Mérida without a drive
through the Páramos (highlands) would be incomplete. In the motorway
towards Apartaderos you will pass Tabay, Mucurubá and Mucuchíes
(famous for its dogs) before getting there. Once you do it, and more than 3,700
m (12,139 ft above sea level), even the strongest body may experience some dizziness
or even headaches due to the height. Difficult to get some sleep and bear the
cold for a person who's not used to it. This town is the starting point towards
two small lagoons, Victoria and Mucubají
(a lovely glacial lagoon surrounded by the special vegetation of this barren
land and the famous Frailejón), where you will ride horseback to get
to arrive at the Laguna Negra
(Black Lagoon), a silent oasis that contrast with the wild landscape, and one
of the deepest natural lakes in all Latin America. Here is one of the quietest
places on earth you will ever visit. 
To
visit the lagoons
you can take a horse, or walk for about 2 hours. The air is cool and you may
be in mountain fog. There is a small museum and a "cafeteria" behind
Mucubají Lagoon. It's possible to camp overnight, but first speak with
the Park Rangers and fill out a small form. Our lagoons are ideal for day or
weekend camping. You'll also have an opportunity to fish in many of these cold
lagoons, where catching a trout is a real treat, not only because of the exceptional
taste and quality of the fish, but also because of the beauty of the area. Do
not forget to go to Pico "El Águila"
(Eagle's Peak) at 4,118 m (13,511 ft) for a short walk to enjoy eagle's view
of the surrounding mountains and valleys Los Nevados lies within The Sierra Nevada National Park. At 8,811 f.a.l.s, with 54ºF temperature it's one of the nicest towns of these mountains. Here you can enjoy the natural colors of nature and see the surviving plantations made by the Mirripuy Indians, first inhabitants of the region. The town offers good lodging where you can stay at a typical "posada". In the morning, take a hearty breakfast with typical foods, and after, visit a farm, where they make delicious smoked cheese. At night, walk to the town square (in the middle town) and look at the clear night sky, enjoy a typical drink, or a hot chocolate. Here too, you'll find a nice little church to visit. The cost of the Posadas is between US$ 12 and US$ 15 and includes meals. You may travel either by jeep or ridding the Teleférico, and then ridding a horse or donkey for about 4 hours. Don't forget to take warm clothing, and ENJOY!. El Tisure: This town is located on the Páramo Route, and is very close to the highest town in Venezuela, San Rafael de Mucuchíes, above 11,338 f.a.s.l. It is here that you will find the house of Mérida's principal plastic artist: Juan Félix Sánchez, and examples of his art. El Tisure can only be reached after 8 hours of walking through great scenic landscapes along one of the highest hiking routes in all of Venezuela. Those who have made the trip report that the moderate effort is well worthwhile, culminating in the beautiful little town of El Tisure, where you can find comfortable lodging. Take your tracking shoes, a jacket, some water and food, follow the trail, and prepare to enjoy a wonderful natural experience.
Outdoors Activities
Mountain bike
Catching tracks suitable to different capabilities. 20 to 30 Km (12.5 to 18.6 mi) each day (70% road) and variable slopes depending on the chosen path. All paths share the enchanted Andes landscape. The bikes will reach truly typical villages where time seems to have stopped.
Trekking
Far for the standard tourist tours, most Venezuela is still uncontaminated. The proposed treks will show you moon-like landscapes, hot springs in deep valleys and intricate forests in the Andes area.
Horseback ride and trekking
Venezuela, country of the diversities, offers nature and horse lovers incredible emotions. The Andean treks will leave you unforgettable memories. In between 3,000 and 3,700 m, hot springs, crystal waters where you can fish, enchanted landscapes. Condors and others beauties will accompany you during this wonderful experience.
Climbing:
If you are more aggressive, feel the excitement
and adventure of 4, 5 or 6 days excursions designed for mountain lovers under
its hardest profile: the climbing. In these unusual journeys we will know Andes
deeply, mainly the Mérida chain. Dream-like environments, lakes, myths,
but especially the most famous peaks, Pico Bolívar, Pico Humboldt (4,942
m/16,214 ft). Mixed-technique climbing, ice-rock and for pure climbers, wonderful
falaises, located in charming valleys just above 4,000 m. Professonal guides
and equipment are required. Paragliding: Here is an interesting option for people who want to live the emotion of flying through the warm tropical skies. Flying conditions are really unique thanks to some climate peculiarities. A lot of flights are available, starting from 3,600 m., with every possible degree of difficulty, but always full of emotions. All flights share the wonderful environment, always enchanted.
Rafting:
For those who love team sports, there is no
experience with a similar intensity to rafting. Face the rapids shouting to
friends, the joy to be completely deep into wild nature, to live water force
in full security, to taste the spectacular scenario Andean rivers offer along
their paths, highly turbulent near the sources, very calm when they reach the
plains.