When we talk o mountaineering and trekking in
Venezuela, we are almost exclusively referring to the Andean
Mountains around Merida and the excellent national parks.
The Sierra Nevada de Merida, in particular, and also the Sierra
de la Culata offer many and varied possibilities for novices
and experienced climbers and trekkers alike.
Advice
and Information
Hiking and backpacking should not be approached
casually. Even if you only plan to be out a couple of hours
you should have comfortable, safe footwear (which can cope
with the wet) and a daypack to carry your sweater and waterproof
(which must be more than shower proof). At high altitudes
the difference in temperatures between sun and shade is remarkable
and the weather can deteriorate rapidly. The longer trips
mentioned in this book require basic backpacking equipment
This is Venezuela’s highest peak, at 5,007m, and it attracts
climbers from all over the world. There are various routes to
the summit.
Ruta Weiss: in summer, between December and May, this route
can be climbed without much technical difficulty and with rope,
harness and climbing helmet (there can be problems with falling
rocks). The main problem is the altitude. You should not attempt
it alone or without a guide unless you are an experienced climber.
From the base to the summit will take about 3 ½-5 hours.
You can camp at the Pico Espejo station, at 4,757m and then
descend 700m, or camp at Laguna de Timoncitos (4,600m), which
is Bolivar’s base camp.
There are other, more difficult, routes for professional climbers.
Ruta Sur Este: leave Laguna de Timoncitos very early and ascend
through a narrow pass o earth and rocks to the crest o the mountain
where you can make out the flank. The crest doesn’t present
any technical problems; some parts along the way are grade 3.
You should reach the summit in 4 hours; up and down should take
7 hours. In the winter month’s o June-December, the mountain
is covered in snow, so you’ll need crampons and ice axe
and it becomes a technical climb.
North Flank: this is the most difficult climbing route, as it
is across ice. Leaving Pico Espejo very early, you cross the
base west o the mountain to the Nido de Aguilas, where the climb
begins. You’ll need crampons, ice axes, ice screws, helmet
and rope. The climb is on a gradient o 60°, and 70°
in places. After the glacier you come to a wall of rock, which
you must climb to the summit. The descent is via the Ruta Weiss
or the normal route. The whole route takes about 8-10 hours.
Pico Humboldt
This is the second highest mountain in Venezuela, at 4,944m.
It’s visited all year round, with its northeast and west
faces being preferred by climbers for their extensive glaciers.
The climb starts from the entrance to the National Park at La
Mucuy (2,00m). Take a por puesto from Merida to Tabay, and a
jeep from there to La Mucuy (see page185). From the park entrance
it’s 4-5 hours up to Laguna Coromoto, a 7km walk through
Andean cloud forest.
Pico El Toro
From the Loma Redonda station it is possible to climb Pico El
Toro in 1 day. Views down to Merida are even better than from
Pico Espejo. People with little experience but in good physical
condition can attempt it without a guide. Turn right on El Alto
de la Cruz pass and traverse and climb gradually up over some
fields of loose rocks. Come back the same way or head down for
5-6 hours to Los Nevados.
Merida is situated
in a valley surrounded by high mountains. About one third of
them are accessible over land or by cable car. Depending on
ther hour of the day there is always one spot from where you
can fly and soar on the thermals. These places are:
La Trampa
A 45 minute drive west from Merida. Thermal flights and probably
the best place for a cross country. It is possible to fly all
year round but the best months are from November to May.
La Aguada or Loma Redonda
Take the cablecar and go up to the tirad or fourth station respectively.
Thermal or dereliction flights of some 25 minutes, with an altitude
difference of some 2,000m. Excellent views of the city of Merida.
Also good for tandem flights. All year round flying.
Las Gonzales
A 40 minute drive west of Merida.. This is the best site for
soaring and tandem flights in the late afternoon, which are
best done with an experienced and skilled pilot. The price for
tandem flights is around US $60 per flight andincludes transport
to the respective site. All year flying. The Flight association
is in charge of regulating pilots and prices for more safety.
At the main tourist
spots such as Pico El Aguila and Laguna. Mucubaji it si possible
to rent the small criollo horses for a couple of hours. For
those looking for more serious horseriding with healthy Quarter-mixed
horses there is Hacienda El Vaho close to Santo Domingo and
Finca Yegua Blanca close to Tabay. At both places they keep
about 30 horses.
Mountain
Biking
The popularity of this
sport has increased dramatically over the past years. Several
operators rent out bikes for one or more days and explain to
you where you can go and what to do on your own. Jaji and its
surrounding and the paramo are good places for 1 or 2 day options.
For longer trips requiring more experience, the Pueblos del
Sur offer a good challenge.
San Juan de Lagunillas
San Juan lies southwest from Merida, in the direction of Ejido,
at 1100m. The first 2 km are on a paved road, then it’s
an ascent on a dirt track through fields of sugar cane and tomatoes.
The next 6 km is a gradual climb on a 20% gradient, with the
last 2 km of climbing on clay. At the top of the ascent you
can see the route leading to the Pueblos del Sur and also feel
the wind that blows; you will need a good windcheater. Total
distance: 30km, 60% uphill, 30% downhill, 10% level.
