 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION |
The state of Merida is located to the west of Venezuela. Its territory has a 11.300 Km² surface, which consists of a rich and varied climate and ecological diversity characteristic to the spread of land there. Its populations is made up of approximately 459,400 inhabitants, it is 680 Kms away from Caracas, capital of the country.
The name Mérida originates from the Latin word Emérita (Deserved), giving it its name of " la ciudad de Mérida de Extremadura (Spain), which was founded by the Romans in the year 26 B.C. which was named Emerita Augusta. From the Spanish Mérida came Captain Juan Rodríguez Suárez, who founded the city of Merida on October 9th 1558.
| INTRODUCTION TO THE STATE OF MERIDA |
 MOUNTAIN MAGICAL DESTINATION IN THE VENEZUELA TROPICS |
In the midst of the exuberant vegetation of its jungles, the great extensions of its pastures and plains, and the heat of its Caribbean beaches, stands out in western Venezuelan the impressive mass of the Andean mountain chain which holds together the states of Táchira, Mérida and Trujillo and because of its unique characteristics, makes up one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country.
Mérida State with its 11,300 square kilometers of land mass, located at the center of three Andean states which has the highest elevations of the mountain chain, jutting out to 5,007 meters above sea level is Bolivar Peak, the highest in Venezuela, Humbolt and Bompland with 4,942 and 4,983 meters above sea level respectively, and the Toro (Bull) and León (Lion) Peaks.
These fantastic mountains belong to the Mérida's Sierra Nevada mountain range and are protected as National Park, which makes up a large part of Mérida's territory. A region of towns and villages with a culture and very particular tradition reflected in the diversity of its own folk art, religious feasts, and typical folklore and candy.
Mérida is Venezuela's most important mountain region with a deep-rooted tourist culture, which dates back years, and which grows due to its mountain tourist expansion possibilities, excursions and other nature tourism possibilities.
From its capital, the bucolic yet at times, noisy and student city of Mérida, home to the renowned Universidad de Los Andes, the tourist is offered the possibility of traveling different routes where varied altitudes can be experienced. And, Mérida's geography from the beaches of Lake Maracaibo at sea level with palm trees and white sand beaches and a walk through the clouds at the foot of the mountain range, arid and desert-like areas and cold highlands which at times are covered with snow.
Hotels of varying categories, inns, tourist lodgings can be found in the city of Mérida and outlying towns and offer comfortable lodgings to the tourist who, from the different parts of Venezuela and the world, arrive in search of a mountain encounter, the peace and tranquility of its traditional towns, or the cheerfulness of the city of Mérida, with its long and narrow streets, in the midst of modernization. Mérida still has old homes and buildings dating back to colonial times and is surrounded by parks, plazas and avenues of traditional markets, art centers and beautiful churches.
But, the city of Mérida is only the entryway to infinite possibilities for recreation and tourism. The traveler awaits a variety of landscapes with, winding roads through the highlands taking the tourist to spectacular lakes and highlands, beautiful valleys growing flowers and vegetable crops; streams, rivers and waterfalls, views and fog covered paths, and old towns with friendly and accommodating people.
In one of the most beautiful and visited regions of Venezuela, the villages of Mucuchies and Mucurubá, Cacute and Aparaderos await you in the middle of the Andean highlands which are connected to each other by the Transandina Highway; or, the Southern Villages, some accessible by paved roads and others, more remote, accessible to the point where four wheel drive vehicles can go, but all are charming towns of old. Tovar, Zea or Bailadores, strawberry growing towns, or Jají, La Azulita or Torondoy are only reference points of the lovely Mérida geography, which provide services to meet visitor's needs. Numerous travel agencies, mountain tourism business and in Mérida, city hotels all offer tourist sufficient information and possibilities to visit this Venezuelan region, which can be arrived comfortably by road or air to live a Venezuelan Andes adventure.
| CULTURAL CAPITAL OF VENEZUELA |
The City of Gentlemen is a national and international tourist reference point for conventions, meetings and art exhibits, in addition to university, scientific and technology meetings.
Because it is a tourist and student city with great intellectual, scientific, technological and cultural activity, the city of Mérida located in the Venezuelan Andes has become the ideal place to carry out conventions, meetings, seminars and all type of events and meetings.
