Cable Cars and Mules

Madonna at Pico Humbolt
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Merida is situated at the feet of the most extreme northern tip of the Andean mountain range. While the city itself is nothing special, the pleasurable activities it has established in the name of tourism, activities that fully exploit the surrounding lush rainforests, waterfalls, and mountainous terrain, make it well worth the visit.

Merida’s teleferic (or cable car), the longest in the world, departs from the southern tourist district of the city (tickets: BS1500 adults; BS7500 children). It is 12.5 km across and rises 4765 meters (15,633 ft). The views it affords, from when first departing and looking over the roof-tops and quaint bush trails on the cities southern outskirts to arriving at the cold snow capped peak (Pico Humboldt) with its obligatory Statue of Madonna and jagged rock formations, are fantastic.

These mules can take you on a trek across a mountain pass to the extraordinary town of Los Nevados.

View from Pico Humboldt
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The cable car is divided in to 4 sections. There are stations at the end of each section, each of which has a restaurant and observatory where you stand around for 10 minutes before climbing aboard another car for the next level.

Should you be seeking adventure I would advise that on your descent, at the 3rd station, 2nd from the top, you get off the teleferic. You will find there is a stable with mules for hire. These mules can take you on a trek across a mountain pass to the extraordinary town of Los Nevados.

Los Nevados
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Los Nevados is one of those ancient farming towns perched on a mountain promontory that makes the eyes water. The houses are all uniform, with white walls and terracotta tiled roofs that clutter around each other, drawing the eyes towards the towns architectural climax, a white church positioned beautifully on a cliffs edge – a cliff that plummets hundreds of meters. Apart from 2 or 3 tourist hostels (all of which are situated in old traditional buildings) it seems that little has changed in Los Nevados over the last few centuries.

Sunset at Los Nevados
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‘Guamanchi Tours’ has a beautiful posada in Los Nevados with nice beds and a large balcony with hammocks looking out into the valley. I would definitely recommend staying there, maybe spending an afternoon drinking, chatting and watching the shadows at play across the mountain vista.

I would not advise that you take one of their trekking tours however. They are overpriced and not particularly well organised.