Rivas Davila: Páramo Landscapes and Waterfalls

In the Municipality of Rivas Dávila, named Páramo landscapes meet waterfalls with different forms. Information about elevations and protected areas helps put these natural sites in context; at Páramo de Morillo, specific access planning also plays an important role.

Páramo Landscapes and Protected Areas

Páramo La Negra lies at elevations starting from 2,600 meters in the western part of the Municipality of Rivas Dávila and within Parque Nacional Batallón y la Negra. The Veriguaca–Páramo La Negra sector is designated as a nature restoration zone within Parque Nacional Gral. Juan Pablo Peñalosa. For these named landscape areas, both specific information about elevation and location and their designated protected status are relevant.

Páramo de Morillo is considered an ABRAE (protected area) for the conservation of biodiversity, ecological balance, plant and animal species, and watersheds. La Negra is located at elevations starting from 2,600 meters, while Morillo lies at 2,800 meters in Sector Nieto. These figures provide two specific elevation references for the Páramo landscapes in the municipality.

Waterfalls and Access Conditions

There are two waterfalls with different forms at Páramo de Morillo. One resembles a brick wall covered in moss; the second plunges 70 meters into a pool approximately 8 meters long and 6 meters wide. The descriptions are clearly distinct: a moss-covered wall on the one hand, and the drop height and pool dimensions on the other.

The waterfalls are outside the national park’s recreational areas and have no tourist facilities. The route is listed as 7 kilometers on foot and takes approximately five hours; visitors must be accompanied by park rangers. Walking time is an important part of planning your day.

The Ruta Turística de las Flores

On October 28, 2024, the Municipality of Rivas Dávila launched the Ruta Turística de las Flores. The project, jointly supported by farmers and flower producers together with the national government, aims to promote tourism in the region and highlight its natural and cultural resources. This tourism initiative is therefore also part of the regional context of Rivas Dávila, alongside its Páramo landscapes.

Mérida as the Wider Travel Destination

Within the wider travel destination of Mérida, Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada has been protected as a national park since May 2, 1952. The Mérida Cable Car route runs from the city of Mérida to the summit of Pico Espejo in Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada. These are distinct points of reference for the wider Mérida area.

Registration and monitoring are required for expeditions and mountaineering ascents to the glacial peaks of the Sierra Nevada. Check the current procedures before planning such an undertaking. If the Páramo landscapes and waterfalls are the reason for your trip, you can use Rivas Davila as your hotel search destination and plan your stay around the access conditions described.

Discover more destinations: La Playa

Go to the wider travel overview: Mérida.