It is well-known that Mérida is home to the Universidad de Los Andes, one of the most outstanding higher educational facilities in Venezuela and the Americas. Its teaching and research activity contributes to the city more than one hundred yearly meetings, both small and large, carried out in the most diverse areas of knowledge and know-how. During the course of these activities, the city has gathered together prestigious world scientist and intellectuals.
And, Mérida offers the serenity needed for a better flow of ideas, mutual exchange and learning.
Mérida is famous for its students from different areas of study gathering together in study groups of two or three under the shade of tall pines and trees that line the avenues and city parks.
| CONVENTION CENTER |
Mérida now has the infrastructure necessary for carrying out conventions, thus consolidating its image as a " meeting place." Mucucharasti, the International Convention Center, is a reference point for what Mérida does to motivate business, professional associations and institutions to meet in the City of Gentlemen.
The¨Tulio Febres Cordero¨ Cultural Center, built in downtown Mérida, uses its generous spaces for permanent and itinerant painting, sculpture, photography, folk-art and other art exhibits. Its modern theater is home to theater, music and dance.
The city of Mérida has many places for showing art and culture. The Casa de los Antiguos Gobernadores (Home of the Early Governors) la Casa del General Paredes, the Colonial Art Museum, The Museum of the Archdiocese, the Juan Félix Sánchez Cultural House, the Anthropology Museum, and the Science and Technology Museum are only a few of the cultural centers to be found in Mérida worth visiting.
The cultural dynamics of Mérida have generated a unique idea which will soon be a reality. This is the Cultural, Scientific and Technological Free Zone Law which will make Mérida Venezuela's true cultural center and, without a doubt, will motivate massive convention tourism to this beautiful Venezuelan Andean city.
How to Arrive in Mérida
Four airlines will bring you to Mérida in 15 daily flights (aprox). If you prefer, drive by way of our vast network of paved highways the safest in Venezuela and enter Mérida through the Northwest taking the Transandina highway or from the West on the same road. You may also enter on the Panamerican Highway in a Northwest direction and enjoy on of the most novel and interesting pieces of engineering work in Venezuela. At the same time, you may enter Mérida by way of the north by taking the secondary route from Santa Elena de Arenales-La Azulita
Mérida is the Andes
Mérida is the ideal entrance to the world's longest mountain chain, the Andes. Surprise yourself with the diversity of its natural environment with flora and fauna where the frailejón, our emblem, stand out as do the four national parks which can be found within her boundaries.
Let the green mountains with the eternal snow of the Bolivar Peak captivate you. Enjoy the culture of this university town, challenge nature and grant yourself time for your health using the wide variety of medical services and modern installations with high technology which this region offers.
Get to know the perfect combination of culture, health and people in an unforgettable environment at the foothills of the majestic Andean peaks and its surroundings, which offer diverse attractions even for the most demanding tastes. Also get to know the towns and scenery, which will leave you, satisfied. Complement them with generous quality lodgings found in the area: 149 inns and 133 rated hotels strategically located throughout the state.
Mérida seduces with its food, where the trout stands out in its many cooked forms or the wheat arepa (bread cake), the Andean pisca (soup), and stuffed hen. And, you must try the bread and the traditional candy, marmalades, and 680varieties of ice cream with the most exotic flavors you can imagine.
This and much more is Mérida. We invite you to know its uniqueness and its immense beauty that this blessed land nourishes.
Villages and festivities
Did you know that Mérida surprises one by its multiple towns, where cultural and religious tradition celebrates during the year an ample calendar of festivals. Enly the 15,000 candles in Mucurubá which is celebrated on December 8; in December and January enjoy the Paradura del Niño; or dance to the beat of the drums at the San Benito Festival, a pagan Christian saint, held on December 31; and the San Iced Festival held on May15 where farm products are carried; or enjoy our Carnival at the Sun Fair celebrated in February.
Traditional Architecture
Mérida still maintains traditional colonial architecture along with the modern style of a growing and developing city within the warmth of its natural environment. Discover the churches, museums, houses, and, in general, towns, which adapt to their surroundings and the profound beauty found in the landscape. Wisdom is carved in stone, mud walls and waddle and daub.
