Merida, Venezuela 🇻🇪 Gringo's Guide
Everything you MUST know about one of the safest cities in Venezuela...
Since Venezuela hasn’t seen much international tourism in recent years, you may be left wondering:
Is there any Venezuelan city worth visiting these days?
Allow me to introduce you to…
Merida 🇻🇪
Among Venezuelans, Merida has always been one of the country’s most popular destinations for travel. Unfortunately, it remains relatively unknown to most international tourists.
This is a shame, as it’s a geographically stunning city with plenty to do and offers a pleasant vibe for locals and visitors alike.
In today’s article, I’ll go over all the things that make Merida, Venezuela well worth a visit!
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from a Venezuelan man who has worked in the import/export industry in Venezuela for years, speaks great English, and has been around the whole country.
Merida, Venezuela 🇻🇪
Population:
290,000
Weather:
Due to the geographical location of the city, Merida has cooler weather than most other parts of Venezuela.
That said, you can generally count on moderate temperatures that most will find comfortable. Expect a temperature range between 54°F and 81°F throughout the year (12 to 27°C). Summers are short, warm, and somewhat humid, with daily average temperatures around 66°F to 75°F (19 to 24 °C). In the winter months, temperatures range from about 54°F to 64°F (12 to 18°C).
Even though Merida is a mountainous city, it receives a lot of sunshine throughout the year. The rainy season occurs between May and September, so if you’d prefer to skip the rain, it’d be best to avoid this time.
Merida is also one of the few places in Venezuela where you can see snow, which tends to fall on the mountain peaks nearby the city.
Why Visit Merida, Venezuela?
It’s impossible to discuss Merida without mentioning one of its finest attributes:
The People
Merideños (people of Merida), are extraordinarily kind, caring and welcoming.
Typically, the women of Merida are old-fashioned. They take good care of their partner, they are phenomenal cooks, and take responsibility for household chores.
A curious characteristic of this student city is its European colonial architecture. The main squares of the city — such as Chorro de Milla, Bolivar, and Las Heroinas — serve as meeting places for people to gather, drink alcoholic beverages, and enjoy a bit of music.
Since it’s one of the most visited cities in Venezuela, Merida has several points of interest, tourist sites, and beautiful landscapes. It also offers an affordable cost of living.
The harmonious mix of friendly people, engaging activities, beautiful women, and a reasonable cost of living make Merida a city that you should consider adding to your Latin America adventures.
How To Get to Merida, Venezuela
The best way to travel to this lovely city is by plane.
A roundtrip ticket from Caracas will cost around $160 per person. If you choose to go by private vehicle instead, you’ll be rewarded with views of the stunning mountainous landscapes that surround the city.
However, it’s important to consider that Merida is about 400 miles (700 km) from Caracas, so it’ll take some time to arrive by land.
Throughout the last 2 years, the state of Merida has experienced some problems with fuel supply so, if you’re traveling by car, I recommend topping up your gasoline when you reach the city of Barinas, which is only 172 km from Merida.
Overall…
Your best bet is to fly to Caracas, and then fly to Merida from there.
Best Neighborhoods in Merida, Venezuela
The best area to live in Merida is the north and northeast section of the city. This area is characterized by the largest concentration of middle and upper-middle class households.
On this northern side of the city, you’ll find the neighborhoods of:
Los Chorros de Milla
La Hoyada de Milla
Liria
I consider these be among the best neighborhoods to stay.
If you’re looking for a more authentic experience, staying in the city center is also an option.
Although the city is walkable, if this is your first trip to Venezuela, I’d suggest traveling in a ride share car to access the best views. Indeed, the entire city resembles a timeless postcard.
Where to Stay in Merida, Venezuela?
The best hotels to stay in while visiting Merida are as follows…
Posada Tramontana: A fine choice for those on a budget. This posada is modern and conveniently located near Milla Square. Room prices start from $25 per night.
Hotel Plaza: A cozy hotel in a central location. Price start from $35.
Convencion Hotel Boutique: Modern, comfortable, and higher end. Room prices are about 70-75 USD per night
Venetur: A convenient location with many amenities, excellent services, and good facilities. The price is around 75$ per night.
Tibisay: Excellent facilities, great location, and best suited to business travel. Price 95$ per night.
Posada Rafaela Cristobal: This Posada is a Venezuelan gem thanks to the majesty of the landscapes that surround its facilities and the luxury and comfort offered to visitors. Guests will be able to enjoy haute cuisine, embark on tourist expeditions, visit natural parks, or simply relax and recharge by taking full advantage of the attentive care offered by the spa.
