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Useful data for the Route: Snow in the Tropics – Venezuela |
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Addresses of government institutions |
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Merida State Governor’s Office
Av. 4, Palacio de Gobierno, Mérida- Edo. Mérida
 (0274) 252 25 11 / 252 27 24 / 252 25 71 / 252 27 13
 (0274) 251 09 36 / 251 07 31
Corporación Merideña de Turismo (Cometur)
Av. Urdaneta, al lado del Aeropuerto, Antiguo Latil Auto
Mérida, Estado Mérida
(58274) 263-0814 / 4701 / 5918
(58274) 263-2782 / 262-2371 / 263 27 82
 cormetur@meridavenezuela.com
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Tourist Service |
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Tourist Service Center (Corporación Merideña de Turismo)
(0-800) 637.43.00
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Sites of interest to visit |
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Cable car
The Mérida cable car in front of Las Heroinas square runs Wednesday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and every day during high season from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is the world’s highest and longest cable car, reaching a height of 4 765 masl on Espejo Peak and covers a total distance of 12.5 km. There are four stations, in addition to the starting station of Barinitas: La Montaña at 2 436 masl La Aguada at 3 452 masl, Loma Redonada at 4 045 masl and Pisco Espejo at 4 765 masl. A variety of excursions are available from the stations, on foot or horseback. One of the most popular is from Loma Redonda to the tiny village of Los Nevados. Some tourist agencies in Mérida organize these expeditions. Camping requires a permit issued by IMPARQUES (this can be obtained next to the cable car office), which must be returned afterwards in order to keep a record of the persons who go up into the mountains. It is important to wear warm clothing.
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Village of La Mucuy
A government-run handicraft village, it stands at the entryway to the Sierra Nevada National Park.
The road to the glacial lakes of la Coromoto, El Suero and los Anteojos, as well as to the snow-covered Bolívar, Humboldt and Bompland peaks starts at La Mucuy Recreational Park, which has lodging facilities, grills and bathrooms.
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Village of Los Nevados
This peaceful little village still preserves many of the traditions, customs and architecture handed down from ages long past. It is only reachable by foot (6 hours) or muleback (4 hours) from the Loma Redonda cable car station in Mérida, following an intricate series of paths amidst beautiful landscapes. The simplicity of its houses, its squares and church tower are noticeable.
Village of Tabay
This is a small farming and handicraft village 12 km from Mérida on the way to Mucuchíes.
Sierra de la Culata National Park
The Park is located in the mountainous region of the Andean Cordillera north of Mérida and can be reached by following the road from Mérida to La Culata. This is a mountainous formation that runs almost parallel to the Sierra Nevada park for a length of from 200 to 400 hectares and is subdivided into five units: Los Páramos, Tambor, Campanario, Piedras Blancas, Mucuchíes and la Mesa de Escuque. In altitude, it ranges from 400 to 4 737 masl. There are marked routes for excursionists, leading to the highest points in the park where camping is permitted. The ascent through lovely mountainous landscape on the route to El Valle gives the impression of entering the nave of a natural temple. It is a place especially suited to rest and meditation, to getting back in touch with oneself and with nature.
Sierra Nevada National Park
The park lies within the heart of the Andes in western Venezuela, straddling the municipalities of Campo Elías, Aricagua and Libertador in an area of 276 446 hectares.
The Trans-Andean Highway from Santo Domingo to Ejido borders the northern edge of the park, which encompasses a region occupied by mountains covered by snow the year round. Venezuela’s highest peaks can be found here: Bolívar (5 007 m), Humboldt (4 920 m) and Bondpland (4 942 m), La Concha (4 920 m), El Toro (4 755 m) and El León (4 740 m), as well as the Mucubaji and Negra (Black) Lakes and the small village of Los Nevados. The area is exceptionally beautiful and ideal for excursions. The starting point to climb the Bolívar Peak is the Espejo Peak (which can be reached by cable car from Mérida). There is a small refuge there where sportsmen and tourists can spend the night before starting their ascent early the next morning. The starting point for the Humdoldt Peak is the village of La Mucuy, which can be reached by road from Mérida (turning off at Tabay for the road to La Mucuy). There are two animals in danger of extinction in the Sierra Nevada National Park, the frontino bear and the Andean condor. The world’s longest (12.5 km) and highest (4 765 m) cable car ascends to the peak amid spectacular scenery and changes in vegetation and climate due to the different altitudes.