Mérida is a Cultural Fair
Mérida is a constant source of cultural events throughout the year where the Latin American Film Festival, Choral Meetings, Literary Conventions, Medical Meetings in the different areas, Book Fairs, Gastronomy Festivals, Contemporary Ballet season, theatrical presentations, and musical events of varying tendencies stand out.
Surprise yourself with the growing traffic of convention tourism that the city offers with its International Convention Center, Mucucharastí with different salons, which allow you to carry out events with a capacity of 8,500 people.
University City
Universidad de Los Andes (U.L.A.): is a Bicentennial University City. It is one of the most important universities in Venezuela and offers majors in Architecture, Engineering, Medicine, Law, Political Science, Economics and Education, among others.
The founding date of the University is given as the 29th of March, 1785. The entire University was housed in this building until 1958. Today, ULA with 40,000 students aprox. Registered, has grown so large that only some main offices of the University are located here.
It was the second University established in the country.
Adventure and Sports
In Mérida, adventure tourism is growing. Mérida is ideal for practicing sport activities such as climbing, mountain bicycling, horseback riding, rating, trout fishing, paragliding, and path finding. It is a paradise for nature amateurs.
Surprising Places
Did you know that Mérida has such theme parks as:
Chorros de Milla
The Chorros de Milla houses a notable variety of animals of teaching and biological interest. It is the second most visited park in Venezuela.
Aquarium Garden
The Aquarium garden with different Venezuelan aquatic environments where fresh water fish from: Los Llanos (plains), Costa (coast), Selva (jungle) and Montaña (mountain) are displayed.
Hacienda La Victoria
You must visit the largest restored home in Venezuela: the Hacienda La Victoria, built at the end of the Nineteenth Century and which houses the Immigrant Museum.
Venezuela de Antier (Venezuela of Yesteryear)
Venezuela de Antier offers a retrospective representation of the principle regions of the country. Los Aleros or Grandfather's dreams.
The Teleférico: A trip through the Clouds
Did you know that Mérida has the highest (4.765 meters above sea level) and longest (12.5 km) cable car in the world? Your itinerary takes you through the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. The impressive beauty of the five independent seasons that make up your trip and can be admired during the trip is unequaled. Each station has cafeteria services with good coffee and hot chocolate can be found close to heaven for an enjoyable experience.
| HISTORY |
Captain Juan Rodríguez Suárez founded Mérida on October 9, 1558. He was an official of the city of Pamplona, in Nueva Granada (now Colombia), and had been put in charge of a group of 60 men who were sent out to explore the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, to search for gold and to subdue the Indians en route.
This expedition turned into high adventure when Rodríguez Suárez founded Mérida. At that time it was only by Royal Decree that cities could be legally founded and Rodríguez Suárez had not been authorized to found a city.
The Lt. Governor of Pamplona, learning of this rash deed, rushed to Bogotá to obtain authorization from the High Royal Court to send Juan Maldonado y Ordoñez to search out the criminal, arrest him and return with him to Bogotá for trial.
Mission accomplished, the trial was held in Bogotá on March 23, 1560. The founder of Mérida was judged guilty of the usurpation of Royal perogative, was sentenced to be dragged by the tail of his horse through the street of Bogotá until dead and to be subsequently quartered. Each piece of his body was to be displayed on a pike at each of the public roads entering the city and left there to rot. No burial was to be allowed.
This grizzly fate was fortunately averted. However, through the intervention of Bishop Fray Juan Carlos de los Barrios and other friends who helped Rodríguez Suárez to escape and flee to the Province of Venezuela, where, in the city of Trujillo, Don Diego García de Paredes defended him against the sentence, by giving him the first asylum granted to a political exile in América.
Like many other cities in Venezuela, Mérida also experimented with sites before settling permanently in its present location. The settlement Juan Rodríguez Suárez founded and named in honor of the little town of the same name in the Spanish Province of Badajoz, was located to the west of present day Mérida, in Lagunillas de Urao. By November 1, 1558, due to the hostility of the Indians there, it had to be moved to a site near La Punta. The third move, initiated by Juan de Maldonado, was to its present site on the high mesa where it has remained. It was at the time of this third move that the settlement received the name Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida and this is sometimes cited as the true foundation of Mérida.
