Mucuchies

Mucuchíes sits at around three thousand metres on the road climbing from Mérida towards the páramo, a cold town of stone and whitewash with a long history of highland farming. The Mucuchíes dog, a large white livestock guardian breed developed here from European stock brought by settlers, is the national dog of Venezuela. Just outside the town the Capilla de Piedra at San Rafael, built entirely of stacked stones by Juan Félix Sánchez without mortar, is the local landmark.

What you actually see

• The stone chapel - Juan Felix Sanchez's mortarless chapel of stacked stones at San Rafael.
• The Mucuchies dog - the white livestock guardian breed developed in the town.
• The high farming - potato and vegetable terraces on the surrounding slopes.
• The town plaza - the church and stone buildings at three thousand metres.

When to go

December to April is driest and clearest. It is cold year round at this altitude and the nights are near freezing. Cloud often closes the mountain views in the afternoon.

Honest expectations

It is genuinely cold and visitors are often underdressed. The town is small and there is little beyond the chapel and the plaza. Accommodation is basic.

Nearby

Apartaderos is northeast, and Merida is southwest.