Scenic Andes Tour

Stay at historic haciendas and the charming Los Frailes Lodge based on a 17th century monastery. Glacier lakes and unique flora and fauna of the paramos are there to be explored including the Andean Condor. From Merida you may ride the highest and longest aerial cable car system on earth. Transported by a four wheel drive Jeep, your bilingual guide will customize a tour to your interests.

Day 1: Tour the capital of the Venezuelan Andes, Merida before heading to Jaji, a reconstructed colonial village. Finish your day at an overlook of the Chama Valley where paragliders soar 3,280 feet above the canyon (Optional tandem paragliding is available weather dependent.) Overnight at the comfortable accommodations of Posada Papa Miguel in La Mesa de Los Indios village. (L, D)

Day 2: Visit Merida's Principal Market, where everything from colorful hammocks to tropical fruits can be found. If time permits, visit La Mucuy tropical cloud forest located in the Sierra Nevada National Park. Overnight at the award-winning Estancia Mucunuy, a restored colonial hacienda located in tropical cloud forest (B, L, D)

Day 3: Explore small Andean villages and the high tropical mountain plateaus known as "Paramos." With a visit to the tiny town of Mucuchies, opportunities for walking and horseback riding to glacier lakes are available. Local Andean arts and crafts are available at the roadside stalls. Overnight at Hotel Los Frailes, a world class mountain lodge built on the site of a 17th century Franciscan monastery. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Visit Mucubaji Lagoon, one of the largest glacier lakes in Merida and walk or horseback ride to Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon) while observing the incredible variety of mountain flowers and birdlife. From Eagle Pass, the highest paved road in Venezuela at 13,278 feet and a biological station, you're very likely to see the Andean Condor, soaring overhead with a wingspan of almost 10 feet. Return to Merida and overnight at Estancia Mucunuy (B, L, D)

Day 5: Tour the diverse culture of the Andes before embarking on your journey elsewhere. (B)

Closed on certain days, there is usually an option to ride on the world's longest and highest aerial cable car system. From bottom to top, in about one hour, scenery and vegetation remarkably change along the way. From the summit, see a wonderful panorama of snowcapped mountains, as well as glaciers and lakes.

Contact us to include this tour in the Andes as a part of a customized itinerary of travel to Venezuela.

Trip length:
5 days and 4 nights

Accommodations:

Posada Papa Miguel -
La Mesa de Los Indios
(1 night)

Estancia Mucunuy -
Nearby Merida

(2 nights)

Hotel Los Frailes -
Santo Domingo
(1 night)