The rivalry between the Rodríguez Suárez faction and the Maldonado faction was irreconcilable and for two centuries frequent disputes over public office by the two contending groups created conflicts in Mérida.
The city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida was not included in the jurisdiction of the Captaincy General of Venezuela until 1777. It was early on an ardent partisan for the separation of Venezuela from Spanish rule and was involved in the abortive Revolution of the Comuneros against Spain in 1781. On September 16, 1810, Mérida proclaimed support of the Revolution of the revolution initiated in Caracas on April 19 of that year. As a result, when the first Republic fell, and the Royalists reasserted control, the patriotic leaders of Mérida had to flee or face imprisonment.
When Bolívar staged his comeback from Colombia in 1813, Mérida was the first city to salute him as El Libertador. In spite of having suffered a devastating earthquake in 1812 and of having been sacked by the Royalists, Merideños subscribed 30,000 gold pieces for Bolívar and 800 horses to transport his army, besides furnishing cannon, ammunition and 500 men under the command of General Campo Elias. (Only 15 of these 500 were alive after the battle of La Victoria, February 12, 1814).
After falling into the hands of the Royalists a second time, Mérida was finally liberated in October of 1820. When Bolívar returned to Mérida with Paéz that year, he was again acclaimed El Libertador here.
Mérida erected the first monument in the world to Bolívar in 1842. It was designed by a grandson of General Campo Elías, Pedro Celestino Guerra, in the form of a column supporting a bust of Bolívar and stands in the Parque de Las Cinco Repúblicas, overlooking the Chama and Mucujún Rivers.
The battles which raged back and forth across Venezuela during the wars of federation, 1859-63, were hardly felt in the Andes. The Andean population grew dramatically, however, during the conflict, as refugees, especially from the nearby plains, sought haven here. Many of them never returned to their native provinces.
Twenty years ago, as one drove toward Mérida from the east, one saw a small, white city set in a sea of jade-green sugar cane. Today a city of over 110,000 inhabitants, Mérida has spread out so close to the edge of the steep cliffs above the three rivers that bound its mesa, that it seems to be in real danger of falling over the edge.
| GATHER OF CULTURES |
The tradition can be seen in Mérida; much Inca-type terracing is evident. Hitorians believe that the entire Andean region was influenced by the high civilizations of Colombia and Perú, and that the name of the Indian tribes living here may have been Aymara or Quechua.
Typical of the Andes is the small landowner, of which there are many. Here people stay on their land: two thirds of the Andean rural agricultural population is permanent, and only one third is transitory.
To farm can be seen by the omnipresent walls made from the stones that have been cleared from the fields before cultivation could take place. Some fields even have neat piles of stones in the center, there having been a surfeit of stones for wall-building.
Also, this is a great fishing country. The streams and lakes of the upper cold regions throughout the state has snow trout. Both the common trout (salmo truta or trutta fario), and the rainbow (salmo iridens), native of the U.S. A. and Canada, have adapted well to the local waters, most of which are very rich in the fauna necessary for their diet. The fishing season is from March 15 - September 30; fishing is prohibited after 6:00p.m. An annual national fishing classic is held in September with both national and state government trophies, organized by CORMETUR.
There are villages that still keep the tradition and culture learned after the founding date.
| THE CITY OF MÉRIDA |
Mérida, capital of the Venezuelan Andean state of the same name, is 1,640 meters above sea level with a mean temperature of 23 degrees centigrade and is located on a plateau of the Mérida Sierra Nevada mountain range. |
The Mérida land was home to one of the most developed indigenous cultures, the Tatuy or Mucumbache, considered by some authors one of the most advanced cultures north of the Incas. Their language, stoneware, and agricultural techniques such as the andenes (terracing), water channels and roads confirm their admixture with other indigenous groups, specifically the Chibchas from Colombia and the Caribs who inhabited the entire Caribbean islands.
