Pico Bonpland

Overview

One of the most beautiful snow-capped mountains in Venezuela. Bonpland Peak is located in the Sierra Nevada de Merida in the Venezuelan Andes. It is part of "La Corona" massif which Humboldt Peak belongs too. The easiest route crosses the Humboldt-Bonpland Glacier and then goes through the ridge where you need some ice and rock climbing experience. During the winter season (June-September), the mountain is much more difficult but a lot more interesting. It is not as popular as its neighbor Humboldt but it's a much more challenging experience to climb it.

Getting There

To get to Bonpland Peak, you can take the same route as the Humboldt Peak. Only the last part of the last day the route spits at the glacier. You may even attempt to climb both peaks in the same day! There are several ways to get to Base Camp. You can go from Merida with a jeep in 20-30minutes to one of the entrance of the Sierra Nevada National Park near the town of Tabay. The entrance is in "La Mucuy" (2130mts.). From there you go through tropical forest, cloud forest and bamboo forest to the Coromoto Lagoon (3200mts.). Next day you go to the Verde Lagoon(4000mts.). From here you can start the north-east route at the next day. If you want go the normal route, you should continue to El Suegro Lagoon (4200mts.) one hour away from there. It takes like 5 hours to the top from either Lagoon. You may also get there by the Traverse "La Travesia" from the last cable car station "Pico Espejo". Information about that see at the page of Pico Bolivar.

Red Tape

This peak is located in the "Sierra Nevada de Merida" National Park and rules as no camp-fires are applied. Fees are payed at the entrances of the Park: Bs. 900 per day per tent and Bs. 300 per day per person. (October 2002 where 1US$=1500 Bs). Really cheap!!

When To Climb

The Dry or Summer Season is when the park is most visited. Is colder but wheather is better. This season goes from December to April aprox. Winter (you'll find a lot more snow) goes from late June until late September. Wheather is not so good but the mountains are much more beautiful and interesting. In my opinion the best time of the year to go climbing is late September, when weather is getting better and you'll still find lot of snow.

Camping

Camping is allowed all over the Park. There used to be Huts, but there is nothing left.

External Links

• Webcam at Pico Espejo Webcam that updates each 15 min located at Pico Espejpo Cablecar station.