The rooms are truly architectural jewels. The structure dates from 1910 and has been restored and modernized in a responsible manner that’s preserved its historical charm. The posada consists of 4 beautiful and comfortable double rooms, equipped with all services and superb attention.
The prices of the rooms start from 200 USD, but it's worth it for the combination of luxury and nature.
That said, there is a catch. Posada Rafaela Cristobal it is about 1 hour outside the city of Merida.
If you choose to go the Airbnb route, it’ll cost between $300-$1500 a month. If you intend to stay for many months, it’s advisable to hire a real estate agent to secure a better deal.
In short, you can find many inns or posadas for affordable prices within the city limits or slightly outside of the city. As a popular travel destination, Merida has a wide range of lodging options to choose from.
Cost of Living in Merida, Venezuela
These prices may surprise some of you, as many see the inflation rate in Venezuela and assume everything is priced in “pennies” these days.
That is not true, as you can see below with some average prices here…
Airbnb Apartment in Best Area: $300-1500 USD a month
Hotel in Best Area: $700-2,500 USD a month
Maid: $200-300
Grocery Store: $200-600
Eating Out / Delivery: $300-600
Gym: $20-35
BJJ / MMA: $10-25
Partying / Dating / Social: $200-500 USD
Cell Data: $10-20
However, there’s real value to be had here.
It’s possible to live very comfortably in Merida as a tourist for less than $1500 USD per month.
Of course, the exact amount will depend on your lifestyle. Merida is one of the cheapest major cities in Venezuela. There are many families that get by with $500 dollars a month. Again, it depends on your needs and lifestyle, but unless you’re renting luxury accommodations, $1500 a month should be adequate.
As mentioned, the most convenient means of transportation here will be ridesharing services.
In Venezuela, we don’t have Uber, or any other ride share app that may be familiar to you.
The two mayor ride-sharing services in the country are Ridery and Yummy Rides.
Each ride will cost around 3-5 USD within the city limits. Longer distances, such as a trip to the airport, will be more expensive.
Merida has options that can accommodate every budget. What you spend here will depend on personal preferences. If you can afford it, the higher end options tend to be good value for money.
Safety in Merida, Venezuela 🇻🇪
As I’m sure you know, Venezuela is not the safest country in the world.
That said, crime rates in the country have been steadily declining over the past 5 or 6 years.
Merida has historically been one of the safest cities in the country, and this remains true today.
Crime – particularly violent crime – is lower here than in most parts of the country.
However, I still advise that you exercise basic caution.
For LatAm veterans, Merida is probably more than safe enough to warrant a visit. For noobies, you probably want some experience under your belt before hitting Venezuela. Punto.
Dating in Merida, Venezuela
The women in Merida are probably the kindest of all Venezuelan women. They tend to be polite and well mannered, so initiating conversations with them should not be a problem.
Merida is also a student city, so the demographics are in your favor when it comes to finding young, beautiful women as well as professional, career-minded women.
Additionally, Merida is a popular destination for national conferences. This will provide you the opportunity to meet Venezuelan women from other parts of the country.
Venezuelan women from other cities love Merida.
So, if you’re seeing a girl from another region, she’ll be thrilled by the idea of visiting Merida with you.
Essentially, Merida is a great city for dating because it has a lot of young women and, since it’s not one of the richest places in Venezuela, the competition isn’t as fierce.
One thing to note:
Merida, even though the women are educated and well-mannered, this does not mean that they are conservative – there is a lot of promiscuity and infidelity in this city.
Just like in the rest of Venezuela, in Merida you’ll see the most beautiful women at the high-end gyms. And a great thing about Merida is that these gyms are affordable — $20-35 per month.
Nightlife in Merida, Venezuela
People in Merida like to party.
They generally prefer to change things up and don’t always frequent the same bars and clubs every weekend.
For instance, new discos often pop up as previous ones go out of style. Again, there are options for every budget.
Here are some recommendations…
Brangus BAR: The best place in Merida to eat which doubles as a popular disco. It’s a cool place to check out the local crowd.
Rosario Cortés: Rosario Cortés is a spectacular, pleasant place with excellent service. You can enjoy snacks, have cocktails, order international entrees or Mexican appetizers, or sample its famous hamburgers which feature juicy and exquisite cuts of meat. The setting, music, lighting, and impeccable and jovial attention of Rosario Cortés is well worth it!
