3, 4, 5 nights or more
From $600 per person double occupancy
in 2010
Includes domestic airfare,
accommodations, tours, transportation and meals as specified.
Note: Andes programs are subject to modification
due to weather, transportation schedules or for other
operational factors.
Venezuela’s Andean region is a picturesque
land of fertile soil, rich in traditional culture. This
exciting adventure lets you truly experience the tranquility
and beauty of this wonderful area and its inhabitants.
There will be ample time for you to mix with the locals
and barter for handicrafts in provincial markets.
Merida
will be your base for exploring small Andean villages
and high mountain plateaus, or paramos, which lie carpeted
with frailejones, Venezuela’s edelweiss. Travel by
jeep to a 150-year old coffee plantation set amongst a
cloud forest. Here you will be treated like family in
this peaceful hacienda where you will overnight in comfortable
rooms and be served typical Andean fare, family-style.
From here discover the tiny town of Mucuchies,
which was founded in 1596 by the Spanish on a site inhabited
by the pre-Hispanic Chama tribe. Dine on fresh broiled
trout after a tour of the cathedral and village square.
Continue your adventure with a visit to
Laguna Mucubaji, one of the largest of over 200 glacier
lakes in the state of Merida, and Aguila Pass, which,
at 13,146 ft, is the highest paved highway in Venezuela.
Close by is the rustic town of Llano del Hato (11,516
ft), the highest town in Venezuela serviced by road.
Overnight accommodations may be at a variety
of locations throughout the region, including Papa
Miguel's Inn outside of Merida and Estancia
La Mucunuy, a restored colonial hacienda that has
recently won an international architectural award.
In the high Andes, overnight accommodations
will be at Los
Balcones de la Musui, a world-class mountain lodge
with a spectacular view of the Sierra Nevada mountain
range and nearby hot springs. From here you can explore
the highlands and hidden lagoons on foot, horseback or
by jeep.
Level of Difficulty
Grade I-II - easy to moderate.
Special Interests
Natural history, day hiking, native cultures, and photography.
Health Notes
Participants should be in good physical shape and be prepared
for elevations above 5,000 feet. Perhaps the greatest
risk is sunburn, especially at higher elevations. It is
advisable to consult with a physician about ascending
to higher altitudes, in particular, those with high blood
pressure.
Weather
Temperatures in the Andes vary according to elevation
and other factors. Expect daytime temperatures between
70-85 degrees Fahrenheit, dropping to 40 degrees or lower
at night. While the Venezuelan Andes offer adventure year
round, the most favorable weather is from November to
May.
Packing
We suggest packing light but bring
enough layers in order to adapt to climactic changes.
Excess luggage can be stored in Merida. You will probably
want to bring:
Comfortable hiking boots and an extra pair
of comfortable shoes.
Shorts, long pants and warm pants for evening.
Polyprolene T-shirts and underwear, long
sleeve shirts and a sweater and/or sweatshirt.
Sunblock, sunglasses, and hat.
Waterproof jacket.
Personal toiletries.
Camera and film in a saddlebag or
daypack.
Contact
us to include Scenic Andes
Adventure in a customized itinerary of travel to Venezuela.
