Updated in 2022.
Merida, Venezuela.
A mid-sized university city located in northeastern Venezuela. It’s pretty underrated.
We think Merida is the best city to visit for a first time tourist to Venezuela. (Isla Margarita is cool too.)
Venezuela often gets a bad wrap for violence and government ineptness, but Merida is an extraordinary example of the country’s potential. The beauty of the mountains is incredible.
This city has a high university student population which makes it a fairly artsy and nightlife-oriented city.
POPULATION: 200,000
WEATHER IN MERIDA
Tropical/Temperate (18-24 °C). Temperatures remain consistent throughout the year.
MUST DO IN MERIDA
I should suggest a whole bunch of nature stuff you should do like canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, cable car riding…but instead I’m going to recommend partying until the sun rises with genetically-gifted Chamitas (Venezuelan girls).
Go see Lake Maracaibo, it’s close by and extremely impressive. The city of Maracaibo is only an 8 hour drive away.
Head to Colombia via Puerto Santander. The city of Bucaramanga is a 10 hour drive away.
Check out the Museo de Ciencia y Tecnología, a sizeable museum situated beside a lake.
IS MERIDA, VENEZUELA SAFE?
Considerably safer than Caracas. Crime against tourists is rare. You should be fine unless you go looking for trouble. Merida is safe enough that you can go for pleasant evening walks without being too on-edge.
Have questions? Skip the guesswork…
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RENT AN APARTMENT IN MERIDA, VENEZUELA
$200.00 will get you an apartment in the city centre of Merida, although the Los Tapias neighborhood might be a better option as far as safety goes.
BEST BARS & NIGHTLIFE IN MERIDA, VENEZUELA
8/10
Among the best for a city its size. Avenida 4 near the cathedral is a good place to start. Bars in Merida are plentiful and range from upscale to dive. The best part about nightlife in Merida is the roaring enthusiasm of the partygoers. The energy is absolutely contagious, and bars will still be going strong right up until 5 am. You can find a party here every night of the week, and the people are very friendly and welcoming towards foreigners.
Bars that My Latin Life recommends: Hoyo del Queque or Bodegon de Pancho
COST OF LIVING IN MERIDA, VENEZUELA
BOTTLE OF BEER
$2.00
GROCERIES
Milk (1L)= $2.00 Loaf of Bread=$2.50 Eggs=$2.50 Water (1.5L)=$1.00 Cigarettes=$4.00
TAXI
$3-5
HOSTEL DORM BED/NIGHT
$10.00 around Parque los Heroines.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
English teaching under the table. Helping university students score well in their English classes is your best bet for earning any sort of income in Venezuela right now.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON MERIDA
A wonderful city that is, unfortunately, located in a country undergoing political turmoil with an inflation rate that puts many African nations to shame. Because of this, I have to grudgingly say that travel to Merida isn’t worth the trouble. A jaunt to Colombia will provide you with similar demographics, culture, better prices, and more security. Hopefully Merida will become a bit more accessible for tourists in the near future.
OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10
Have questions? Skip the guesswork…
Schedule Your Personal Consultation With My Latin Life
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