Flying 1,600 meters above sea level, on the high plateaus of the Venezuelan Andes, the post-colonial town of Merida is the country’s self-proclaimed hub of adventure tourism and outdoors pursuits. And the epithet is truly deserved, with the town placed just some 15 kilometres from the soaring, rugged summit of Pico Bolívar, entirely enclosed by the mountains and valleys of the greater Merida State.
There’s opportunities here to paraglide, mountain bike and explore the craggy canyons of the Andes, so if you’ve got a taste for adrenaline, then be sure to ask your Merida tourist guide for tips on the best adventure operators in town. If not, then don’t despair, because Merida’s iconic Teleférico gondola is at hand to help—transporting view-hungry guests to the tip of Pico Espejo nearby.
Aside from Merida’s outdoorsy spirit, the town also boasts a lively character that’s only boosted by its large university population and smattering of Venezuelan cocktail bars, while there’s really nothing quite as enchanting as the stone-built church of Juan Felix Sanchez that lingers just outside of town.