A visit to the Venezuelan Andes causes many a tourist to break out in goose pimples. Indeed the flora and fauna is so diverse and staggeringly beautiful that some people have to pinch themselves to make sure they are not dreaming.
There is much to see in the northernmost reaches of the mighty Andes mountain range and one good way to start the day is by taking a trip in the world’s longest and loftiest cable car. It ascends to an altitude of 4,765 metres.

Cruising along the Paso del Aguila (4,100 metres) in an elderly, gas-guzzling American car is another memorable experience or else you can swap the pullover for a T-shirt and take a boat trip across Lake Maracaibo.

The treetops along the banks are full of screeching chimpanzees while dolphins frolic in the waves.In contrast to the capital Caracas, the university city of Merida and the numerous Andean villages are free of street violence.

The locals are friendly and they enjoy talking to strangers. Prices here and throughout Venezuela are very moderate by European and North American standards.

The natural beauty of Merida and its surroundings has also made the region a magnet for foreign entrepreneurs, many of whom have opened hotels and restaurants.

Other small groups of Europeans also call the Venezuelan Andes their home. “The years 2005 and 2006 were good ones for tourism but in terms of visitor numbers we have a long way to go to match the boom years such as 1995”, said Ricardo Torres, head of the travel company Colibri Tours.

Venezuela’s tourist industry has bounced back after the economic crash and mass protests which rocked the South American country and for the past three years things have been looking up.

Not that many of the country’s privately run travel offices are pleased with the countless negative headlines. Government plans to nationalise entire industries or accusations from dissidents that the country’s press is manipulated are bad for the holiday trade.

Venezuela’s Andes host a myriad of environments ranging from dense, tropical forests to rugged, snow-capped peaks. The travel agencies in Merida offer excursions to the Black Lagoon lake, to spectacular waterfalls, remote Andean villages, a breeding station for the Andean Condor bird as well as hikes to glaciers and majestic peaks.

Merida is well worth a look too. At night, the bars of this student metropolis are packed with revellers and there are some other interesting things to do, such as taking the “Teleférico” cable car that travels 12.5 km to the glacial peak of Pico Espejo.

The hour-long journey takes place in four stages starting off from a sub-tropical valley that lies at an altitude of 1,577 metres.

Despite the cool temperatures on the mountaintop, many visitors find that they just cannot tear themselves away from the magnificent view.

Those looking for something completely different might like to hire a “yank tank” and driver to go with it for a trip through the mountains. These 30-year-old Chevrolet and Chrysler limousines are still in fine fettle.

More info is available on the Internet at www.lateinamerika.org .— DPA