Experiences and local guides in Mérida

Nature

Mérida, at 1,600 m in a valley of the Venezuelan Andes, lies at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, with Pico Bolívar (4,978 m), the roof of the country. The Mukumbarí cable car, the highest and longest in the world, climbs in four stages to 4,765 m at Pico Espejo; around it, frailejón páramos, glacial lakes like Mucubají, mountain villages like Los Nevados and windy valleys perfect for flying.

Activities

• Mukumbarí cable car to Pico Espejo, with views of Pico Bolívar and the glaciers
• Trekking and mountaineering: Pico Bolívar and Pico Humboldt (3 to 5 days), Los Nevados on foot or by mule from Loma Redonda
• Tandem paragliding from Las González and Tierra Negra, one of South America's best flying sites
• Mucubají lagoon, Pico El Águila and the páramos of the Trasandina road, horseback riding and mountain biking
• Canyoning, rafting in Barinas, birdwatching, coffee and trout at the mountain posadas

When to go

December to March is dry, with clear skies for the summits and paragliding. April to November brings afternoon rain and clouds over the sierra, though mornings are usually clear. Check that the cable car is operating before travelling.

How to get there

El Vigía airport (VIG) is 1 h 30 away, with flights from Caracas; Mérida's own airport has limited service. Buses from Caracas (12 hours) and from the Colombian border via San Antonio and San Cristóbal (5 hours). The Mukumbarí cable car leaves from the centre for Pico Espejo (4,765 m); Los Nevados is reached by 4x4 or mule from the cable car; paragliding launches at Las González, 30 minutes away.