Parque Jardin Acuario (Aquarium Garden Park)
Av. Andrés Bello in front of Las Tapias shopping center.
Built in 1971, it contains three modules. The first shows a panoramic view of the city and a small sample of the State’s most representative customs. The second presents a country view of our rural past and the third module exhibits Venezuela’s different aquatic environments, with an assortment of the fish typical of the plains, coast, jungle and mountain.
Open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Boulevard de los Pintores (the Painters’ Boulevard)
Calle 23 Vargas, on one side of the Building housing the Office of the President of Los Andes University.
Artists paint and exhibit inexpensive typical scenes and contemporary paintings.
Antonio Rojas Guillén Handicraft Market
In front of Las Heroínas Park between 24 Rangel and 25 Ayacucho streets.
Inexpensive paintings, wooden sculptures, clay figures and leather goods are available.
Main Market
Las Américas Avenue, Mérida.
Varied and original Mérida handicrafts are available in its many galleries at different levels, as are fresh foods grown in the area, together with sweets and dishes typical of the region’s cuisine.
Coromoto Ice Cream Parlor
No. 28-75 Avenida 3
The most famous ice cream parlor in the Americas. It has been in the Guinness Book of Records since 1991. The parlor offers 110 flavors of ice cream daily, but has a total of 700.
Mucucharasti International Congress House
Located in the area neighboring La Isla Park, it is an impressive and modern facility with a seating capacity for up to eight thousand persons gathered in large or small conventions. Today it is the favored site for national and international spatial congresses and special events convened in Mérida.
Juan Félix Sánchez House
Avenida 3 facing Bolívar Square.
This house, which is the headquarters of several music, dance and painting schools and where books about Venezuela’s culture can be purchased, is the site of temporary exhibitions of Merideño artists and musical presentations.
Open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Don Tulio Febres Cordero Cultural Center
Boulevard de la Calle 21, between Avenidas 2 and 3.
The Center contains art galleries and art libraries and halls for lectures and presentations.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Bosett House
Avenida 4 near the Bolivarian Library
The old Mérida Episcopal Palace, founded in 1862 and recently reconstructed, is today the site of a series of cultural events.
Casa de los Gobernadores (The Governors’ House)
Avenida 3 Independencia with Calle 20 Federación.
It was built along the lines of the old Valeri Family Mansion and conserves the features of Merideña colonial architecture toward the end of the eighteenth century. It houses several interesting models of the city’s important buildings fashioned by local artist, Eduardo Fuentes. Several of his less expensive works are on sale at his store in the Handicraft Market at Las Heroínas Park. Paintings are also on display showing each of the State’s Governors. Musical recitals or civic acts are occasionally held on the premises.
Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Valeri Family Mansion
Up Avenida 3 Independencia toward Calle 20.
The mansion conserves the lines and features of Merideña architecture toward the end of the eighteenth century.
Capilla del Carmen (the Carmen Chapel)
Located in the old city center, it is a sample of true colonial architecture.
It served as the first pantheon for the city’s priests and bishops.
Metropolitan Cathedral
Calle 22 Uzcátegui between Avenida 5 Zerpa and Avenida 4 Simón Bolívar.
This Cathedral or Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the work of the Spanish architect, Manuel Mujica Millán. Its construction was started in 1800, based on the plans of the Cathedral of Toledo, in Spain. Destroyed by earthquakes on several occasions, it was slowly reconstructed starting in 1678 and finally completed in 1958. As a result of this, its architecture shows evidence of an interesting mixture of designs.