After the arrival of the Spanish, the daring captain known for his the red cape, Juan Rodríguez Suárez from Extremadura, Spain, founded Mérida Santiago de los Caballeros in the Sierra Nevada Province in 1558. The city rapidly acquired political, social, cultural and economic importance which transcended beyond the snow-covered peaks. Today Mérida is the cradle of Venezuelan culture. Its two-hundred year old Universidad de Los Andes gives Mérida a special character. With its dynamic student body and its tourism, Mérida is positioned as the vanguard region. Moreover, it is an excellent agricultural producer and art and folk-art reservoir of great value.
| What to see |
There are many bits of architecture left in downtown Mérida that are associated with its history.
Plaza Bolivar: It occupies the block between calles 22 and 23, and avenidas 3 and 4. It looks formal and dignified, as do the important buildings which face the south and west sides.
Cathedral: The Cathedral on avenida 4, at the corner of calle 22, was under construction from 1803 to 1960. Two serious earthquakes, wars and the fact that this was a Cathedral all played a part in changing and modifying the original design. By 1900 only one tower was complete, and it was not until 1945 that the terminal construction of the church was begun. It was finally completed in its present form in 1958 and was consecrated on May 12, 1960.
Note the four wonderful metal gargoyles facing calle 22. The Cardinal´s hat on the facade of the Cathedral presumably commemorates Mérida´s José H. Quintero´s election to Cardinal.
In the crypt below the main altar are a 14th or 15th century statue of the Virgin of the Apple, and the remains of San Clemente, a martyred Roman soldier, beheaded because he was christian. His remains were brought to Mérida by Fray Manuel Cándido de Torrijos, the second Bishop of Mérida.
Palacio Arzobispal: The Renaissance style palace beside the Cathedral, facing the Plaza Bolívar, is built around an open court yard. It was constructed between 1933 and 1951 as the residence of the Archbishop. The palace contains a gallery of portraits of the prelates of Mérida and the Archdiocese Museum, a small collection of valuable colonial oil paintings. Other items in the museum include a bell cast in 909 A.D., thought to be one of the oldest bell in the world.
Palacio de Gobierno: The Government Palace, facing the Plaza Bolívar on calle 23, was built between 1956 and 1958, in time for the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the city.
Museo de Arte Colonial: The Museum, founded in 1963, has an interesting and valuable collection of colonial art of the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries: paintings on wood, canas and metal, sculpture, furniture, gold and silver work, ceramics and glass. It is continuing to acquire Venezuelan peaces, especially from the Andean region.
Museo Arqueológico - ULA: The Archeological Museum of the University of the Andes, contains the collection of the University and gifts of the pre-hispanic pieces which have been donated to ULA.
Parque Zoológico Chorros de Milla: As the name implies, the Milla cascades Park and Zoo was built at the headwaters of the Milla Rivers, one of the four rivers that bound the city of Mérida. A bronce statue of the indian girl, Tibisay, stands at the entrance to the park. Legend has it that the lovely trysts of the Mucujún Cacique Murachi and the beautiful indian maiden, Tibisay, took place in what is now a secluded corner of this park. When Murachi was killed in battle by Spanish conquistados, Tibisay cried until she died and her unrelenting tears produced the cascades of the park. It is the most visited zoo in the country.
Parque La Isla: The outstanding feature of this large urban park is the extensive Orchidarium, with its remarkable variety of orchids. This is also an excellent place to walk and la Casa Internacional de Congresos Mucucharasti (Convention Center), has been constructed there, with capacity for 2,500 persons.
Teleférico de Mérida: The highest and longest cable car in the world. It was completed in 1958. The four-stage ascent takes one hour, if you go straight to the top.
Barinitas station: The car leaves the Barinitas station at the south end of calle 25, at 1577 mts. (5,173 feet), above see level, and goes to La Montaña station at 2442 mts. (8,010 feet) in about 12 minutes time. You have the sensation of flying across the Chama River as you look down on sugar cane fields and coffee plantations. Montaña station is in a forest. From it you can see almost the entire Chama Valley on a clear day: the towns of Parroquia and Ejido to the west, and of Tabay to the east.
