Northern Mountains Holidays

Northern Mountains Holiday Packages

Look out over Venezuela’s rugged Andean peaks from a cable car or pass through the lushly vegetated coastal ranges in the country’s mountainous north.

The Northern Mountains of Venezuela arc across the country alongside the east-west stretch of the Caribbean coast. Stretching from the Colombian border to the coastal Paria Peninsula, the Venezuelan section of the Andes Mountains is known as Cordillera de Mérida, while the coastal ranges are called Cordillera de Costa. See Venezuela’s tallest mountains dusted year-round with snow, explore national parks, mountain lagoons and the sweeping high plains. Visit the ancient architecture of Andean villages.

Mérida is one of the Northern Mountains’ major cities. Sitting at the foot of the Andes in the Chama River valley, Mérida’s magnificent colonial architecture has a backdrop of the snow-capped Andean peak, Pico Bolívar. Stroll around the city’s downtown to see elegant 18th- and 19th-century architecture, including an ornate basilica.

Visit the Plaza las Heroínas to find artisan shops and markets, as well as the terminal for the Mérida Cable Car. This extensive aerial tramway passes four scenic stations to reach the 15,633-foot (4,765-metre) Pico Espejo, presenting panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range along the way. Get a one-way ticket and descend through the Sierra Nevada National Park, exploring the region via hiking trails, mule rides and tour cars. See serene lagoons and thundering waterfalls within the jagged Andean peaks.

For more mountain adventures, book a trip with a local tour agent for mountain-biking, paragliding, whitewater rafting and canyon expeditions. Experienced mountaineers can climb Pico Humboldt or the soaring 16,332-foot (4,978-metre) Pico Bolívar.

Explore the surrounding Andean towns, such as Jají, Mucuchies or Apartaderos. Santo Domingo is renowned for its village scenery and excellent hiking trails. Further north, pass the Yaracuy Valley to reach the Venezuelan coastal ranges and the dense evergreen forests that drop into the Caribbean Sea.

Venezuela’s Northern Mountains stretch from the Colombian border to the Caribbean Coast. Fly into the domestic airport in Mérida or visit the coastal ranges from Valencia Airport. Book tours with accredited tour operators and catch taxis around the cities. Expect cool rains between April and November and humid summers, with little temperature variation throughout the year.