Andes Adventure and Llanos Leisure

DAY 1: Caracas-Mérida

Upon arrival at the international airport in Caracas, you will be met by our representative, given your tickets, and escorted to the national airport. You will take an exciting flight through the Venezuelan Andes to Mérida. You will have airport assistance and transfer to Posada Casa Sol. The posada is a charming new guest house in the heart of Mérida, boasting 17 private rooms with bath, balconies and terraces, and breakfast included. You will have the day off to independently explore the city and visit our popular artisan market. (–,–,–)

DAY 2: Teleférico

Your guide will pick you up at the posada for an early start to catch the highest and longest cable car in the world, the Teleférico. You will pass through a variety of ecosystems from cloud forest up to windswept moors and mountain peaks. You will take a short hike to Alto de la Cruz Pass at 4,000 m. There are incredible views of lakes and snow covered mountains (1,600-4,700 m). You will return to the city late in the afternoon. (B,–,–)

DAY 3: San Jose Tour

Once we’ve packed up the jeep, we will embark upon a tour boasting exposure to a large variety of ecosystems, beginning at lush green cloud forest vegetation (Selva Nublada), where we will hike up to a waterfall for 1 hour. We will then go to the verdant coffee country, visiting the coffee museum and present day coffee farms. Finally, we will arrive at a remote Andean village that’s been “lost in time,” that is called San Jose, “where no one else goes.” We will spend the night at an idyllic Andean chalet with trout ponds. (B, L, D)

DAY 4: San Jose Tour-Mérida

We will eat a hearty and traditional Andean breakfast and then descend into the beautiful valley of Tostos, either on horseback or by foot, enjoying the surroundings of eucalyptus trees and beautiful rivers. Our excursion will bring us back to San Jose for lunch and a brief rest. If you do not find horseback riding exciting enough, we will do some nice downhill mountain biking in order to arrive where we can take an optional paragliding flight. The view of the valley simply does not get any better than this. A full day will once again bring us back to Mérida and to your Posada Casa Sol. (B, L,–)

DAY 5: Páramo Tour

The Páramo ranges from 3,200 m up to 4,300 m. Like moors, they are open, windswept and mostly treeless. The hard life of summer-by-day and winter-by-night requires special adaptation. There, we find the velvety frailejon (like rabbit ears to children), found everywhere on the páramo. We will first visit the Andean Condor Re-introduction station and go up from there to Pico Aguila. From there we will visit the Laguna Mucubaji (3,800 m) where we will hike to the Laguna Negra (around 4 km). We will stay overnight at Posada Casa Solar, in the high mountain village of Apartaderos. (–, L,–)

DAY 6: Wildlife Safari

We will transfer you from the Posada Casa Solar to the Hato Cedral (7 hours drive- through cloud forest and the immense savannas of Los Llanos). Along the way we will have excellent opportunity for wildlife sighting. We will arrive at Hato Cedral in time for lunch and have an afternoon excursion. We will stay overnight at Hato Cedral. (B, L, D)

DAY 7: Wildlife Safari

 We will have a full day at Hato Cedral with two excursions and three meals.  The Venezuelan Llanos are a strange blend of the American “wild west” and Africa’s “savanna safaris,” where people still hunt and harvest in accordance with age-old customs, and dusty cowboys try to tame a land, as wild and uncontrollable as the creatures that roam across its seemingly endless face. Accommodations are in comfortable air-conditioned cabanas with large private baths with hot water. The staff is friendly and you are sure to be treated to a traditional Llaneros concert with harp, “cuarto,” and maracas. (B, L, D)8

DAY 8: Barinas-Caracas-End of Services.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Barinas airport to catch your flight to Caracas. End of Services. (B,–,–)