La Montaña station: This is the most spectacular ascent as you rise in only 3 kms.(1.88 miles), from 2442 mts. (8,010 feet) to 3452 mts. (11,323 feet) at La Aguada station in 12 minutes. As you leave the Montaña station, you are suspended above an abyss of more than 350 mts. (1,155 feet), down which cascades clear water from La Fría Lagoon. As you ascend, the vegetation slowly changes from forest to vegetation typical of the paramo - frailejon regions. To the right you can see the steep sides of El Toro peak, 4756 mts. (15,600 feet), and from the Aguada station itself, you can look up and see the snow-capped Bolívar peak, 5007 mts. (16,423 feet).
La Aguada station: It takes 11 minutes to climb from 3452 mts. (11,323 feet) to 4045 mts. (13,268 feet), at the Loma Redonda station. To the east can be seen La Concha glacier, 4922 mts. (16,144 feet), and the glaciers of Pico Bolívar, the highest of which, called Cascada del Sol, originates in the Cañada de las Nieves. Occasionally, if you look straight down you can distinguish, on the old mule trail from the village of Los Nevados, a muleteer in his chamarras (ponchos) with his mule train.
Loma Redonda station: These 3 kms. (1,88 miles) go from 4045 mts. (13,268 feet) to 4765 mts. (15,629 feet) at the Pico Espejo station. There are no intermediate towers between the last two station. In 14 minutes the same distance is covered that it takes alpinists five painful hours to climb. From the cable car you can observe the often photographed lagoons, Laguna Negra, Colorada and Ateojos where trout abound. As you near them, you can admire at close range the colossal glaciers that cover the north and west flanks of Pico Bolívar, on whose summit can be seen, with the aid of binoculars, the huge bronze bust of the Libertador, Simón Bolívar.
Pico Espejo station: You can clearly see from here La Corona, with its twin peaks of Humboldt and Bompland, 4942 mts. (16,210 feet) and 4883 mts. (16,016 feet) high, and the glacier of Timoncitos on the southern slope of Pico Bolívar, which is the usual route of ascent to the peak. To the north can be seen the Sierra de la Culata, whose peaks seem from here to be at the same level as those of Pico Espejo. To the south, on very clear days, it is possible to distinguish the Venezuelan Llanos and on the horizon, above the clouds, the Sierra de Cocuy in Colombia. From this last station you can see the beautiful carvoing of the Virgin of the Snows, patron saint of alpinists, sculpture in Carrara marble in 1965, standing on a white pedestal. There is a refuge for climbers on Pico Espejo, which was imported from Norway.
| EXCURSIONS FROM THE MÉRIDA TELEFÉRICO |
La Aguada to La Montaña is a two hour walk through cloud forest, from the second stop of the teleférico down to the first stop.
La Aguada, La Vega, Chorro de las Nieves is a 4-5 hour hike. (Arrange for a guide in advance), go down a trail in a southeasterly direction to the little house of La Vega. Follow the El Valle stream upstream to the foot of an enormous cascade which descends from the northern glacier of Pico Bolívar. You can fish here in season.
Loma Redonda station to La Aguada is an excursion for everybody. From Loma Redonda go down to the La Aguada station by the old road to Los Nevados across the paramo covered with frailejones. Using this route you reach the big lagoon of Anteojos. Always follow the aqueduct line. It is a very agreeable walk of 3-4 hours.
Loma Redonda to Paramo de la Media Luna, this trip takes two hours on horseback. From Loma Redonda, go up to the road, a gentle rise, toward Los Nevados as far as La Cueva de Calderón. From there to the lonely Cruz de Alto, 4250 mts. (13,940 feet), the climb is steeper, but surrounded by beautiful forest of coloradito trees, four or five meters high which cover places sheltered from the cold winds.
Loma Redonda to Los Nevados is a hike of various hours (or go by muleback) to one of the most interesting pueblos of the Andes. From Loma Redonda station, climb the old road to Alto de Media Luna. From here you go down gently, always on the mule road, to the village situated in El Valle de Nuestra Señora at 2711 mts. (8,892 feet).
