From the west, Llanos is bordered by the northernmost spurs of the Andes – the Cordillera de Merida ranges. Within one of the ranges – the Sierra Nevada de Merida – is the highest point in Venezuela – Peak Bolivar (5007 m). This is one of the best places in the country for hiking.
According to itypeusa, the main city of this region is Merida (Merida) – the capital of the state of the same name. It is located in a mountain valley, from the southeast the city is bordered by the Sierra Nevada de Mérida, and from the northwest by the Sierra La Culata. Merida – the starting point for travel in the mountains of the Cordillera de Merida. Among the sights of the city stand out the Cathedral, which was built over 150 years (between 1803 and 1960); the Archbishop’s Palace, which has been the residence of the Archbishop since 1951; Government Palace; the majestic building of the University of the Andes, which was founded in 1785; Archaeological Museum with a collection of items from the pre-Columbian era; Modern Art Museum; the oldest church in the city is Milla Church (18th century); the only Gothic church in the city is the Church of Del Llano; Museum of Colonial Art; a bullfighting arena with a capacity of 16,000 spectators, and numerous parks, including the largest park in the country – Albarregas Park with an area of 612 hectares, where, in addition to picturesque nature, you will see a variety of sculptures.
Not far from Bolivar Square on Heroes’ Square (Las Heroinas), the El Teleferico de Merida cable car begins, leading to the slopes of Mount Espejo (4880 m), located within the Sierra Nevada de Merida ridge, to a height of 4765 m. This is the longest (12.5 km) and the highest mountain cable car on the planet. It was built in 1958. Unfortunately, due to heavy wear and tear, the cable car was closed for repairs in 2008. This fact significantly reduced the number of tourists visiting these parts, because the Merida cable car leads into the heart of the Sierra Nevada National Park . Now the Sierra Nevada National Park can only be reached by sightseeing jeeps. Sierra Nevada National Park- one of the best places in Venezuela for hiking and mountaineering. Here, on an area of 276.5 thousand hectares, there are 6 highest peaks of the country, whose peaks are covered with snow, deep gorges, sheer cliffs, mountain lakes and rivers, wet forests, meadows and original villages. On the territory of the park, the town of Tabay with hot springs, the “foggy” forest of La Mucuy, the Los Aleros theme park, which is a copy of the traditional Andean city of the 30s of the 20th century, are of interest. city of the country – Apartaderos (Apartaderos), surrounded by endless meadows of paramo, biological station Estacion-Biologica-Juan Manuel Paz, which was created to protect rare Andean condors, and Lake Mukubahi (Laguna Mucubaji) – the largest of the glacial lakes of the state of Merida.
From the northwest, the city of Merida is bounded by the Sierra La Culata ridge, the slopes of which are protected by the national park of the same name, covering an area of 200 thousand hectares. Sierra La Culata Park is less popular among tourists, but interesting excursions are still organized here.
There are also many attractions south of Merida: the La Venezuela de Antier theme park, which tells about the history of the country; Ejido city(Ejido), where there are 5 thermal springs with a water temperature of up to +60 degrees, used to treat skin diseases; theme park La Montana de Los Suenos (Montana de Los Suenos), dedicated to the history of Venezuelan cinema; picturesque waterfalls of Correra de Las Gonzalez (La Chorrera de Las Gonzalez); the village of Hahi (Jaji), built in a traditional colonial style with souvenir shops and cafes; and the Hacienda El Carmen farm (before the oil “boom” was the main coffee producer in Venezuela) with a coffee museum.
From the south of Merida neighbors the state of Tachira, which in turn borders Colombia. It was in Tachira that the first oil fields were discovered. The state capital is San Cristobal. It is located in a mountain valley at an altitude of 820 m, 250 km from Merida and 60 km from the Colombian border. Of the sights of the city, one can single out the Cathedral and one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in the country – the Church of San Jose. To the east of San Cristobal is the Chorro del Indio National Park with an area of 11,000 hectares. In the park, among dense forests, there is a waterfall of the same name.
North of the state of Merida is the state of Trujillo (Trujillo), whose capital bears the same name. The city of Trujillo was founded in 1557. It is located in a mountain valley at an altitude of 958 m at the foot of the Pena de la Virgen mountain (1700 m), on which stands the imposing statue of the Holy Virgin of the Virgen de la Paz, 47 m high. tallest monument in Latin America. There are 5 viewing platforms on the statue at different levels, where you can take the elevator. The sites are located at levels of 18 m, 22 m, 26 m, 28 m and 44 m. From the last two sites in clear weather, you can even see Lake Maracaibo (Lago Maracaibo), located west of the city of Trujillo. East of Trujillo, on the very outskirts of the Cordillera de Mérida mountain range, lies the Guaramacal National Park. (Guaramacal National Park).
