Venezuela - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 884

MÉRIDA
From the bottom of a deep valley, the city
of MÉRIDA enjoys stunning views of the
surrounding mountains without ever
becoming uncomfortably cold. Based in
Mérida, La Universidad de los Andes is
one of the country's most prestigious
universities and runs numerous
international exchange programmes,
adding undergraduates of all backgrounds
to its already sizeable student population.
Despite its cosmopolitan sensibilities,
Mérida offers reasonable prices, safe
streets and a block numbering system
that makes the town easily navigable.
Owing to its natural endowment as well
as the efforts of several excellent tour
operators, Mérida's chief attraction is
adventure sports (see box, p.890).
However, if you've got some down time,
or if you're allergic to adrenaline, the city

offers a couple of sights, as well as some
diverting day-trips .

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
The old town around Plaza Bolívar makes
for a pleasant half-day's wandering. The
town has a small old-fashioned zoo at
its northern limit with some impressive
species on show.

The Old Town
Walking the streets of the old town to
admire its colonial houses, pretty parks
and inordinate number of shoe shops will
only take a few hours. Right on the Plaza
Bolívar, the impressive Catedral was only
completed in 1958, after over 150 years
of stalled construction. Of the several
decent museums in the area, the most
interesting is the Museo Arqueológico
(Tues-Sun 8-11.30am & 2-5.30pm;

11

Zoo (3km)

EATING, DRINKING & NIGHTLIFE
La Astilla
El Atico del Cine
Birosca Carioca
La Botana
Buona Pizza
La Cucaracha
Delicias Mexicanas
Heladería Coromoto

MÉRIDA

1
14
5
15
11
7
12
10

El Hoyo de Queque
Mercado Principal
La Nota
Poco Loco
Restaurant La Montaña
Taperio Café
El Vegetariano

4
6
13
2
8
9
3

PLAZA
MILLA

Pharmacy

Museo Arqueológico

Plaza
Bolivar

Laundry

Buses to
terminal

Catedral

Pharmacy

Buses to zoo

ACCOMMODATION
Posada Alemania
Posada Casa Sol
Posada Guamanchi
Posada Jama Chia
Posada La Montaña
Posada Suiza
Posada Yagrumo
Sueño Dorado

1
2
7
8
5
3
6
4

Pharmacy

Panadería Roma

Mercado Artesanal

Parque las
Heroínas

Estación
Teleférico

N

0 250

metres