Bailadores, a peaceful little agricultural town 15 km. (9 miles). From Tovar, was founded by Francisco de Cáceres on August 25, 1578. It was far from pacified when it was turned over to the newly-arrived Franciscans. The local indians were fighting not only for one of the most beautiful valleys in the Andes, but for one of the choicest agricultural areas, and they did not give up easily. The smallpox epidemics that swept Venezuela in 1580 and 1588 contributed to the final outcome of the conflict. Over a third of the local population succumbed to the disease and the indians could no longer muster the number necessary to win the unequal battle against horse and armour.
| MÉRIDA TO PÁRAMO |
Tabay, is the first village you find once you leave Mérida. It was founded by the Spanish in 1689 and named for the ancient Tabay Indian tribe. The Plaza Bolívar is almost surrounded by old tile-roofed houses and beautifully shaded with tall pine trees.
Mucuchies (2980 m), was founded in 1596 on this long, narrow mesa, a site inhabited from earliest pre-Hispanic times. At this altitude, the temperature differences in one day can be 24.2 degrees C., (75 Fahrenheit).
Take a few minutes to drive through Mucuchies. If you stay on the highway you will by-pass most of the town itself. Traffic must take the right fork at the entrance of town, , after a few blocks, turn left downhill, so you can see the rest of the town.
San Rafael de Mucuchies (3140 m), is the highest town in all of Venezuela. Otherwise it is a typical, ancient andean village. A local folklore group celebrates the festival in honor of San Rafael here each year on October 24th.Apartadero (3473 mts. - 11,391 miles), with its breath taken views, fields and people who work them are unique. The road makes a loop around a statue atop a small hill, it is a sculpture of Loca Luz Caraballo (Crazy Luz Caraballo), an andean character made immortal by Andrés Eloy Blanco´s poem of that title. This woman was apparently crazy by the tragic loss of her five children, and wandered the páramo until she died.
Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada (3550 mts. - 11,644 feet)), covers 190,000 hectares (7,691,200 acres), and was created in May of 1952 to protect the two most important ranges in the Venezuelan Andes. It is the second oldest national park in Venezuela.
Laguna de Mucubají, called locally Laguna Grande, is the largest of over 200 glacial lakes in the state of Mérida. It is a good place to leave your car while walking in the area. Exploring further a field you get to Lagua Negra, Los Patos and La Canoa, all have excelent fishing.
Guides and horses are available.
CORMETUR
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MERIDA TOURISM |
The Mérida Tourism Corporation is the country's pioneer institute in material concerning regional tourism promotion policies.
In Mérida, tourist enterprises such as ecological and agricultural tourism lodgings as well as road and air transportation have received credit from the corporation.
In 1996, one of the main objectives was managing and achieving the reopening of the four cable car stations.
Napoleon said that the art of a strategy resides in making it work. This implies a management style with respect to its organization, methods of planning, administration and promotion depending on the style of direction. This is what the tourist corporation proposed in 1996 to demystify the idea of an ideal model that looks towards repositioning lower management with respect to form, and using as the backbone the notion of a system which permits the reflection and formulation of strategies. In this sense, objectives are oriented towards diversification by segmenting activities, analyzing the rhythm of evolution and growth of markets, reformulating the corporate image by analyzing fundamental points such as the place the institutions occupies in regional, national and international opinion.
Equally, a restructuring process has taken place which maximizes the managerial processes and optimizes the results. This is based on the idea of using CORMETUR as an autonomous institute dependent on Mérida State government. It was created on October 1990 to promote the development of sustainable state tourism through rational and integrated use of natural and cultural resources together with its biogeographic characteristics as well as local, public, private and mixed businesses would permit the development and adequate use of tourist resources and their potential oriented towards the optimization of the tourist services to consolidate our region as a competitive and developed destination.
| STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT |
CORMETUR is projected as planning and orienting regional tourist development based on a three-Year Mérida State Tourist Plan. It facilitates tourism management for the private sector including supporting and advising in marketing and financing tourism proyects, promoting tourism possibilities and offering state tourism according to regional and national guidelines supported by a up-to-date and vanguard marketing plan and the joint interaction of CORPOTURISMO, the mayors offices, and the Institutes of Tourist Education and Training, the ministries and other institution and autonomous public and private, professional associations which share the responsibility for managing services and insuring their quality.
