The Andes at their wildest

The Venezuelan Andes sweep down from Colombia into Mérida state, reaching their climax at Pico Bolívar — at 4,978 metres, the country's highest point. The range is compact by Andean standards but dramatic in profile, rising from tropical lowlands to alpine páramo within a single day's drive.

Mérida city serves as base camp for everything in the region. At 1,625 metres, it has a permanent spring climate and the infrastructure of a university town: good restaurants, knowledgeable guides, and equipment rental shops on every corner. The Mukumbarí cable car — rebuilt and reopened in 2016 — is operational and climbs from here to Pico Espejo at 4,765 metres, the world's highest cable car system (and its second-longest); it runs subject to periodic maintenance closures and limited operating days, so check ahead.

The best time to visit is the dry season from December to April, when the peaks clear and the trekking trails dry out. Cloud forest routes in the lower elevations remain accessible year-round, though afternoon showers are common from May onwards.

• Pico Bolívar at 4,978 m — the highest point in Venezuela
• Paragliding from Teleférico launch sites (one of the best in South America)
• Los Nevados: a 16th-century mountain village at 2,700 m
• Chorros de Milla: waterfalls 10 minutes from the city centre
• Cloud forest biodiversity: over 500 orchid species in the state