Explore gorgeous landscapes, valleys, and mountain lagoons/lakes on a bike.
Visit the beautiful colonial town of Jaji.
See how local people work with sugar cane and prepare a Papelón.
Spend the night at an idyllic Andean chalet ahd eat a fresh trout from a local pond for dinner!
DAY 1. Merida - San Jose
After preparing the equipment and bikes, we drive to Jaji, a beautiful colonial town with streets made out of stone. On the way, see notorious differences in the ecosystems and enjoy Las Gonzales Waterfall.
Once we arrive at Jaji, we get on our bikes and start descending through the Xerophytes Valley, until we arrive to a typical Trapiche where we see how local people work with sugar cane and prepare a Papelón. We continue our expedition to the Urao Lagoon, the only one in South America with sodium contents in the water.
After, we take a winding switchback road with a breathtaking view and ascend from 460 m to 2,290 m. Once we arrive to San José, a charming town lost in time, we spend the night at an idyllic Andean chalet. Dinner will be a fresh trout from a local pond. ( - / L / D ).
DAY 2. San Jose - Merida
Early in the morning we descend into the beautiful valley of Tostos either by horse or foot. On the way, we enjoy the surroundings of eucalyptus trees and beautiful rivers. In this part of the trip we will have direct contact with the villagers and see how farmers grind their corn by hand in order to make the “arepa" (Venezuelan bread) over a wood-fed fire.
We return to San Jose for lunch. If you didn’t find horseback riding exciting enough, do a bit of mountain biking downhill! Once there you have optional exciting activities as Paragliding. In the afternoon return to Mérida. ( B / L / - ).
Total Breakfast (B); Lunch (L); Dinner (D)
B = 1 / L = 2 / D = 1
We recommend you bring:
Passport (with photocopies)
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets (with photocopies)
USD o EURO cash and/or travelers checks
Credit card
Turpial Travel vouchers, pre-departure information and printed copy of your Itinerary PDF
Alarm clock
Flashlight
Sun hat, sunblock, sunglasses
Insect repellent
Water bottle
Small towel and swim wear
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/sport sandals
Moneybelt
Shorts
Long trousers
Hiking pants/track pants
Shirts/T-shirts
Swimwear
Warm clothes and windproof/waterproof jacket if you are traveling to the Andes or taking a trekking/climbing expedition.
Waterproof clothes for wet season May-Oct. Umbrella or waterproof jacket
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry
Clothes for temples – long pants or sarongs
Camera and film
Reading/writing material
Binoculars
Pocketknife
First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, aspirin, band aids, anti-histamine, imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
If you are under medical treatment, please bring medical treatment for the days you will be traveling with us.
Special Needs: Those who have special needs need to let us know in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements (e.g. allergy to specific foods, etc).
Tour includes:
A comprehensive pre-departure information
Accommodation on a twin-share basis (overnight at Chalet/Posada during the tour)
Mountain Bike
Domestic flights, if indicated on the itinerary. If not, it is not included. Baggage allowance in domestic flights is 10kg.
Private ground transfers as listed on the itinerary
Excursions and meals as indicated on the itinerary
Professional English-speaking naturalist guide for the tours (for comfort and superior service levels)
Horseback riding
Tour does NOT include:
Airport taxes, if we include the internal flights in the itinerary (approximately $12 per flight)
Alcoholic drinks
Tips / Gratuities
Personal expenses
Personal Gear (or other items of a personal nature)
Entrance fees to National Parks if included in your itinerary ($26)
Medical treatment
Excess baggage costs
Meals, alcoholic beverages, tours, or other services not listed on the itinerary.
Holliday surcharges
Visas
Expenses incurred in preparing for the trip such as but not limited to: non-refundable airline tickets, travel insurance or additional expenses encountered as a result of flight delays, cancellations, or missed connections.
NOTES:
Trips extensions can be arrange for any of our tours at an additional cost.
Allow for USD 20 per day for meals not included and/or additional personal expenses.
How to Book?
I.I. BOOK ONLINE: Start by filling out YOUR TRIP COST section. Each itinerary has a trip price range. This section will allow you to quote an exact price by filling out Questions 1-4. The price will be determined by: the dates you choose to travel, the number of people traveling with you, and the type of service you require throughout your trip. After filling out Questions 1-4, you will choose between two options:
Option A - Book Now: If you agree with the price and you DO NOT need to make any changes to the itinerary and/or the departure dates, you will press the BOOK NOW button which will take you through a series of steps:
* Step 1: Enter your Details & Flight Information – Here you will have to fill out the passenger details, contact information and international flight information. If you still haven’t booked your international flight, no worries, the system will allow you to request a quote through us.
* Step 2: Pre/Post Hotels & Transfers in Caracas - Need extra nights in Caracas before or after your trip? If you do, you will need to fill out this section. If you don’t you will skip this section and proceed to Step 3.
* Step 3: Make a donation? – Turpial Travel is a member of several organizations that protect the environment, study endangered species and promote sustainable tourism. We work in partnership with Fundación AndígenA to forge a direct link between the economic benefits from tourism and the biodiversity protection. This section will allow you to make a donation to this caused if interested.
* Step 4: Is Everything Correct? Review your Booking Information – This section will confirm key information needed to proceed with your booking.
* Step 5: Payment Information – Last step! Here you proceed to pay and book your trip. Payment is processed through credit card only.
When filling out sections 1-5 you will received two emails from us. The first email will let you know that a personal account has been created for you. The account will allow you to interact with your assigned travel agent, update your profile, review trip details, and upload/download important pre-departure information. The email will also tell you the name of the Travel Assistant that has been assigned to you. The second email will confirm your payment once it has been processed.
We recommend using Option A since it was designed to save our clients time and money!
Option B - Personalize my Trip: If you need to adapt the itinerary to your specific needs (e.g. make changes to the itinerary and/or the pre-departure dates), you will fill out Questions 1-4 in “Your Trip Cost” section and press the PERSONALIZE MY TRIP button. Next, you will proceed to fill out some basic information needed to process your request. Once you submit this information, you will receive an email letting you know that your enquiry has been sent to the Department of Sales & Reservations and a Travel Assistant will contact you shortly.
I. II. DOWNLOAD THE BOOKING FORM AND FAX/EMAIL IT TO US! Download the booking form (below), fill in the information requested, read the Terms and Conditions, sign it and send it to us. You can send this information by:
Upon receipt of your booking form, we will proceed to call you and confirm your information. If all is correct, you can purchase the tour by credit card or bank transfer. On receipt of the payment, we will send you all necessary pre-departure information pertaining to your trip. In the pre-departure information you will receive all the details necessary for you to prepare for your holiday.
Booking Form / Terms and Conditions Please download, print and complete the booking form below and email this information to us. Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions of Contract on the booking form. If you cannot download this Booking Form contact us and we will post, email or fax you a copy.
Call US! If you wish to speak with a travel agent at any time call us through our website (FREE) or dial +1 (310) 427 3616 (USA) or +58 (243) 431 3785 (Venezuela). Our office hours are 8:00 am – 5:30 pm Mon - Fri (Pacific Time).
Download Booking Form