As the highest office involved in Mérida's tourism policy, CORMETUR promotes the state tourist image, divulging the diversity of our offer and the quality of the services and implied products, within the parameters of sustainability and through the rational use of its financial resources. Also, coordinating planning management and tourist development together with other national and regional institutions in order to unify criteria and avoid conceptual dispersion that devalues or under uses Mérida's resources and executing tourist development projects by way of agreements with national and state governments, municipal councils and other public and private entities. Equally, it facilitates planning and promotion management before the private sector together with the management of a financing program that stimulates the creation and maintenance of tourist service businesses that magnify the regional offer.
| TOURISM MANAGEMENT |
This entire theoretical framework has been applied through CORMETUR'S Technical Management Offices, each one with objectives and short and long term goals which have been working with a high sense of professionalism and under scientific concepts to carry out the achievements they aspire to reach.
Through the Planning, Proyects and Financing Management Office, CORMETUR has turned toward the development of financing programs for the private sector, through the consolidation of a network of tourist lodgings, the largest in the country, rural area tourist lodgings, recreational businesses, tourist shelters, land and air transportation, tourist lodgings, equipment and furnishings.
The Human Development Office's fundamental objective is to make those who have tourist services and municipal and governmental tourism responsibilities, associations, and unions aware of the importance of tourism, through workshops, sensitivity courses and tourism education, training and development; municipal and community education; and internships with business, among others.
The Tourist Services Management Office accomplishes an important role in the organizational structure of CORMETUR. Among its programs, adapting the legal framework; the mechanisms and procedures that permit regulating the activities of those who service tourists; and the betterment and reorientation of the quality of tourist services stand out. This office also is in charge of tourist information and assistance from its Tourist Information Modules, Supporting municipal and Environmental Management, Tourist Supplies, Rescue, Reevaluating Mérida's Historical Heritage, and Revaluing and Recuperating Towns.
The Promotion and Information Office of CORMETUR is in charge of developing promotional policies and strategies which would position Mérida as a tourist destination of the highest order in potential or existing international or national markets. This can be achieved through participation in marketing strategies which consider the changing dynamic character of the tourist activity including attending national and international events, developing promotional materials, maintaining a permanent presence in the different social print and audiovisual means of communication, publicity campaigns concerning the Mérida tourist potential, Typical nights which allow us to show the Andean culture with it varied food, music, tradition and folk art.
| BALANCE OF A TERM |
1996 was the year CORMETUR reached significantly high levels with respect to its growth and development due to its restructuring which allowed it to visualize with greater efficiency the objectives to be completed. The balance of achievements shows an aggregate value when encouraging regional tourist activity, which has permitted showing Mérida beyond the academic city, fortifying tourism as a priority for sustainable, and constant growth.
One of the principle achievements has been the reopening of Mérida's cable car system, the highest and longest in the world. It allows you to enjoy the tropical snow at the tope of the Sierra Nevada. It is the greatest attraction in Mérida, which together with the diversification of the tourist places has consolidated the image of Mérida, which puts Mérida in first place in the Venezuelan Andes.
It is an achievement which implies an arduous management effort and the capacity for convincing which the CORMETUR authorities in cooperation with CORPORTURISMO and which took the leadership along with the regional government the actions before the national government to achieve this important goal.
| WHERE ARE WE GOING |
According to Cormetur's new guidelines, Mérida is moving toward consolidating its cultural tourism which places value on, accommodates and reinforces the regions potential with programs involving infrastructure, financing, monitoring and optimization of the quality of its services, sensitizing and training for tourism, incorporating all the population sectors and especially promoting Mérida as destination by reaffirming its resources.
Through strategic alliances with the private sector, the corporation looks towards increasing and maintaining the presence of the Mérida image in the markets considered vital in order to maintain a constant tourist flow, to our advantage over the other states. For this reason, we will participate in the coming years in the most important tourist events and fairs in Venezuela and the world, with emphasis on the States tourist product with greatest international acceptance and where adventure and nature tourism, health, sport fishing, and mountain sports, conventions and fauna and flora observation, historic, cultural and religious tourism will stand out.
This way, by strengthening our internal and external image in this direction we have oriented our mission, vision and values as well as permanent orientation guide to carry out the institution's functions. As such, our vision... the mission... and the values are: authenticity, truth, social well being, productivity, leadership, promise, excellence and ethics (CPN6497). |
