Cable Car in the Clouds

When I was 15, I made the most beautiful trip into the Sierra Nevada mountains of Venezuela. To get to the summit overlooking the town of Mérida, my family and I took a cable car. It is named Mukumbarí, which comes from Indigenous words meaning “the place where the sun sleeps.” It holds the world record for the highest cable car with an altitude of 4,765 meters (m). As a 12.5 kilometer ride, it ranks second in the world for length.

If you go on this journey, you’ll travel in one of eight cabins, each with room for 60 passengers. During the hour-long trip from the base to the summit, you’ll pass through five different waystations.

The Journey Begins

The entrance to the teleferico (“cable car”) is at the Barinitas station. Everything here is very modern with shops, a cafeteria and other amenities. It is located at an elevation of 1,577 m.

The next station, La Montaña (“the Mountain”), is located at 2,422 m. It gets its name from the strange mountain across the valley that is shaped like an enormous human profile. The locals call it el Gigante Dormido (“the Sleeping Giant”). From this height, the view of the entire city of Mérida is just breathtaking.

The next stations are La Aguada (3,452 m), Loma Redonda (4,045 m), and the final station is the spectacular Pico Espejo, located at 4,765 m. This last section is amazing because you can see all the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada, as well as two lagoons nestled among them.

Mountain Flowers

By this point, the ecosystem has changed entirely due to the elevation you’ve reached. Trees can no longer survive. Vegetation vanishes to almost nothing.

But a rare plant known as the frailejón has evolved to withstand its chilly, rocky surroundings. This unusual species looks like someone stuck a yellow daisy on top of a spindly cactus. It has light green, fuzzy leaves that feel like wool. Each single plant can have as many as 40 flowers. On our trip, we were able to count about 200 frailejones, all blooming!

Summit Scenery

As you finish your ascent into the clouds, two statues will greet you at the final station. One carved out of white marble is called the Virgen de las nieves (“Virgin of the Snow”) because, you guessed it, there’s often snow on the ground at this altitude. The other statue is of Francisco de Miranda, a native Venezuelan who fought for independence of the Spanish American colonies over two hundred years ago.

On a clear day, from Pico Espejo you can see in the distance Pico Bolívar, the highest peak in Venezuela, located at 4,978 m. Even though it looks close, to get there you would need special climbing equipment and several hours. You can also see Pico Bonpland at 4,863 m, Pico Humboldt at 4,916 m, and Pico La Concha at 4,895 m.

This is an unforgettable trip that you should take at some point in your life. You will always remember its astonishing beauty.

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