La Urbina Church
Located on the corner of Estaques, the church is known for the gold wash on the far wall of the chapel.
San Juan Bautista Milla Church
Facing San Juan Bautista square.
It conserves the architectural style typical of the old colonial chapels of Mérida. Its façade stands out in one of the city’s most picturesque urban sectors.
Park of the Five Republics
Calle Colón 13, between Avenida 4 Bolívar and 4 Zerpa.
The world’s first monument to Bolívar was raised here in 1842. There is a clear view from this park of the Five White Eagles –the five peaks of Mérida’s Sierra Nevada--, whose name comes from an old native legend.
Los Chorros de Milla Park
This park, which was created in 1953, is one of the city’s main tourist attractions. Its zoo has a sizeable population of birds and other animals of interest. It also has many paths, cascades, picnic areas, food stalls and curious features.
Albarregas Metropolitan Park
Located to the right of the Albarregas River, the Park crosses the city from north to south, covering over 600 hectares.
It possesses a large variety of native plants from the Andean States and an assortment of flowers, as well as ample areas for sports and recreation. The park is the home of the Mariano Picón Salas Museum. The other sites in the city include the Artists’ Park, the Poets’ Corner, Glorias Patrias, Beethoven, Murachi, Las Madres, and others.
Bolivarian Library
Avenida 4 Bolívar and Calles 19 and 20
The library houses an important Bolivarian heritage consisting of relics and items of clothing that belonged to the Libertador, which have been donated by Venezuelan families and Latin American governments. For example, there is a sword that was made in Peru in 1825 and presented to the Libertador after his victory in Junín. Concerts and recitals are held at the library.
Bolívar Square
Avenida Bolívar between Calles 22 and 23.
A good spot from which to explore the surrounding streets on foot.
Mariano Picón Salas Open Air Museum
Albarregas Metropolitan Park, Sec. El Lanito and Cruz Verde
The museum consists of a series of sculptures by Venezuelan artists that are distributed along the length of the park.
Gonzalo Picón Febres Archeological Museum
Calle 23 Vargas, diagonally across from Bolívar square.
The museum was founded in 1977 at the initiative of the Department of Anthropology of the University of the Andes’ School of Humanities and Education. It owns a small, but interesting collection of pre-Hispanic articles from the region and offers ample information on the subject.
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Archdiocesan Museum
Located on Avenida 4 Bolívar beside the Cathedral, inside the Archbishop’s Palace.
The museum houses an assorted collection of religious art from the colonial period to the present day. Its bell is dated 909, making it the second oldest in the world, and it displays a young Indian mummy, one of the first inhabitants of the Sierra Nevada.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Guided visits are available.
Beekeeping Museum
La Isla Park.
This museum, recently inaugurated, has exhibitions on beekeeping and honey gathering.
Colonial Art Museum
No. 17-79 Avenida 4 Bolívar between Calles 17 and 18.
The museum functions in the Paredes House, birthplace of the national hero of the Independence, General Juan Antonio Paredes, and was built between 1689 and 1710. It houses a small collection of Latin American Art of the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries.
Open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Juan Astorga Anta Museum of Modern Art
Urb. Santa María facing Beethoven square.
This museum is dedicated exclusively to Venezuelan painting. It displays a small, but good collection of contemporary paintings and sculptures executed by national artists.
Open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Museum of Science and Technology
Avenida Andrés Bello, Sec. Las Tapias.
The museum offers complete information about the Andean cloud forest and exhibits robotic pre-Historic figures. It also contains a photograph gallery and a section devoted to the conservation of fauna and flora.
Open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. During low season, it doesn’t open on Monday and closes an hour earlier the other days.
Immaculate Conception Museum
Zumba Sector, Pardi Dávila hacienda.
The museum exhibits a collection of paintings, sculptures and furniture and religious, military and agricultural objects and documents from the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It demonstrates the ways and means of production of the old Merideña haciendas.
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