Paramo - Colonial Towns, Mountain Lakes and Surreal Landscapes

The Paramos, high-altitude grasslands, are located in the high elevations of the Andes, reaching altitudes of over 4,000m. Frailejones, of the genus Espelitia, grow in extensive patches in the Paramos, as well as, sparse pinewoods.

The Páramo-Tour goes all the way up the Transandina road. This beautiful Venezuelan road goes along colonial towns where you might see the mountain farmers with their oxen carts tilling the fields, as well as the famous stone church of Juan Felix and Epifanía Sanchez (UNESCO culture heritage). 

On the highest point of the Transandina road you will find the glacier lagoon Mucubají. This landscape over 3000mts high is covered by Frailejones (Espiletien) and by some pinewood whose stony ground is mostly covered with fern and lichen. This will be the landscape along the hiking way from Laguna Mucubají to Laguna Negra (round trip 2-3 hours). There it is possible for example to eat fresh trout fried in garlic. 

Then you’ll drive up to 4200mts to the Eagle Pass. In that odd scenery of the Páramo vegetation grow the Frailejones (Espiletien), which grow up to 3mts where you can experience a beautiful view over the endless mountains.


Itinerary subject to change without notice!

What to bring:

• Solid walking shoes
• Hat or scarf
• Sun protection/sunblock lotion
• Camera

• In the high Andes the temperature can be quite cool.
• The highest and longest cable car in the world, leading to Pico Espejo at 4,765m in Merida, is temporarily closed for extensive renovations.

• Since 2008, the airport of Merida city is no longer used for commercial flights; the nearest airport is the Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Pablo Perez in El Vigia, 60km from Merida.