Las Gonzalez-Tierra Negra
Head from Merida southwards towards Ejido to Las Gonzales (1,400m).
From there it’s a climb on dirt tracks to Tierra Negra
(1,900m), which is also used by paragliders in the afternoon.
From Tierra Negra the route follows an ancient unpaved road
that leads to the Pueblos del Sur. At the beginning, vegetation
is sparse (mostly cactus), and after 6km bushes and shrubs begin
to appear. Total distance: 26km;time4-51/2 hours, 60% uphill,
30% downhill, 10% level.
Pico El Aguila-Piñango.
At 2,500m. The ride is mainly through paramo, until it descends
towards Piñango and more verdant countryside. It's
a very easy day’s ride and ideal preparation for another
route, which begins at Piñango) see below. Total distance:
45 km, 3-4 hours, 7% uphill, 8%downhill, 85% level, average
temperature 5-7°C.
Piñango-Timotes
This is one of the most beautiful mountain biking routes in
the Venezuelan Andes, and rarely travelled. On leaving Piñango
there is a gradual but continuous ascent of 14 km up to the
high paramo at 3,600m; then it’s a sep descent all the
way to Timotes. Total distance; 39km, 5-7 hours, 32% uphill
and level, 68% downhill.
Pico El Aguila-Merida
This is a sep descent from 4,125m down to 1,650m, along the
Transandean Highway, and runs through San Rafael, Mucuchies
and Tabay. Total distance: 68 km,4-5 hours, 5% uphill, 85% level,
10% downhill.
Canoeing is possible on the road to Jaji at La Chorrera de Las
Gonzales. You will need to bring your own equipment as nobody
is yet offering it. There are many other nice waterfalls around
Merida; ask at the tour agencies for more information.
Venezuela boasts some
of the best sports fishing in the world today. Veteran international
sports fishermen agree that the water off the Caribbean cost
hold more white and blue Marlin than perhaps anywhere else.
Though deep sea fishing has been the focus of the country’s
international reputation, closer to shore there is other quarry
such as tarpon, barracuda, bonefish, ladyfish, snook, blue fish,
kingfish, Wahoo, jack crevalle, blue runner and fellow fin tuna.
Among the best destinations for fishing trips are:
Macuto:, which is excellent for blue and white marlin, sailfish,
dorado, wahoo and swordfish; there’s plentiful accommodation
near the marina and a choice of craft ranging from 33 foot Betrams
to 45 foot Christ craft.
Rio Chico is outstanding for tarpon and snook,either in Tacarigua
National Park or offshore for giant tarpon up to 200 lbs.
Los Roques is Venezuela’s bone fishing paradise. Small
penero boats take anglers to the flats where bonefish up to
12 lbs are caught. It’s not unusual to catch and release
up to 10 fish in an outing.
Lake Camatagua is great for peacock bass fishing.
Fresh water fishing is also excellent in Venezuela. Fishing
trips can be made to the Llanos and the many lakes in the Sierra
Nevada de Merida offer great fishing for brown trout. The season
runs from mid-march to September. As most lakes are within national
parks you will need a permit from Inparques.
As you would expect
of a country with the longest coastline in the Caribbean, scuba
diving in Venezuela is wonderful, with some of its sites ranking
right up there with the better-known and highly acclaimed Bonaire
and the Cayman Island. Venezuela also has the advantage of still
being relatively unknown. The coast offers many and varied diving
sites and, in addition to the underwater flora and fauna, you
can explore sunken shipwrecks from the colonial era.
Large parts of the coastline are protected as marine-based national
parks; Los Roques is an archipelago of over 300 tiny islands
lying north of La Guaira; Morrocoy is in the state of Falcon
on the western coast. As well as these national parks there
are hundreds of other potential sites, the best of which are
found around the islands.
Note that diving here can be dangerous if you don’t take
the correct precautions. There are only two recompression chambers
in Venezuela; one in Maracaibo and the other in La Guaira. Divers,
therefore, should already be quite experienced before they come,
or take a course with a qualified instructor. Details of reputable
and recommended instructors are given in the relevant sections
in the text.
Birdwatching
Venezuela has 1.346
species of birds reported to date, which is about 42% of the
total for South America (also known as the birds Continent)
or 14% of the world total. As a comparison we can mention that
in the whole North America (US and Canada) there are only 900
species of birds reported. No wonder why our country has often
been called "A birder's Paradise". From this Venezuelan
total, 46 species are endemic to the country, which means they
are not found anywhere else in the world. The reason for so
much bird diversity lies in the huge variety of different habitats
or life zones that can be found in our country in a relatively
small area. Ranging from the marine-coastal, and xerophitic
habitats all along the coast and islands, to the cloud forests
and "paramos" (high tundra) in the Andes or from the
dry forest and seasonal savannas in the llanos to the very humid
and lush rain forest and the unique "tepuis" south
of the country. This large diversity of landscape and life zones
accounts also for the generally large biodiversity in plants
and animals, which makes Venezuela one of the top 12 "Megadiverse"
countries in the world.
Au début
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