As always…
The best way to figure out what spots are popping in any particular city is to ask young women living there where the hot spots are.
You can do this pre-arrival on Tinder and Instagram to get a better feel.
BJJ/MMA in Merida, Venezuela
Venezuela is a country where martial arts are very popular, especially taekwondo. Merida is no exception. You will find a lot of gyms in the city dedicated to combat sports.
I don’t have a specific place to recommend, but it should be relatively easy to find a place to practice any of the most popular combat sports.
This Instagram page shows off a variety of martial arts gyms in the city.
I didn’t see much BJJ, but there was MMA and Judo.
Cool Things to Do
As one of the most touristic cities in the country, Merida and its surrounding areas offer a variety of activities. Here are some of the main ones.
Teleferico Mukumbari: This is the longest cable car system in the world. It has 5 stations, each one offering a spectacular view of the Sierra Nevada National Park. The final station reaches the top of Pico Bolivar, the highest point of the country. The price for the ride is $15 per person.
Paramo de la Culata: This walk is beautiful. There are also great dining options here. I recommend going on weekends, as there is more movement of vehicles, and you won’t be alone. They still sell traditional Andean chicha and cakes on the route. There is also horseback riding and some local artisans selling their wares. You can also go fishing (trucha, which is trout, is the fish found in this area).
Venezuela De Antier: This is a 1920’s theme park that features folklore, dance, customs, architecture and many more traditions from Venezuela’s past. The price of a ticket is $17.
Los Aleros: This park is the place where we return to the Merida’s past. It’s a fun park and provides an opportunity to taste food of the region's proud gastronomy.
Laguna Mucubaji: A beautiful place with scenic views of the lagoon. It’s quiet and easily accessible. Be sure to bring a camera, a coat, and comfortable shoes. There is a cafe you can relax at if you opt not to do the horseback riding or the walk.
Botanic Garden: If you want a calm and relaxing walk to connect with nature, this is a good option. The entrance for adults is $10. You’ll see plants and flowers of all kinds, as well as a pond with fish that you can feed. Note that there are no food or drink stalls here, so you’ll want to bring your own snacks and refreshments.
Chorro de Milla Zoo: Here you’ll enjoy the regional landscape and be able to observe different species of animals. This zoo offers kiosks where drinks, food, and souvenirs are sold. If you so choose, you can also get a photo with the pet snake of the serpentarium.
Coromoto, an ice cream shop with 1000 flavors: This is a business dedicated to the sale of extravagantly flavored ice cream. It permanently offers between 70 and 80 flavors, but at one time it offered a whopping 870 different flavors, which led it to obtain a Guinness World Record on two consecutive occasions.
Do you Need to Speak Spanish in Merida?
It’s important to speak at least a little Spanish here in Merida.
But it’s worth noting that, in hotels and tourist sites, you’ll encounter people who speak some English.
Also, as a city with a large student population, some of the young people here will speak basic English and will always try their best to communicate with foreign visitors.
ULA (La Universidad de Los Andes) is arguably the best university in the country, and the people around the campus are educated, polite and accommodating.
Overall…
While it may kinda be doable in certain instances, you are far better off learning some Spanish before going anywhere in Venezuela.
P.S: This is how to actually learn Spanish…
Recommended Length of Stay
Depending on your level of interest, it could range from a couple of days to a lifetime!
If your goal is to see every major tourist attraction, I would suggest one week.
If you’d like to become more familiar with the people and the culture of Merida, that may take a month or two.
And if you’re seeking an affordable longer term stay in a Venezuelan city, Merida is probably the best choice.
You’ll be more than welcome here!
Other Notes
The official name of the city is Santiago de los Caballeros de Merida
The city’s main airport stopped operating in 2009. There are plans to reopen the airport in 2023
You can see snow on Pico El Aguila on specific dates
The Venezuelan national sport is baseball, but in Merida it’s soccer
There are many colonial era houses and constructions in the city
Merida, Venezuela 🇻🇪 Overall
The city of Merida has a charming vibe. It’s comfortable, clean, and welcoming, has mild weather and boasts many activities for every taste.
If you want to enjoy a pleasant experience with great people and beautiful women, Merida makes for a fantastic option.
American visitors may have trouble getting a visa to Venezuela, but if you’re able to get one, for a first trip to the country…
Merida is an excellent choice overall.
