Mérida Things to Do

CLOSED SINCE AUGUST 2008 (don't know for how long).

One of the main attractions in Mérida is the teleférico, the highest and longest cable car in the world. It starts in Mérida at 1572m and continues on to the stations La Montaña at 2436m, La Aguada at 3452m and Lomo Redonda at 4045m, before the end station Pico Espejo at 4765m. The whole system is 12,5 km long and the ascent takes two hours.

As you ascend you will see how the landscape changes and if it is clear you will have great views of the valley and mountains. As it is usually less cloudy in the morning it is good to start early. Trips up run between 8.00 - 11.30 (7.30 - 12 in high season) and around 14.00 is the last cable car going down (16.00 in high season). During high season the teleférico runs every day, otherwise it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. But it might be closed for longer periods of maintenance, so make sure it is open when you want to visit.

I had intended to take the teleférico up to Pico Espejo on a day between a Los Nevados tour and a Los Llanos tour, but I didn’t go. During the Los Nevados tour we had been at the station Loma Redonda (arriving by mule, leaving by foot). It was cloudy and raining. There are two lagoons near Loma Redonda and we apparently passed them, but we couldn’t see them because of the clouds. Well, the reason I didn’t go was that I had a bad cough and the cold weather on high altitude was not good for my chest.

You should definitely bring warm clothes for Pico Espejo, and also something to eat and drink. There are snacks for sale at the cable car stations though. Because of the changes in altitude some people can feel dizzy.

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I booked a 3-day Los Nevados Tour with Guamanchi Expeditions in Mérida. You can also do a 2-day tour to Los Nevados if you have less time to spend.

The first day we went with jeeps to the Andean village Los Nevados, a drive that took 4 - 5 hours. After lunch we could walk around on our own in the village, or just rest. We spent the night at Guamanchi’s Posada in Los Nevados.
The next day we rode, mostly uphill, on mules for four hours to Loma Redonda, the forth station along the Teleférico (at 4050m) . Here the people in our group who were doing the 2-day tour took the teleférico down to Mérida. We, who were on the 3-day tour, continued by foot for two hours downhill to a house (at 3200m) where we stayed the night.
After breakfast the next day we walked downhill four hours to the village Mucunutan where we were picked up by a jeep from Guamanchi and then we went back to Mérida.

As you will spend much time at high elevation it is important to bring warm clothes and as it rains a lot you should also bring waterproof clothes. And off course you should wear good shoes to walk in. You will also need high sun protection.

We were only three tourists doing the 3-day tour and therefore it became quite expensive. It was 675 BsF (June 2008).

As in every city in Venezuela there is a Plaza Bolivar (or Parque Bolívar) in the city centre. Simón Bolívar (1783 - 1830) was the leader of the independence war against the Spaniards. In Merída it is a pleasant square with green trees and benches where you can sit down to take a rest and watch all the people walking by.
Around the square you will find the cathedral, museums, the Palacio del Gobierno and shops. In the middle of the square stands a statue of Bolívar on a horse. It was erected in 1930.

Museo Arqueológico is situated in the Rectorada of the university. It is a small museum which was founded in 1986. In the collection there are mainly stone objects and pottery dating from 25 000 BC to 5000 BC. There are artefacts from several Venezuelan regions.
The museum is open between 8 - 11.30 and 14 -17, Tuesday - Friday. And between 11 - 18.30 on Saturday - Sunday.
Admission was 1 BsF (June 2008).

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The cathedral in Merida is situated by Plaza Bolívar. Because it was constructed during 150 years you can find a mixture of architectural styles in it. Construction was begun in 1803, but earthquakes and war prolonged the work and the cathedral was not finished until 1960, in time for the celebration of Merida’s 400th anniversary.

The interior is quite dark. The columns are ornamented with arches between. In the church you can also see some nice stained glass windows and frescos. There are also the mortal remains of Saint Clement. These were donated in 1794 by the Pope Pío VI.

This museum has a nice collection of religious artefacts. There are mitras, paintings and things used in mass and administration. At the museum you can also see the second oldest bell in the world that has survived. It was cast in 909 and was later brought to America from Spain.
There are also some pre Colombian pottery and figurines and a mummy (skeleton).
There are small signs beside each object in Spanish, but beside the bell and the mummy there are longer informative texts in English.

The museum is open between 9 - 17 (Tuesday - Saturday) and between 9 - 13 (Sunday).
Admission was 3 Bs (June 2008).

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The museum is situated in a lovely old colonial building. On the walls around the courtyard there were photos of Merida from the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. The collection consists mainly of religious artefacts, paintings and sculptures. They all date from the 17th - 20th centuries except one item from Mexico that might be from the 16th century.
As I entered the museum there was noone by the entrance, not until I had seen most of the museum a woman came up to me and I asked her about the entrance fee, but she said there was none. As I left they had already closed for lunch.

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This is a theme park just outside Merida with the theme of Venezuela 20 years ago, when under the rule of Juan Vicente Gomez. In the park, you will learn a lot about the history of Venezuela in this time through shows and exhibitions.

The park is full of people is typical dress - military costumes, period costumes, carnival costumes, etc. You can watch the Yari dancers perform as well as others.

The park will take you through the different parts of Venezuela and introduce you to the people and culture in each - Oriente, Los Llanos, Falcon, Miranda, Aragua, Trujillo, Zulia, Caracas, Lara, Amazonas, Tachira, Merida, etc.

The enterance price is BsF 60 (BS60,000)