Mérida, Venezuela: travel guide
An Andean university town with the Mukumbari cable car and paramo trails
A laid-back Andean university town and Venezuela's adventure capital, home to the world's highest and longest cable car (Mukumbarí), páramo treks, paragliding and the famous Coromoto ice-cream parlour.
About Mérida
Merida is a university town in the Venezuelan Andes, and it has long been the country's centre for outdoor adventure. Mountains frame the city, and the air is cooler than on the coast.
The Mukumbari cable car climbs towards Pico Espejo and is one of the great cable-car rides of the Andes. Around the city you can trek across paramo landscape, visit Laguna de Mucubaji, try paragliding and sit in the plaza by the cathedral. Locals will point you to the famous Heladeria Coromoto for its unusual ice-cream flavours.
Merida suits hikers, climbers and students of Andean culture. The drier months from December to March give clearer mountain views, while evenings are cool at any time of year.
- Country
- Venezuela
- Currency
- VES
- Time zone
- America/Caracas
- Nearest airport
- MRD
Last updated
Top places to visit in Mérida
Heladería Coromoto
Cultural · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A Guinness World Record ice-cream parlour offering hundreds of rotating flavours, from trout to garlic and beyond — a Mérida institution.
Mukumbarí – Teleférico de Mérida
Viewpoint · 4.9 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's highest and longest cable car system, rising in four stages from Mérida to Pico Espejo at 4,765 m through cloud forest and páramo.
Laguna de Mucubají
Nature · 4.9 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A serene glacial lake at 3,600 m in Sierra Nevada National Park, the trailhead for the hike to Laguna Negra through frailejón páramo.
Pico Espejo
Viewpoint · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The 4,765 m terminus of the cable car, a snow-dusted páramo summit with a statue of the Virgin of the Snows and views to Pico Bolívar.
Catedral & Plaza Bolívar de Mérida
church · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The neoclassical cathedral on Mérida's palm-lined main square, the lively social hub of this Andean university town.
Things to do
- Paragliding over Mérida Adventure · 2.5 h · from USD 60 per person
- Sierra Nevada & Páramo Trek Hiking · 6 h · from USD 35 per person
Day trips and tours
- Mérida Cable Car & City Day 8 h · from USD 50
Where to stay in Mérida
- Centro de Mérida about VES 35 per night
The heart of Mérida around Plaza Bolívar — walkable, lively with students, close to the cable car and tour agencies.
Hotels
- Hotel Belensate 4-star · USD 45 to USD 80 per night
- La Posada Casa Sol 3-star · USD 35 to USD 60 per night
Where to eat
- La Abadía Venezuelan, International · about USD 15 per person
- La Mamma Italian, Pizza · about USD 10 per person
Getting to Mérida
Airport: Merida (MRD)
Getting around
- Bus
- Car With Driver
- Ride Hail
- Walking
More in Venezuela
Frequently asked questions about Mérida
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Mérida?
- The highest-rated places in our Mérida guide are Mukumbarí – Teleférico de Mérida, Laguna de Mucubají, Pico Espejo, Heladería Coromoto.
- Where should I stay in Mérida?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Mérida: Centro de Mérida.
- How do I get around Mérida?
- Ways to get around Mérida covered in our guide: City bus, Car with driver, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Mérida?
- The nearest airport to Mérida has the code MRD.