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You can never really get lost in Mérida - just remember that uphill is always north and west, and downhill south and east. Bounded on either side by two parallel rivers, the town sits on a sloping meseta (alluvial terrace), stretching 12km (7mi) from the colonial center in the north, towards Ejido, its working-class suburb, in the south. The airport is 2km (1.2mi) southwest of the center, while the bus terminal is a little further west.
Getting There
The Aeropuerto Alberto Carnevali (Av Urdaneta) is right inside the city, 2km (1.3mi) southwest of Plaza Bolívar, and is accessible by buses from the corner of Calle 25 and Av 2. Avior and Santa Bárbara fly daily to/from Caracas. There are also direct flights to Maracaibo and San Antonio del Táchira.
The Terminal de Pasajeros (Bus Terminal; Av Las Américas) is 3km (1.9mi) southwest of the city center; it's linked by frequent public buses, which depart from the corner of Calle 25 and Av 2. A dozen buses run daily to Caracas (13hr), and half a dozen run to Maracaibo (9hr). Small buses to San Cristóbal (5hr) depart frequently; all go via El Vigía and La Fría, not via the Trans-Andean (Carretera Transandina) route. Four daily buses run to Valera (5hr) via the Trans-Andean highway, and five buses go to Barinas (4hr). Both roads are spectacular. Regional destinations, including Apartaderos and Jají, are serviced regularly throughout the day.
Four car-rental companies have their desks at the airport, but not all hire out cars for travel outside the region.
Getting Around
The city is well-serviced by small buses and minibuses, but these stop running around , leaving taxis as the only alternative. Taxis are cheap, so you may prefer this mode of transport. They're also particularly convenient for trips to/from the bus terminal and airport, when you're carrying a load of bags.
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