We visit five local villages in the Venezuelan Andes with a community oriented lifestyle. This tour is all inclusive, with local bilingual guide, lodging at local mountain inns, meals as outlined, and a cable car ticket (if available). It gives participants one of the most authentic insights into how the Andeans live their lives. Below are short descriptions of the villages we visit on this tour.
Jaji: This picturesque village is a colonial mountain village with a historic church and an artisan market on its Plaza Bolivar. It is close to the Coffee Museum and present-day coffee plantations.
San José: home of only thirty people and virtually inaccessible to the public, is a land forgotten by time. This hamlet in the high reaches of the mountains maintains a traditional Andean lifestyle.
Los Nevados: this farming settlement is nestled high up in the Valley of the Indians between the two mountain chains that stride the state of Mérida. Foreigners and Venezuelans alike marvel at the dusty self-sufficiency of this humble town. Los Nevados offers a warm welcome and a glimpse into the past, while treated to views of the five highest peaks of the Andes.
Valley of Tostos: Descend into the beautiful valley of Tostos either on horseback or by foot with mule support, enjoying the surroundings of eucalyptus trees and beautiful rivers. Around us, farmers plow with oxen while villagers grind their corn by hand, which they use to make the traditional “arepa” over a wood-fed fire.
Acequias: This friendly mountain village is even more remote than San Jose. Here we’ll visit ruins of an Indian village that dates back to the times of Machu Pichu.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Once we've packed up the jeep, we visit a verdant cloud forest, where we see a rushing waterfall. Next we stop at Jaji and walk along the village. We ride mountain bikes down to a xerophytic ecosystem. On the way, we visit a small sugar cane mill to observe the production of "panela." We travel to the curious salt lake, Lagunilla and visit the Coffee Museum together with some coffee farms. Afterwards, we descend a winding switchback road from 2,290 to 460 meters. Finally, we arrive to the village of San José. We spend the night at an idyllic Andean chalet with trout ponds. 4 hours by jeep, 1 hour hiking, 1.5 biking. Includes L/ D.
Day 2: We eat a tasty breakfast, and then descend into the beautiful valley of Tostos either on horseback or by foot with mule support, enjoying the surroundings of eucalyptus trees and rivers. From Tostos we arrive to Acequias, a friendly mountain village even more remote than San José. The night will be spent at a small inn located in Acequias. 4 hours by horseback/5 hours by foot. Includes B/ L/ D.
Day 3: After breakfast, we depart on foot to El Morro, another mountain town 8 kilometers away. From there we take a jeep ride to Los Nevados, a village lying behind Pico Bolivar at an altitude of 2,700 meters. Your visit to Los Nevados will be of a more cultural nature, having direct contact with the locals, sleeping in their homes, sharing meals with them, and even having a few beers in a local cantina. 3 hours hiking, 3 hours by jeep. Includes B/ L/ D.
Day 4: Early in the morning we ride mules down a mountain trail to the cable car station. We will witness the change of scenery from a mountain cloud forest to the páramo region as we reach Alto de la Cruz station at 4,200 meters. From here we have a wonderful view of the impressive Bolivar Peak, the highest in Venezuela at 5,007 meters. Taking the cable car back to Mérida, we'll have a chance to rest our weary legs and relax, all the while taking in the panoramic views. We arrive at mid-day. 4 hours by mule, 1 hour cable car ride. Includes B/ L.
If you are not tired or need some more action, we can take you paragliding!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
- 1 pax: $462 p/person
- 2 pax: $323.40 p/perso
- 3-4 pax: $300.30 p/person
- 5-8 pax: $280 p/person
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Venezuela
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Horse Riding
Bicycle Touring
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