Information
Landmark: Teleférico de MéridaCity: Merida
Country: Venezuela
Continent: South America
Teleférico de Mérida, Merida, Venezuela, South America
Overview
The Teleférico de Mérida, or Mukumbarí, soars higher and stretches farther than any other cable car on Earth, carrying passengers above snow-dusted Andean peaks.High in Venezuela’s Andes, it links the city of Mérida to Pico Espejo, which rises 4,765 meters-15,633 feet-into the thin, crisp mountain air.In Venezuela, this cable car ranks among the most famous sights, carrying you high above the Sierra Nevada National Park with sweeping views and the thin, crisp air of the mountains.The Teleférico de Mérida stretches 12.5 km (7.8 miles) from end to end, making it the longest cable car on the planet.You’ll climb from 1,640 m (5,380 ft) in Mérida all the way to 4,765 m (15,633 ft) at Pico Espejo-riding the highest cable car on Earth, where the air feels thin and sharp.The cable car stops at five stations, each with its own view-snow-dusted peaks here, a bustling market there.It takes about an hour to reach the top, pausing briefly at each station to catch your breath.Opened in 1960, the system underwent a full renovation and, by 2016, reopened with gleaming, state-of-the-art technology.Cable car stops and top sights-first up on the route.Barinitas Station, perched at 1,640 meters (5,380 feet) on the edge of Mérida, marks the gateway to the cable car.It’s got a visitor center, a couple of souvenir shops, and restaurants where you can smell fresh coffee drifting from the doorway.Number two.Perched at 2,436 meters (7,992 feet), La Montaña Station looks out over Mérida and the valleys beyond, where rooftops glint in the sun and hills roll into the distance.The trails nearby wind through the hills and open onto viewpoints where you can see miles of forest.Three.At 3,452 meters (11,325 feet), La Aguada Station is a perfect place to catch your breath and let your body adjust before you climb higher.Famous for its crisp mountain air and sweeping Andean vistas.Number four sat there on the page, sharp and upright like it had been drawn in a single, steady stroke.At Loma Redonda Station, 4,045 meters above sea level, the páramo begins-wind brushing over tall frailejones and the quiet shapes of rare Andean wildlife moving through the mist.It’s a main stopping point for hikers bound for Pico Bolívar or other trails, where boots crunch on gravel before the climb begins.Five.Pico Espejo Station, perched at 4,765 meters (15,633 feet), marks the cable car’s final stop and offers one of Venezuela’s most breathtaking views, where thin, crisp air brushes your face.You can soak in sweeping views of Pico Bolívar, Pico Humboldt, and a scatter of jagged Andean peaks dusted with snow.The Virgin of the Snows statue stands high above, gazing out over a sweep of rugged peaks dusted with white.Top Activities to Try at the Teleférico de Mérida - like watching the clouds drift past the peaks.Take in sweeping views of Mérida, the rugged Venezuelan Andes, and misty cloud forests drifting past your window.On a clear day, the light turns sharp and bright, making every photo pop.Number two.From the Loma Redonda and Pico Espejo stations, trails wind upward toward Pico Bolívar-Venezuela’s highest peak at 4,978 meters, where the air thins and only experienced mountaineers should venture.Just a short hike from Loma Redonda, Laguna de los Anteojos waits-its icy-blue water shining beneath the snow-dusted peaks.Páramo Hikes – Wander through the crisp, thin air of this high-altitude ecosystem, where towering frailejones and bright Andean flowers line the trail.Number three.In Sierra Nevada National Park, you might spot an Andean condor gliding overhead, a spectacled bear moving through the trees, or a páramo fox darting across the grass.Up in these thin mountain airs, you’ll find hummingbirds so rare you might spot just a flicker of emerald feathers before they vanish.Number four.Climbing too fast can leave you dizzy or short of breath, so pause at each station and let your body settle into the thinner air.Sip a cup of coca leaf tea at the higher stations, its earthy aroma helping your body adjust to the altitude.The best time to ride the Teleférico de Mérida is during the dry season, from December to April, when the skies turn a crisp blue and the mountains stand out in sharp detail.From May to November, the rainy season can roll in with fog and sudden shifts in weather, yet the hills glow a richer, deeper green.In the early morning, the air feels still and cool, and that’s when the view is sharpest.What’s the best way to get to the Teleférico de Mérida, the cable cars gliding up into the mist?From Caracas, fly into El Vigía Airport, then hop on a bus or grab a taxi for the winding 1.5-hour ride up to Mérida.Overnight buses roll into Mérida from Caracas and other big cities, their headlights cutting through the dark.From Mérida City, you can reach the cable car’s base station in Barinitas right in the heart of downtown-just hop on a bus, grab a taxi, or stroll past the plaza.When you visit the Teleférico de Mérida, wear layers-you’ll feel the air turn crisp as the cable car climbs, and by the time you reach Pico Espejo, it can dip below freezing.Drink plenty of water and take your time, placing each step carefully to ward off altitude sickness.Grab your tickets early, because the cable car fills fast-by midday, the line can snake past the café.Pack sunscreen and sunglasses-the high-altitude sun can glare off the rocks and feel fierce on your skin.Slow down and let yourself adjust-pause at each station for a few minutes, maybe long enough to feel the air shift, before moving on.Why take a ride on the Teleférico de Mérida, where the cable cars glide silently over misty green valleys?It’s a world record: the cable car stretches higher and farther than any other, gliding over valleys so deep you can hear the wind whistle below.Breathtaking views await, with sweeping panoramas of the Venezuelan Andes stretching beyond snow-dusted peaks.In just an hour, visitors can journey from lush tropical valleys, where the air smells of damp earth, to windswept páramo and snow-dusted peaks.Perfect for both adventure and downtime, this spot draws you in-whether you’re trekking up Pico Bolívar’s rocky trails or pausing to breathe in the crisp mountain air, it’s a place you can’t miss.The Teleférico de Mérida isn’t just a way to get from one point to another-it’s an experience you’ll never forget, carrying you past snow-dusted peaks along one of the most breathtaking routes on Earth.
