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Historic village · Mérida, Mérida
Jají
Mountain village about 40 km from Mérida, at almost 1,800 meters, with white houses with wooden verandas, cobblestone streets and a plaza with the church in the background. Craft and sweet shops occupy the houses around the square.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Jají
Jají is an Andean village west of Mérida, about 40 km up the mountain road, at nearly 1,800 meters of altitude. Founded in the colonial period, it was restored in the second half of the 20th century to recover its old appearance, and today it is one of the most popular excursions from Mérida.
The center is a tree-lined square, with the white church in the background and houses with whitewashed walls, tiled roofs and wooden verandas and doors painted green or blue around it. The streets are stone and rise and fall following the mountain terrain, with flowers in the windows.
The houses around the square house craft shops, sweet and fruit liqueur shops, small restaurants and cafés. On weekends the activity increases, with families coming from Mérida to have lunch and stroll.
The road to Jají passes through cloud forest, with viewpoints over the valleys. The climate is cooler than Mérida's, with frequent afternoon mist.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
2 to 3 hours in the village, plus about an hour's travel each way.
Best time
In the morning or early afternoon, before the fog. On weekdays the village is quieter; on weekends it is busier.
How to get there
It is about 40 km west of Mérida, roughly an hour by car on the mountain road. There is public transport from Mérida's terminal, taxis and half-day tours.
Tip
Have lunch in the square and try the mountain sweets and fruit liqueurs. On the way back, stop at the road's viewpoints for views of the valleys.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Jají
How long does it take from Mérida to Jají?
About an hour by car, over the roughly 40 km mountain road.
What to do in Jají?
Walk around the plaza and the cobbled streets, see the church and the white houses with wooden balconies, have lunch and buy sweets, liqueurs and handicrafts.
Is Jají cold?
It’s cooler than Mérida, at nearly 1,800 meters, and often has fog in the afternoon. Bring a light jacket.