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Merida
Merida, in the heart of the Andean range is situated on a giant plateau, surrounded by snow capped peaks. It has a relaxed atmosphere with colonial architecture and neatly cobbled streets; the national park of the Sierra Nevada surrounds the city.
One of the best ways to see the city and the surrounding area is by cable car and with its four stopping stations between the top and the bottom you have time to take in each level of vegetation from puna grasslands to cloud forest to the snow capped peaks above. Waiting for you at the end is another of Venezuela’s claims to fame, the ice cream shop selling the largest number of ice cream flavours in the world!
Accommodation is in old Spanish style haciendas situated 5 minutes outside Merida, and is the starting point for gentle walks, bird spotting, horse riding or ambitious treks, and, if none of this appeals the nearby villages of Jaji with its superb plaza and Indian market along with the 5 waterfalls at Chorrera de Las Gonzalez make for an excellent alternative. THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Merida and its surrounding region offer a huge variety of activities. Below are some examples of the best. Though we can tailor any tour to suit your requirements.
Full day tourbeginning with the worlds highest and longest cable car ride / 5 stations: Barinitas (1577m), La Montana (2436m), La Aguada (3452m), Loma Redonda (4045m) and Pico Espejo (4765m). Lunch at Merida’s public market, with an afternoon visit to the Indian town of Jaji and views of the 5 waterfalls at Chorrera de Las Gonzalez. Full day horse riding. Drive to the entrance of the Chama river valley and ride the along the Chama river up the mountain from 1900m to 2500m. Lunch at Cacute village with a view of Pico Bolivar (5007m) and Pico El Toro (4755m), return Merida. Full day mountain biking. There are several one day tours available each with varying degrees of difficulty, and all with safety equipment. A ride to the Tabay hot springs is one of the most popular, allowing for a soak ½ way through the day.
2 day mountain biking. One of the most popular bike routes is the loop around the remote mountain villages south of Merida, known as Pueblos del Sur.
Walking. The area is best known for its trekking. There are gentle walks through cloud forest for ½ or a full day, to the more strenuous treks that involve camping or staying in local villages and last from 2 days to 2 weeks. Local Villages. For the less active we have a superb full day sightseeing tour. Leaving Merida at 08.00 and returning 20.30 you will visit Jaji and the waterfalls, drive through the Chama valley and visit; the first Andean settlement of the region dating from 1559, salt mines, tropical fruit plantations, a boat ride through small channels with dense tropical flora and abundant fauna. Lunch will be in the stilt houses of the Maracaibo Lake before returning through the mountain villages back to Merida.
Recommended lodges in this area:
Los Roques
Posada Caracol is one of the few posadas in Los Roques located directly on the beach. This finely decorated posada has four rooms, all with private bathrooms and equipped with ceiling fans and air conditioning
Los Roques
The owner Elena Battani personally sees after her guests. White washed, the posada is has been decorated with great taste and attention to every detail, all of which is in a Mediterranean style
Los Roques
The Posada Natura Viva is one of only a handful of posada which is situated right on the beach. They have 16 spacious rooms with private bathrooms which are located around the inner courtyard of the hotel
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