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| Other sites of interest |
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 Lakes
There are a number of lakes filled with crystalline waters located near the mountains, where pleasant walks can be taken. Some of them also have camping areas nearby. They offer the opportunity for a number of adventure sports, such as kayaking and windsurfing, as well as trout fishing in the largest of them during the fishing season from March to September. |
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| Enchanting Mérida |
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13 days / 12 nights
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-Airport-Hotel-Airport pick-ups and transfers
-Lodging for 3 nights
-Welcome cocktail
-Breakfast daily
-Flight reconfirmations
-Children up to the age of 5 are free
-Children from 6 to 10 pay 60%
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| Itinerary: |
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-Jají city tour
-Cable car excursion
-Excursion to the upland moor, El Águila Peak, the Lakes of Mucubají and Victoria, and Los Aleros town Museum with lunch included
-Walk to Sierra de la Culata
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Viajes Premiere C.A.
 (58-0212) 238-41-11 / 21-23.
 grupos@viajespremiere.com.
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Venezuela’s most impressive Andean region is in Mérida, where there are two ranges, the Sierra Culata and the Sierra Nevada. The two parallel ranges cut across the state from southwest to northeast, giving shape to a lovely landscape of snow-covered peaks, waterfalls, upland moors, lakes and bright green valleys.
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Access |
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The city of Mérida is the starting point for visits to the various attractions the region offers. There are several ways to get there. One is by taking the turnoff from the Pan American Highway at the spot known as El Vigia, in the southern part of Lake Maracaibo. Another option is to drive there from Trujillo or Barquisimeto. Planes also fly into Alberto Carnevalli Airport from Maiquetía, Barquisimeto, Coro, Las Piedras, Maracaibo, Porlamar, San Antonio and Valencia.
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Tourist Attractions |
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 Mérida
Founded by Juan Rodríguez Suárez under the name of Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida, this territory was once a part of the old Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada. The Colonial Art Museum provides an account of this part of its history. Among the attractions of this Andean city are a series of parks and squares, such as the Las Islas and Los Chorros de Milla Parks and the squares of Bolívar and del Reloj de Beethoven, among others.
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 Bolívar Peak
At 5 007 masl, this is Venezuela’s highest snow-capped peak, located in the Sierra Nevada. It is possible to climb to the mountain’s summit, but always in groups organized by specialized agencies. It is covered by abundant snow during most of the year and affords a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape.
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 Los Nevados
One of the best excursions available in the zone is a ride from the Loma Redonda cable car station (4 045 masl) to the village of Los Nevados, crossing the Páramo de la Media Luna, where one of the country’s most beautiful mountain landscapes can be admired. The trip can also be made on foot or by mule back and takes about 4 hours, with a possible stop at Villa de El Morro. The two villages are located on the opposite side of the mountain from the city of Mérida.
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 Humboldt y Bondpland Peaks
Tourists traveling from the Santo Domingo zone, where the Sierra Culata and Sierra Nevada almost come together, pass the lovely Verde and Coromoto Lakes and a series of typical small towns on their way to the two peaks, each rising over 4 000 masl. If their starting point is Tabay, closer to Mérida, they can also visit the town of San Rafael, known for its original Chapel.
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 Espejo Peak
This peak is also located in the Sierra Nevada, very near the Bolívar peak and rises to 4 765 masl. It is the most visited mountain in the Mérida area because of the ease in reaching its summit by cable car considered to be the highest in the world because it starts at the Barinitas station, which is 1 600 masl, at the foot of the mountains, and reaches the summit of the mountain in a 12.5 km trip.
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