Route to Pan de Azúcar Peak · Alejandro Guipe

The Pan de Azúcar peak is located in the Sierra de la Culata National Park, in the state of Mérida, Venezuela. The route leading to the summit can be considered low in difficulty and ideal for hikers who are just starting out in mountaineering. Along the way you will be able to witness epic landscapes and traverse high elevations ranging from 4,000 meters up to the 4,680 meters that the summit measures above sea level. The configuration of the valley tends to be a cold desert, with a strong predominance of frailejones, a plant that usually grows in the Andean páramos. The stops and campsites are well defined and conveniently located near the water sources, which makes the crossing easier. Along the way it would not be surprising for you to come into contact with the local fauna: wild horses, cows, and bulls. The ascent to the summit is not very complicated and takes about an hour and a half at a good pace, up to three hours. The descent from the summit is the best part of the adventure, since there is a fast way down via a sand slide that allows you to return to base camp in just about five minutes. Once the summit has been reached, you can take a route that leads to the Musui hot springs; that detour extends the excursion to approximately 5 days.

How to Get There?

Depending on the starting point, reaching the peak can happen in different ways; the most natural is to set out from the entrance to the town of La Culata, since it is the closest point for reaching the peak. Setting out from there, you are only about 12 hours' walk from base camp, counting rest stops. Although it seems to be a short distance and time away, you need to acclimatize beforehand, so it takes two days to get there without setbacks. Setting out from the entrance at Collado del Cóndor, the excursion can take up to 4 days; this route is not the most natural one, but it may be justified if you wish to summit the highest peak in the park: the Piedras Blancas peak. To reach either of the excursion's starting points, you simply have to take the road that goes toward the town of La Culata from the city of Mérida; if you are traveling by public transport, take the route that departs from the city's ground transportation terminal.

Cost?

An excursion of this category involves about three days of hiking; the food, lodging, and transportation usually add up to about 12$ USD.

What to Bring?

The usual things required for a camping outing: a tent, a hiking backpack, sleeping bags, a sleeping pad, mountain boots, jackets for the cold, a raincoat, a camp stove, easy-to-prepare food, sunscreen, sunglasses, a camera, light clothing, and a hat.

Recommendations

The starting point of the route, regardless of the entrance, is usually at a high altitude, around 4,000 meters, so it is recommended not to cover much ground on the first day and to camp in order to acclimatize. On the second day you generally reach base camp (known as barro negro) if you set out from the entrance closest to the peak; at this camp you should acclimatize for at least one night before ascending to the summit. On the day of the ascent to the summit, it is recommended to set out at dawn, around 4 a.m., in order to return around 6:30 a.m. or 7 a.m.