The road is paved all the way to the entrance. As is the case in the entire Andean region, the roads have curves, some rough sections and occasional fog in the afternoons and at night; there are also some very shallow streams that cross the road. Although the road to Jají is well marked, we recommend that you arrive in the region during daylight hours, since the evenings can be foggy and driving visibility is reduced.

If you come from the high plateau (Páramo) via Mucuchíes, Apartaderos, etc. and then go through the city of Merida, travel time is about one hour on a mountain road with beautiful scenery, waterfalls and cloud forests. When you reach the town of Jají, follow the road to San Juan, turning right after the church, and in 2 Km. you will reach La Playa, the village where Hacienda El Carmen is located. You can find us easily because it is the largest house in the area. When you reach the Hacienda, follow the left-hand entrance road passing through the gate between two pastures.

You can also get there using the El Vigía-Mérida highway if you come from the south of Lake Maracaibo. After going through the tunnels, follow the road to Mérida, look for the entrance to San Juan de Lagunillas on the left-hand side of the road some 18 Km from Estanques. Once you are in the town of San Juan, ask for the route to Jají; then, after 17 Km and about 30 minutes on a paved road, you will reach the village of La Playa and Hacienda El Carmen.

Another route is from La Azulita. Take the road to Mérida and when you reach the official inspection station at Las Cruces, continue toward Jají and you will reach the Hacienda. The trip lasts approximately an hour and is about 40 Km. long.

Merida 38 km., 50 min.
Caracas 720 km., 12 hours (via Barinas)
Valencia 565 km., 10 hours (via Barinas)
Maracay 610 km., 11 hours (via Barinas)
Maracaibo 440 km., 6-7 hours depending on route, via El Vigía or El
Páramo.
Puerto La Cruz-Barcelona 980 km., 18 hours
San Cristóbal, 4 hours
Barquisimeto, 460 km., 7 hours
Barinas 200 km., 4 hours
Maturin 1150 km., 20 hours
Valera 207 km., 4 hours
Ciudad Bolívar 1100 km., 22 hours

Climate: Hacienda el Carmen enjoys a very agreeable climate with an average temperature of 18º C. The relative humidity is 65%, precipitation 900mm and our altitude is between 1700 - 2500 meters above sea level. Rainy seasons are May to June and between August and December; January is the coldest month. The dry season, which we call summer, is from January to April. The terrain is mountainous, with small rivers, springs, villages, forests and prairies. We are very close to Páramo El Tambor, a peak rising more than 3,000 meters. During the day, the weather is generally sunny with some clouds in the afternoon. You can wear lightweight clothing during the day, but you will need wraps for the evening hours, since the temperature can drop to as low as 12 C in the big house and 8C in the highest mountains on the property